On 19 October 2019, a Seminar on Professionals in the Digital Economy was held during the 6th World Internet Conference at Wuzhen Internet International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Zhejiang Province.
The seminar, which focused on professionals in the digital economy , invited representatives from universities, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the Open University of China (OUC), as well as business representatives from companies such as Alibaba, to discuss the cultivation of talented professionals in the context of the digital economy. Ye Zhihong, director of the OUC’s Academic Affairs Department, was invited to give a keynote speech on “The Exploration and Practice of Developing Vocational Professionals in the Context of the Digital Economy".
Ye Zhihong introduced the reform of vocational education in China, the current situation of vocational personnel training in the OUC, the role of the credit bank in developing vocational professionals, the 1 + X certificate system, and ideas and measures for teaching reform.
Through discussions and exchanges, the educational institutions and employers agreed that, in the context of the digital economy, the demand for professionals in enterprises has the structure of a pyramid, with the largest demand, application-oriented professionals, forming the base of the pyramid. Fostering professionals of this kind should be the main task of vocational education and open education. At the same time, educational institutions should adapt to the demand for professionals in the digital economy and adjust their training plans in order to meet the needs of employers. Against the background of the digital economy, an important part of the education and teaching reform of the OUC is to further adapt to the needs of society, take advantage of China’s national vocational education reform to implement a "1 + X" certificate system, vigorously develop non-degree education, realise the integration of degree and non-degree education through the credit bank, and improve the quality of learner development.
By Sun Hongfei and Wang Ran, OUC