A delegation headed by Ju Chuanjin, vice president of the Open University of China (OUC) and a member of the university’sParty Committee, visited Butuo County in Sichuan Province and Li County in Gansu Province to investigate poverty alleviation.

The OUC provides targeted assistance to the counties as part of the national rural-revitalisation programme, and the investigation examined how this programme correlates with consolidating the results of poverty alleviation through education s, as well as demand for senior training offered by radio and TV universities at the county and municipal levels in the area. The delegation consisted of personnel from the Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College), the Department of External Education and Training, the Secondary Technical School, and the Department of Logistics and Security.

The delegation visited the study centres and practical teaching sites of the local open universities, primary schools, junior and senior high-schools, and secondary technical schools. Symposia were held concerning the status of Party building in the OUC and the counties, and the demands for training placed on local RTVUs, with the criteria of assistance assessed in terms of specific needs. The investigation gave the OUC a realistic picture of the situation as the basis of new progress in rural revitalisation and education.

Ju Chuanjin pointed out that rural revitalisation is a major national strategy put forward by the 19th National Congress of the CPC, aiming to build a modern socialist country in all respects. This mission requires our full attention, as well as the full commitment of the OUC, which will strengthen support for the two counties in terms of the use of IT in education, teacher training, support of grassroots learners, construction of learning resources, purchases of agricultural by-products, and so on, with the battle against poverty taking place simultaneously with the struggle for rural revitalisation.

On behalf of the OUC, Ju Chuanjin donated 1.2 million yuan worth of books along with bookmarks made by OUC staff to the Education, Sports and Science bureaus of Butuo County and the Education Bureau of Li County.

The delegation also visited the Xingjing study centre at Sichuan Open University. The investigation was supported by the Sichuan and Gansu branches.

By Wang Nan, Qiao Dong, OUC