On November 16, 2015, the Open University of China (OUC) issued notice (No. 43, 2015, OUC Administrative Office), announcing the printing and distribution of the OUC’s Guidelines on Vigorous Development of Non-Degree Education ( hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines).
The notice states that, as per the Construction Scheme of the OUC, approved for implementation by the Ministry of Education, and based on extensive consultation, the OUC has put forward Guidelines for the work of non-degree education. The OUC will select relevant Branches, Schools, or Centres to carry out non-degree education pilot programmes and to explore new types of school organizational, business, and services models that will fit with features of non-degree education.
The Guidelines note that, in this new historical period, along with the popularization and universalization of higher education in China, and in the context of its strategic transformation from a Radio and Television University to an open university, the non-degree education component was confronted with both great opportunities and severe challenges. To vigorously develop non-degree education, it is crucial to comply with the reorganization of schools within the OUC, speed up classified reforms, rationalize the systems and mechanisms, and innovate development models, all of which will provide critical support for the strategic transformation of the OUC.
According to the Guidelines, we should fully implement the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress and all of its sessions, adapt to the national economic transformation and upgrade, as well as industrial structural changes, and comply with the education plan and work requirement outlines put forward in the “Construction Scheme of the OUC.”Enhancing quality of nationally in-demand and vocational skills is the goal, guided by the promotion of development and employment. We should meet the needs of growth and development for all of society, especially for vocational technical talents, reinforce classified management, perfect systems and mechanisms, fully utilize systemic advantages, comprehensively use modern information technology, adhere to the synergetic development of non-degree education and degree education, continue coordinated development of public welfare and the marketization mechanism, and embrace the inherent unification of scale, quality, and benefit, making new important contributions that will enrich the OUC’s educational sectors and enhance the OUC’s ability to serve society.
The Guidelines state the basic premise for the development of non-degree education as: 1)To turn non-degree education into an important medium for “differential development” within the OUC; 2) Non-degree education will be incorporated as an important part of the school organizational system in the OUC; 3) Non-degree education will provide important support in transforming and upgrading the OUC.
The Guidelines clearly state the four major principles for developing non-degree education: To be led by requirements and learning to utilize resources; Opening up, sharing, and win-win cooperation; Prioritize technical support and service; Pilot first and develop systematically.
The Guidelines indicate that, through great effort, the following phased non-degree education objectives should be reached by 2020.Firstly, by means of new construction, co-construction, or acquisitions, non-degree education programmes will cover the main existing industrial sectors in China, and the total scale of cultivation and training per year will reach 10 million in number. Secondly, form several non-degree education programmes with greater popularity, more favorable reputation, and stronger market competitiveness and influence, establishing a brand with characteristics unique to the OUC. Thirdly, the school-wide operating system should possess a managerial system, operation mechanisms, business pattern, and institutional norms compatible with the development of a non-degree education business, operating smoothly and with flexibility. Fourth, the OUC will gradually grow to be an important player in the non-degree education market and as a platform for integrating excellent educational resources, and its resources absorption and service abilities for all levels and kinds of social institutions will be greatly improved. Lastly, the Internet and mobile Internet will grow to be the main support and basic features of the OUC’s non-degree education, with the deep integration of technology and education forming a new operation and service model.
In addition, the Guidelines also put forward explicit requirements for carrying out classified management, innovating systems and mechanisms, utilizing systemic advantages, intensifying standardized management, promoting collaborative development, and steadily advancing implementation.
Editorial Department