On January 15, 2016, a press conference covering the selection results for 2015’s “Top 10 News Events in Modern Chinese Distance Education” was held in Beijing. The news selection campaign was sponsored by Distance Education in China.
An on-site press conference on selection results for 2015’s Top 10 News Events in Modern Chinese Distance Education
With the selection guidelines consisting of "big event, great influence, new trend, and new topic," the selection process for the top ten news events in modern Chinese distance education consists of two steps: first, Distance Education in China selects the news stories, after which selections are finalized via online voting and an expert panel. The news selection campaign has carried on for 16 years in a row, since 2000, and its authority and influence in the industry has been widely recognized.
The expert panel includes Chairman of the Chinese Society of Education (CSE) Zhong Binglin, Vice President of the Open University of China (OUC) Liu Chen, Secretary General of National Higher Education & Modern Distance Education’s Cooperation Team Yan Jichang, Executive Deputy Secretary General of National Higher Education & Modern Distance Education’s Cooperation Team, and Director of Peking University’s Continuing Education, Hou Jianjun, distance education expert and Professor at Beijing Jiaotong University Chen Geng, Hejun Consulting business partner Hou Ruiqi, and Director of Distance Education in China Zhao Wei. The top 10 news events in modern Chinese distance education in 2015 were finalized through online and WeChat voting, coupled with a review of results by an expert panel. The results were announced by the Chief Editor of Distance Education in China, Feng Lin.
2015 Top 10 News Events in Modern Chinese Distance Education
1. MOE Issues Notice Advocating MOOC Development Based on Chinese Characteristics
2. President Xi Jinping Sends a Letter to International Conference on ICT and Post-2015 Education: China Continues Advancing Digitization of Education
3. "Internet+" Becomes a National Strategy, the 1st Big Data National Action Plan Released
4. MOE and MOHRSS Jointly Issue Notice: Requiring Vocational Colleges to Carry Out Continuing Education for Staff Based on Industry Requirements
5. Approval Rights Over Off-campus Learning Centre (or Site) Canceled, Zhejiang Province’s Education Department Becomes First Pilot Centre
6. From Education Internet to Internet Education: Distance Education Concocts Major Breakthrough in Education Industry
7. Comprehensively Advancing Pilot for Accreditation, Accumulation, and Transfer of Continuing Education Learning Outcomes
8. Revised Education Act and Higher Education Act Reflect Education Equality
9. 2015 Total Financing for China Online Education Reaches $1.76B, Number of Projects Exceeds 3,000
10. Advanced Placement for Chinese MOOC Launches, Universities and High Schools Jointly Explore Link-up Problems in Learner Development
In 2015, distance education in China showed diversified and deep development. Thorough analysis of 2015’s Top 10 News Events in Modern Chinese Distance Education demonstrates the news reflected the development course and future trends in modern distance education in China. Web-based distance education has become a national strategy. To achieve results in the development of modern distance education, we should let the public, students, and other learners directly benefit from it, improve learning results and efficiency, accept society’s inspection, and earn recognition from the greater society.
The press conference was presided over by Li Guiyun, Director of Distance Education in China’s Information Centre and Executive Chief Editor of E-Learning. Distance Education in China Director Zhao Wei and Director of the Distance Education School at China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Zhang Yunxiang both delivered a speech at the press conference. Secretary General of National Higher Education & Modern Distance Education’s Cooperation Team Yan Jichang interpreted the top 10 news events and put forward their outlook on the development of distance education in 2016. Directors from Online Education Schools and Continuing Education Schools at universities in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Province discussed five issues: an analysis and strategy of education policy; quality control and scale of enrollment; innovation in learning modes; breakthroughs in difficult areas of non-degree development; and coordinated development between Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. They also discussed the industry’s development in 2016. The Director of the Higher Continuing Education Division, part of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education under the Ministry of Education, Gao Yang, delivered the closing speech.
By Yan Jingzhen, http://www.china.org.cn/