The National Press and Publication Administration recently issued a document entitled Notice on the Release of the 2020 Catalogue of Highly Recommended Publications for Village Libraries. Four publications from the Press and Media Group of the Open University of China (OUC) were added to the catalogue,
of which Course on Landscape Techniques by Using Splashing Ink and Coloured Ink was added to the catalogue of audio-visual and electronic publications and the others— The Management and Evaluation of Promoted Agricultural Projects, Planning and Designing Household Farms, Guidance Strategy for the Employability of Rural Migrant Workers — were added to the book catalogue.
The Management and Evaluation of Promoted Agricultural Projects and the other two books are textbooks organised and compiled by the OUC for the “One College Student Per Village” programme initiated by the Ministry of Education. The textbooks are focused on the latest rural revitalisation measures implemented by the central government and designed to help readers to apply what they have learned in practice and address the practical issues arising during the process of agricultural modernisation, in order to provide pragmatic knowledge and skills that meets the needs of farmers. Efforts have been made to develop practical, technical, and innovative knowledge and skills for the learners. Furthermore, video textbooks, study guides, and formative assessment manual are also provided to learners for self-directed study. Such textbooks have received favourable feedback from the readers and played a positive role in promoting the development of the agricultural economy, constructing a new type of agricultural operation system, and boosting the transfer of surplus labour force in rural areas.
Course on Landscape Painting Techniques by Using Splashing Ink and Coloured Ink is a video teaching programme. Famous painter and calligrapher Hui Ning, dean of the China National Academy of Paining and Calligraphy and founder of Hui-style painting, was invited to be the lecturer of the programme. The programme consists of eight parts including instruction, splashing skills, ink use skills, colour use skills, and skills needed to paint mountains and water. “Rhythms” are threaded through each part of the programme, such as the rhythms of ink, lines, coldness and warmth, pieces and surface, space and structure, leading learners in how to create a kind of beautiful imaginary landscape painting by splashing ink and coloured ink. The programme caters to the needs of farmers by enriching their leisure life and improving their artistic literacy.
The Village Library Project was jointly launched by a number of ministries and commissions including the National Press and Publication Administration, the Civilisation Office of the Central Government, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, with the goal of building a public welfare cultural service facility that meets the cultural needs of farmers in local areas. A total of 1,781 types of books, 113 types of audio-visual electronic publications, 186 types of newspapers and journals, and 310 types of books compiled in ethnic minority languages have been added to the catalogue.
By Bai Yan, OUC