"Cultivating professionals who possess moral integrity; work hard and can take on heavy responsibilities; eliminate poverty and lift the hopes of students through education.” Under this theme for Teachers’ Day 2020, the Open University of China (OUC) held a meeting on the afternoon of 10 September 2020 to celebrate this special day for teachers and commend staff with more than 30 years of work experience in the university,
as well as the advanced organisations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to education, teaching, moral education, and epidemic prevention and control over the past year. During the meeting, an oath-taking ceremony was also held for new staff in 2020. More than 350 people, including leaders of the OUC and the teachers and teacher representatives from various departments being honoured attended the meeting on site, while 276 teaching and administrative staff attended the meeting online. Liu Xianghong, deputy secretary of the OUC’s Party committee and Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection, presided over the meeting.
Jing Degang, secretary of the Party committee and President of the OUC, on behalf of the Party committee and the leading team of the university, extended his greetings to the faculty and staff working on the frontline of teaching, scientific research, management, and services, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the staff members who contributed to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. He also paid tribute to the retired comrades who have devoted their life to open education and the large number of teachers and employees now working diligently at their posts, wishing them all a happy Teachers’ Day.
Jing Degang pointed out that 2020 has been an extraordinary year. In early 2020, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan inspected the OUC and pointed out the future direction of the reform and development of open universities. During the epidemic, the OUC took the lead in implementing the goal of “not suspending classes during school closures,” which won praise from people across society. Also this year, a hard battle against quality issues in education and teaching has been fought and quality has been consistently improved. Finally, the release of the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan has created both opportunities and difficult tasks.
Jing Degang put forward the following three hopes for education, teaching, and teachers in the OUC:
First, the essence of education is to awaken students’ passion for education. Teachers should stimulate students' potential, evoke their thirst for knowledge, and arouse their ability to make the best of future life. The OUC should adhere to the principle of "students first" and do a good job in all aspects of education and teaching in accordance with the requirements of the fundamental task of cultivating students with a strong moral code.
Second, the task of teachers is to accompany students. Jing Degang hopes that teachers will focus on all aspects of education and teaching, actively accompanying students in their learning process and seeking growth together with students.
Third, the goal of the university is to educate talented professionals. The key to making the OUC into a famous brand is to cultivate a large number of socialist builders and successors of the party's mission. Teachers should give full play to their talents in order to contribute to the growth and development of students.
Liu Xianghong presided over the meeting
Cao Guoyong, executive deputy secretary of the OUC Party committee, read out "The Decision on Commending Faculty and Staff Who Have Worked at the OUC for 30 Years" and "The Decision on Awarding Excellent Organisations for the ‘Learning Party History and Building Faith’ Youth Reading Activity.”
OUC vice president Ju Chuanjin read out the "Decision on the Commendation of Advanced Individuals in the Fight against COVID-19”
OUC vice president Yang Xiaotang read out the list of Award-winning Projects above OUC Level for the Year 2019-2020
Jing Degang presented awards to Jiang Tao and Tang Yingshan, faculty members who have worked at the OUC for more than 30 years
Ju Chuanjin presented awards to advanced individuals who contributed to the fight against COVID-19
Li Linshu, vice president of the OUC, presented awards to advanced individuals who contributed to the fight against COVID-19
Cao Guoyong presented awards to departments that won awards as part of the "Learning Party History and Building Faith” Youth Reading Activity
Zhang Xia, winner of the 15th Famous Teacher Award for Institutions of Higher Learning in Beijing and representative of excellent teachers, delivered a speech
Xu Lange, a representative of advanced individuals from the OUC who contributed to the fight against COVID-19, delivered a speech.
New staff for 2020 took a solemn oath
During the meeting, the teachers who have been teaching in the university for over 30 years, advanced individuals who contributed to the fight against COVID-19, departments who made excellent organisation work for the "Learning Party History and Building Faith" Youth Reading Activity, and projects or individuals winning awards above OUC Level for the Year 2019-2020 were presented with awards. Furthermore, some gratifying achievements in the application of scientific research projects in 2020 were reported. Zhang Xia, winner of the 15th Famous Teacher Award for Institutions of Higher Learning in Beijing and representative of excellent teachers, and Xu Lange, a representative of the advanced individuals who contributed to the fight against COVID-19 in the OUC, delivered speeches. New 2020 staff members took a solemn oath at the meeting.
After the commendation session, a cultural and art performance show was held for teachers to celebrate the festival and send blessings to the OUC.
The Teachers' Day celebrations represent a fine tradition of respecting teachers and emphasising education. The meeting and celebrations demonstrated the spirit of the large number of faculty and staff working hard on their teaching posts and helping to win the battle of epidemic prevention and control, as well as the progress and achievements made. It further enhanced the sense of honour, responsibility, and mission felt by the teachers and workers, and encouraged them to strive to become good teachers with four features: ideals and faith, moral sentiment, solid knowledge, and kindness. Finally, it guided them to remain true to their original intention of committing to serving the country through education, and bravely shouldering the mission of cultivating talents with morality.
By Tian Suxia and Zhang Hongrui,OUC