In March 2021, the Learning Resources Department (Digital Library) of the Open University of China (OUC) was named "Outstanding March 8th Organisation for Central and State Organs". With its determination, bravery, and crisis-readiness, the department team, through its excellence and good spirits, demonstrates the self-confidence and self-reliance valued at the OUC.
The department has 26 employees, of whom 16 (62%) are female, and is in charge of constructing, managing and promoting the use of teaching materials and digital resources, as well as the work of the OUC digital library, while playing an important role in open education and social services.
Rising to meet the challenges of Covid-19. In order to help provide education during the school closures advocated by China’s education system, the department coordinated with the OUC to open its platform and resources to the general public and educational institutions free of charge, serving over 5 million people and a total of 7,582 institutions, and gaining nearly 200 million views. It has also provided the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) with multilingual cloud-classroom online-learning resources for countries all over the world.
A focus on creating excellent teaching materials. The OUC has put a great deal of work into providing high-quality teaching materials, allowing the Party to guide it in this area, emphasising ideological education and review of materials in order to ensure that they reflect the Party's educational policy and core socialist values, developing the foundation of the country and fostering morality, enlightenment and wisdom.
Serving the general public and promoting equality of educational opportunity. The OUC remains committed to placing people at the centre of its educational development, making its high-quality learning resources available to all, and popularising lifelong learning. It has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering to invite 137 of their members and 312 other experts to record audio-visual teaching materials on China and the sciences, producing 20,000 minutes of resources for more than 20 colleges and universities. A micro-lecture titled "Birds and Nature" was developed by the department for "Bird-loving Week", and was awarded first prize at the 2020 Liangxi Awards for the Popularisation of Forestry Science, representing the highest levels of scientific and technological achievement in China's forestry industry. It has also taken innovative measures to promote the advancement of women by cooperating with the All-China Women's Federation in launching a programme,“Brilliant Life: A Lifelong Learning Plan for Women”, for which it specifically selected 47,000 resources.
As the 14th Five-year Plan is unveiled, the department will continue to adhere to the Party's guidance, enhance its political awareness, strengthen its responsibility, and continue to meet the highest professional standards in serving lifelong learning nationwide.
By OUC Learning Resources Department (Digital Library)