On 18 May 2021, Zhu Gaofeng of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), a vice minister in the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and former executive vice president of the CAE, came to the Open University of China (OUC) at its invitation to record an introductory lecture for the 2nd series of courses on "Stronger Manufacturing, Stronger China - Strategies for Developing a Manufacturing Power II: Shifting from Speed to Quality in Development.”
Dr. Zhu explained in detail the concepts and landscape of the new stage of development, analyzed the progress and key problems of R & D and innovation in manufacturing, and put forward measures to improve the market and related systems, adjust industrial structure, and cultivate demand. He said that the great achievements already made would form a basis as long as we correctly implement the decisions of the central government, adhere to the concepts, principles and policies for the new stage, insist on prioritizing a manufacturing-based economy, pay close attention to changes in the international situation, and take effective measures in response, we can achieve the goal of becoming a manufacturing power.
Jing Degang, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, visited Zhu Gaofeng at the recording studio. He introduced the development of the OUC to him, and discussed education reform and the strategy for developing a manufacturing power in-depth. Yang Xiaoying, deputy director of the CAE Strategic-consulting Centre, and senior engineer Guyishana accompanied Dr. Zhu to the studio.
"Stronger Manufacturing, Stronger China" is a series of video courses jointly produced by the OUC and the CAE based on the university’s production of a successful lecture series, "Science and China", developed earlier in collaboration with another major Chinese research institute, i.e. the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The programme explains the strategy for developing China into a manufacturing power by focusing on five major projects and seven directions of manufacturing: high-end equipment, intelligent manufacturing, improvement of basic industrial capacity, green manufacturing, service-oriented manufacturing, high-quality manufacturing and innovation, and cutting-edge technology and scientific achievements in ten key fields. It aims to help learners understand the science relevant to the development of manufacturing in China, as well as the steps toward and significance of China's transformation from a big manufacturer to a powerful one. The course is intended to become part of the course construction and content upgrading of diploma education at the university, as well as to appeal to the public.
The Learning Resources Department and OUC Publishing & Media Group will continue to implement the requirements of the Party Committee of the university, ensuring that the OUC integrates its development into and serve national strategies by cooperating with well-known universities, scientific-research institutes, and other organisations, in order to develop more high-quality courses serving national strategic development and providing more high-quality resources for construction of a lifelong-learning platform.
By OUC