In order to deepen the study and implementation of the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the launch meeting of a campaign on Party history learning and education, executive deputy secretary Cao Guoyong of the Party Committee of the Open University of China (OUC) gave 12 OUC Party branches a Party lecture entitled A Fundamental Task Crucial to the Country and the Party on 27 May 2021 in accordance with the relevant requirements of the Implementation Plan for the OUC’s Party History Learning and Education Campaign.

Cao gave in depth, systematic explanations from the four perspectives of strengthening convictions, understanding theories, bearing policies in mind, and promoting development.

First, Cao introduced three major historical events: the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the founding of New China, and reform and opening up to the outside world. He talked of the historical achievements and transformations made in the fields of economics, politics, and society in the name of the Party and the state since the 18th National Congress in 2012. With the completion of the construction of a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2021, we have all embarked on a new journey to build a strong modern socialist China. Cao pointed out that the primary cause for all of these achievements and transformations lies in the fact that the Chinese communists have always remained true to their original aspiration and mission to seek happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Through great hardships, explorations, and relentless struggles, they have founded a New China and succeeded in embarking on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must deepen our commitment to the ideals and convictions of the Party and confidently develop its path, theory, system, and culture.

Cao focused on interpreting General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on education. He said that the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has attached great importance to education work since the 18th National Congress. General Secretary Xi Jinping has delivered a series of important speeches and given a definite answer to the fundamental questions on “who, how, and for whom to train.” This is the consistent principle that runs through all of Xi Jinping’s important expositions on education, and has allowed for the formulation of a comprehensive system of education theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. It is an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and symbolises the new height of the Party’s understanding of educational laws, offering fundamental compliance for educational reform and development in the new era.

Cao discussed the historical development of the Party’s educational policies during the new democratic revolution, the construction of New China, reform and opening up, and since the 18th National Congress, as well as the amendments and expressions on educational policies in the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on the Amendment of the “Education Law of the People’s Republic of China.” He underscored that the Party’s educational policies are an important embodiment of the Party’s educational thoughts, and a basic compliance with educational practice. A survey of the historical development of the Party’s educational polices shows that the Party has always attached great importance to education. The Party’s educational policies reflect it’s original aspiration and mission. Adherence to serving the central task of the Party and the state continues alongside the emphasis on the adaptability of national systems while advancing with the times. As Party members and teachers, we must always bear in mind the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education and take the lead to act on it.

Cao underlined four tasks that should be prioritised in order to promote the better and faster development of the university. The first is to make new advances in building a first-class global open university with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to build an educational system serving lifelong education for all around the “three-step” strategic goal to promote consistent, thorough progress. The second is to fully implement the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan to promote the construction of the four platforms: a major platform for lifelong education, a major platform for online education, a platform for flexible education, and a platform for external cooperation in a systematic way. The third is to highlight the formulation and implementation of the university’s 14th Five-Year Plan. It is necessary to focus on promoting the work of the 14th Five-Year Plan by further putting into effect the guiding principles of the OUC’s First Party Congress and the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan. The fourth is to conscientiously carry out the campaign of Party history learning and education. It is necessary to expand the Party history learning and education campaign from the five perspectives of “learning,” “reporting,” “testing,” “practice,” and “supervision.” It is imperative for “learning” to have a focus by insisting on reading original works, learning original texts, and understanding original theories. It is imperative for “reporting” that officials in leadership positions take the lead in making keynote reports on their learning, performance, and anti-corruption efforts. It is imperative for “testing” to achieve results by paying attention to the extensive learning of relevant contents. It is imperative for “practice” to have targets. Overall, the priority is to solve problems concerning the urgent needs of the people and create a systematic work list centred around “doing practical work for teachers and students.” It is imperative for “supervision” to have an actual effect. With supervision, examination, and guidance given to grass-roots level Party branches, the learning and education campaign will be deepened, and practical results will be achieved.

Twelve OUC Party branches took part in the learning, including the Party branches of the Academic Affairs Department, Information Technology Department, Lifelong Education Research Institute, Experimental School, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Medicine, Department of Quality Monitoring and Control, Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development, General Office of Party and Administration, Human Resources Department, Department of News and Public Information, and Department of Logistics and Security. Party branch secretary Wang Guochuan from the Academic Affairs Department presided over the meeting.

 Written by Yi Xin and photographed by Zhang Jun, OUC