The Open University of China (OUC) held a meeting to promote its key work for 2021 on 3 September. In addition to spreading the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s recent  guiding principles on promoting key work, the meeting deployed the university’s work for the autumn semester. Jing Degang, secretary of the OUC Party Committee and president, presided over and addressed the meeting.

Jing Degang passed on the guiding principles of the “four new developments,” “four items to be strengthened,” and “four capacities to be enhanced” emphasised by Huai Jinpeng, secretary of the MOE Party Group and minister of Education, at the MOE key work promotion conference, demanding that all departments and enterprises operated by the OUC seriously implement these principles in order to ensure a good start to the 14th Five-Year Plan.

During the meeting, it was stressed that it is important for the OUC to follow the spirit of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry out thorough and in-depth study of the important speech made by General Secretary Xi Jinping on 1 July, and develop learning and education of the history of the Party. The OUC should continue to adhere to the general work principles of emancipating minds, reform and innovation, steady progress, and quality development. It should focus on the implementation of the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan and attach importance to the release and implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It should coordinate the joint execution of COVID-19 prevention and control and the development of education, promoting the “Four Transformations” and constructing the “Four Platforms,” while also aiming to build a world-class open university with Chinese characteristics and making greater contributions to building an education system serving lifelong learning for all people, strengthening education and building a skilled society.

The OUC’s 30 departments and six enterprises reported on the implementation of key work and their future work plans. Leaders of the university made comments and speeches based on the work they are in charge of and deployed work for the autumn semester.

In his speech, Jing Degang pointed out that in the first half of this year, the OUC has focused its efforts on the key work of the MOE and the OUC Comprehensive Reform Plan. Close attention has been paid to work implementation, progress has been made while maintaining stability, all indicators continued to improve, and the university took the first step of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. First, the vanguard and exemplary role of Party members and cadres has been further brought into play. Second, the OUC has contributed to winning the battle against poverty. Third, efforts have been made to improve the quality of education, and remarkable results have been achieved in teaching reform. Fourth, the level of teaching materials has further improved. Fifth, the vocational skills of students have been effectively increased. Sixth, the working environment of the university has been further improved. In addition, work on the “One Road, One Network and One Platform,” the evaluation of education in OUC branches, education for older adults, external education and training, community education, the credit bank, and enterprise management have all been progressing steadily, achieving the expected results.

Jing Degang pointed out that in the autumn semester, the OUC should continue to focus on 10 breakthroughs put forward at the beginning of the year, work hard in a solid manner, and complete the work due within the year in a resolute and thorough manner. It is necessary to do solid work to develop the study of Party history in an in-depth way and study and implement the important speech made by General Secretary Xi Jinping on 1 July. A good job must be done to “provide practical services for teachers and students” and it is necessary to focus efforts on opening up a new situation. The OUC should continue to make efforts in teaching and learning, return attention to the reform of teachers, teaching materials, and teaching methods, and identify, focus on, and solve core problems. It is necessary to improve and strengthen branded courses and start the construction of “Gold Courses” based on the principles of usefulness and ease of learning. The OUC should actively explore a new model for the delivery of education throughout the OUC network and improve organisation and operation. Systems and mechanisms should be innovated and the development of external education and training, universities for older adults, and experimental schools should be given priority. It is necessary to speed up the progress of the construction of “One Road, One Network and One Platform” and follow a student-oriented concept while seeking practical results and promoting applicability. It is necessary to successfully operate the National Credit Bank for Vocational Education, expand the scope of its application, and promote the certification and conversion of “Credits of Premier Courses.” The OUC should do a good job of developing the Rural Revitalisation College and implementing the “Open Education - Rural Revitalisation Support Plan.” It should start from the innovation and entrepreneurship competition and carry out innovation and entrepreneurship education with a focus on student development and the actual needs of workplaces. Finally, it should revise the “three determinations” plan, release the university charter, and promote the management of the university based on the rule of law according to the MOE requirements for deepening the pilot reform of public institutions.

In a training session for young and middle-aged officials at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in the autumn semester, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on young officials to firm up their ideals, stay loyal to the Party, seek truth from facts, fulfil their duties and shoulder their responsibilities, upholding their principles, dare to struggle, abide by rules, not exceed the bottom line, study diligently and practise hard, and enhance their skills. Jing Degang stressed that all Party members and cadres should earnestly study and implement these requirements. As the OUC enters a new stage focused on improving the overall quality of education, it is necessary to be problem-oriented and focus on the main responsibilities and businesses. The OUC should uphold a goal-oriented manner and pay close attention to work implementation while also adhering to a results-orientated principle and improving work and entrepreneurial abilities. It should seek progress while maintaining stability and holding the bottom line in order to comprehensively promote the high-quality development of open education.

All middle-level cadres, heads of university-owned enterprises, and personnel with senior professional and technical titles attended the meeting on site, with other faculty members attending via online means.

Written by Jin Hongyu; Photos by Weng Jianbin, Zhang Jun, Zhuge Huanyu, OUC