The Open University of China (OUC) and the Open University, UK (OUUK) jointly held three sessions of online teacher-training workshops at the OUC headquarters from 21 - 25 June, 6 - 10 September, and 11 - 15 October 2021.

Thirty teachers from ten OUC faculties participated and completed the studies, and on 19 October 2021, Fan Xianrui, vice president of the OUC, personnel from the International Department and Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development, and the trainees, attended a graduation ceremony. Fan Xianrui presented certificates of completion and conducted a symposium.

During it, student representatives gave feedback, and said they had learned a great deal from the OUUK in terms of curriculum design and online instruction, while gaining a transnational view of their profession, and a stronger grasp of student-centred approaches. They also expressed a desire for more such targeted high-level training in the future.

Fan Xianrui congratulated the trainees on their success, noting that the OUC would continue to optimise teacher training and provide more such activities. She encouraged them to constantly strive for improvement and to stay abreast of the times, work hard, and remain student-focused and practice-oriented.

The three workshops offered both online and offline instruction in online tutoring, class design, and curriculum and MOOC production. The OUUK provided live broadcasts of lectures, with trainees studying in groups offline. The event explored strengthening international cooperation and carrying out online teacher training, of special significance as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Written by Chen Na;photos by Zhuge Huanyu, OUC