To further the development of the Literature, History, Philosophy and Arts majors, extend reforms, and promote construction of the disciplinary system, the sub-committee for Literature, History, Philosophy and Arts of the Third Academic Committee of the Open University of China (OUC) led the young and middle-aged teachers of the OUC system in a live-broadcast symposium, “Teaching Contemporary Poets and Dialects”, on 19 November 2021, with offline venues in Beijing and Jiangxi.
Twelve teachers and students from 11 branches were chosen to read out poems written in dialect, a part of such works submitted by language-teaching teams from the seven dialect areas. Hu Jicheng, retired from the School of Literature, made comments in terms of categories of dialect teaching. Professor Zhao Rixin, a doctoral supervisor from Beijing Language and Culture University, and vice chair of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Language Society, delivered a report titled, “Why Dialects are an Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
Li Song, a member of the OUC Party Committee, OUC vice president, and director of the Third Academic Committee, gave a speech at the symposium. Huang Pinghuai, vice secretary of the Party Committee, president of Jiangxi Open University (OU), and director of the sub-committee, delivered the keynote address at the conference in Jiangxi. Participants also included vice chairs Wang Ying and Han Yi, and vice secretary-general Li Wei, of the OUC Third Academic Committee; Tang Yingshan, dean of the Faculty of Humanities and a member of the OUC Academic Committee; vice chief Wang Tongjun of the Teaching Affairs Office of Tianjin OU; Ms. Huang Huize from Shangdong OU; teachers from the OUC Faculty of Humanities (in Beijing), professors and associate professors from departments at Jiangxi OU, including Arts and Literature, Social Sciences, and Teaching Affairs, as well as students there, totaling about 30 people. Meanwhile, over 2,000 people, including some members of the sub-committee, teachers in the OUC Literature, History, Philosophy and Arts majors, and others from both inside and outside the system, participated online. Presiding was Han Yi, while the recitations, accompanied by music, were led by Xiao Wanying, a secretary and doctor, and Xia Chaoyang, also a doctor.
Li Song indicated that teaching and research are closely linked, and that he hopes the sub-committee will make efforts to keep up with developments in the discipline, assisting the development of the university, leading discipline construction, setting a good example for young researchers, enabling collaboration of people both inside and outside the OUC system, and boosting the development of open education. In his view, since being established in September, the sub-committee has adhered closely to its responsibilities. The topics chosen for the symposium were both interesting and illuminating.
According to Huang Pinghuai, the symposium dealt with literature, language, broadcasting, history, and culture, as well as the teaching of ideology and politics, promoting teaching and research by bringing disciplines into convergence. In the future, the sub-committee will continue to invite experts to report on the frontiers of their disciplines, leading the research of teachers of Literature, History, Philosophy and Arts, and training experts of the OUs. Meanwhile, it will set up platforms for young and middle-aged teachers, focus on teaching characterised by converging teaching media and disciplines, and enhance the professional development of teachers.
Active participants included teachers, tutors, and students from 29 provincial OUs, 2 industrial colleges, 14 city and county-level OUs or radio and TV universities, and students from Beijing Language and Culture University.
Written by Xiao Wanying;photos by He Dandan and Huang Huize, OUC