On 24 February 2022, the Open University of China (OUC) held its 2022 Work Conference to study and implement the guiding principles of the National Educational Work Conference and the key points of work of the Ministry of Education (MOE) in 2022, and deployed the OUC’s key tasks in 2022.

Jing Degang, secretary of the Party Committee and president of the OUC, delivered a keynote speech themed “Creating an Open University Culture that Values Contributions and Accelerating the High-quality Development of Open Education.” Cao Guoyong, executive deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, presided over the conference.

At the conference, Liu Chen, deputy secretary of the Party Committee, spoke about Party history learning and education for the OUC leadership. Members of the leadership put forward requirements in combination with their work responsibilities.

Jing Degang stressed that the OUC should follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the 19th National Party Congress and all the plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee, earnestly implement and put in place the important remarks on education made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and champion the great founding spirit of the Party in the OUC’s work in 2022. The OUC should uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership of its work, act on the deployment and requirements of the MOE Leading Party Group, put stability first, pursue progress while ensuring stability, improve its quality and image, promote high quality development with further reform, and welcome the successful convening of the 20th National Party Congress with outstanding achievements.

Jing Degang pointed out that the university should make sustained efforts in nine aspects in 2022. These nine aspects are: Party building, implementation of the fundamental task of “fostering virtue through education,” improvement of education and teaching quality, implementation of the strategic action of education digitalisation, preparation for the construction of the National University for Older Adults, development of support for teachers and students, improvement of the quality of learning resources, upgrading the level of scientific research and internationalisation, and risk prevention.

Jing Degang requested that all of the university’s people should do what they can to create an open university culture that values contributions. The first is to strengthen political ability. The OUC will constantly improve its learning ability and enhance its theoretical accomplishments, improving its ability to judge and understand political issues and implement political requirements. The second is to strengthen executive ability. The OUC will promote problem-oriented work, objectives, and effects in an effort to make new achievements and reach new glory. The third is to strengthen planning ability. The OUC will pay attention to giving play to advantages, build exemplary samples, think about and solve major problems and contradictions existing in the university, and improve its strategic thinking and tactical ability.

At the conference, nine departments reported their 2022 work plans from the perspectives of existing problems, major measures, and expected achievements, including the Department of Reform and Development (Scientific Research Office), the School of Marxism, the Experimental School, the Open University for Older Adults, the Department of External Education and Training (Community Centre), the Department of Academic Affairs (Executive Committee Office), the Department of Learning Resources (Digital Library), the Information Technology Department (Engineering Cenre), and the OUC Online.

All middle-level cadres, persons in charge of enterprises run by the university, and personnel with senior professional and technical titles attended the conference on site, with other staff attending online.

Written by Xue Han and photographed by Weng Jianbin and Zhuge Huanyu