On the afternoon of 12 April 2022, the Open University of China (OUC) held a meeting to strengthen teachers’ ethics within its organisational system, with more than 90,000 teachers in the system participating in the online and offline live learning event.

Ye Gaoxiang, a professor and doctoral supervisor from Zhejiang University, was invited to give a special lecture entitled Strengthening the Construction of Teachers’ Ethics and Implementing the Fundamental Task of Fostering Virtue through Education. Professor Ye, having served as deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University, president of Hangzhou Normal University, and president of Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, has been awarded the title of National Advanced Individual of Teacher’s Ethics.

Professor Ye explained the achievements that he had made in his explorations of the construction of teachers’ ethics and moral characters over the past 40 years from three aspects: the current situation of higher education in China, the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education and the cultivation of high-level talents, and his initial explorations of and thoughts about the construction of teachers’ ethics. He guided teachers in reviewing the important discussions on the construction of teachers’ ethics and morality in speeches made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, pointing out that such construction work is not only a matter of great importance to the overall development of the cause of the Party and the country from a macro perspective, and but also provides a foundation and guarantee for the development of universities at the micro level.

Professor Ye elaborated on the direction and methods for strengthening the construction of teachers’ ethics in terms of comprehensively promoting the integration of ideological and political education into courses and the purity of teacher-students relationships. Drawing on his decades of educational experience, he clarified a practical path for implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education by providing whole-process education for all in an all-round way. He explained the ways in which universities can realise two-way interactions and coordinated development between the university and its students, noting that “the future of students is the future of universities.”

Immediately after the training event, the teacher trainees actively shared their learning achievements.

Yu Qijing, a young teacher from the OUC headquarters, believed that Professor Ye’s lecture helped him further realise that a good teacher should not only teach students theoretical knowledge, but, more importantly, they should shape their moral characters. Teachers should view fostering virtue through education as the foundation of their actions and the soul of their things, keep their original intentions in mind and let Chinese youth bloom as part of the country’s education cause.

Deng Honghong from Heilongjiang Open University praised Professor Ye’s lecture for its strong and meticulous interpretation of the general principles of education. According to her, Professor Ye explained the contents in simple terms, which gave her a deeper understanding of the construction of teachers’ ethics. The concepts have now been deeply implanted in her mind and will become a source of strength to encourage her to work harder for education in the future.

Tang Ting from Rongcheng Radio and Television University said that Professor Ye’s lecture gave her a deep sense of her responsibility and mission as an educator. She was encouraged to seek further development and improve herself according to the requirements set by the Party and the people for college teachers in the new era, and contribute her strengths to the development of education in China.

The training event played a positive role in helping teachers develop a deep understanding of the significance of the construction of teachers’ ethics in the OUC system. It also strengthened teachers’ ideals and their determination to reinforce education construction work, engage in the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, and develop the OUC into a world-class open university with Chinese characteristics.

By OUC Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development