On 28 March 2024, a delegation led by Liu Xuanxuan, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Open University of China (OUC, also referred to as the Seniors University of China, SUC), visited the Inner Mongolia Open University to explore elderly education initiatives and to officially launch the SUC Inner Mongolia Branch.

The visit was marked by a symposium on elderly education, attended by Li Fengchun, secretary of the Party Committee of the Inner Mongolia Open University; Guo Haijun, a member of the Party Committee and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee of the university; Chen Hongli, deputy director of the Vocational Education and Adult Education Department of the Inner Mongolia Department of Education; and Zhang Xueyu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Inner Mongolia Hongder College of Arts and Sciences. Also present were staff from various departments within the college directly affiliated with the OUC (SUC), including the Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development, and the General Office of Party and Administration, among others.

During the meeting, Zhao Xiurong, dean of Inner Mongolia Open University Seniors Open College, outlined the current status and challenges facing elderly education at Inner Mongolia Open University. Zhang Xueyu gave an overview of the preparatory work for the Inner Mongolia Hongder College of Arts and Sciences Seniors University, as well as the activities conducted by student volunteers in the community under the "Smart Assistance to the Elderly" programme. Chen Hongli delved into the development of elderly education in the autonomous region, with a focus on establishing educational platforms, improving talent training, expanding resource allocation, and fostering collaboration across multiple sectors. Additionally, Chen provided insights into the challenges and offered suggestions for further advancement.

Liu Xuanxuan commended the advancements in elderly education at Inner Mongolia Open University, offering an insightful overview of the achievements since the establishment of SUC. She noted that, from the outset, the Open University education system has been rapidly advancing the joint construction of the senior university initiative, harnessing digital technology to enhance the quality of education for the elderly. This effort has included the launch of a variety of unique activities, the expansion of the faculty, a continual increase in the availability of resources, bolstered promotional efforts, and initial strides in research and international exchanges. This marks the dawn of a new era in education for the elderly.

Li Fengchun emphasised that, with over four decades of experience and a system offering educational advantages, the Open University is pivotal in implementing elderly education initiatives. He encouraged the Inner Mongolia Open University to take advantage of collaboration opportunities among its branch campuses and the vocational colleges in league cities to further elderly education throughout urban and rural areas in the region. He also expressed hope that related branches would benefit from improved guidance from the SUC on standardizing construction for universities catering to the elderly in the future.

On the same day, Liu Xuanxuan and her delegation conducted on-site visits to the Inner Mongolia Seniors Open University and the Ulanqab Seniors Open University.

On the morning of the 29th, Liu Xuanxuan and her team visited the Baotou Open University to attend its new student orientation and inauguration ceremonies. There, she expressed several expectations for the institution, emphasising the importance of prioritizing its mission to serve a learning society and the nation, and accelerating the development of a new lifelong education system for the modern era. She encouraged the proactive implementation of strategies to address the nation's ageing population by promoting the growth of education for the elderly. Additionally, she stressed the importance of thoroughly implementing national digitalisation strategies and actively advancing digital infrastructure through innovation.

After the inauguration ceremony, the delegation went on to conduct a field investigation at Baotou Senior University (Baotou Senior Education Development Centre) to research its educational practices. Liu Chun, deputy secretary of the Inner Mongolia Open University Party Committee and president, along with leaders from relevant departments and units, participated in the research activities.

By Seniors College