On 24 April 2024, Wang Qiming, secretary of the Party Committee and president, along with Fan Xianrui, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of the Open University of China (OUC), also known as the Seniors University of China (SUC), led a delegation to Jiangsu Open University (OU).

They conducted research into elderly education and attended the unveiling ceremony of the SUC Jiangsu Branch.

The leaders who attended the unveiling ceremony included Hu Gang, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Political Consultative Conference; Wang Yanwen, president of the Jiangsu Aging Development Research Association, director of the Aging Civilization Think Tank, and director of the Aging Civilization Learning Alliance; Cao Yumei, deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Education Department; Jing Xuan, secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangsu Open University (OU) (also known as Jiangsu Seniors Open University, Jiangsu SOU); and Ding Rongyu, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Jiangsu OU (SOU). Together, they launched a new chapter in elderly education in Jiangsu.

Hu Gang stated that Jiangsu has embarked on an innovative path in promoting the high-quality development of seniors' universities and advancing the cause of aging by adhering to the aging work policy of "Party Committee Leadership, Government Guidance, Social Participation, and Nationwide Action." It is essential for Jiangsu OU to actively respond to the demands of the times and the needs of the people, lead by example in the field of elderly education throughout the province, contribute "Jiangsu wisdom" to the proactive response to population aging, and achieve the modernization of elderly education in Jiangsu.

Wang Qiming congratulated the establishment of the SUC Jiangsu Branch and fully affirmed the efforts of Jiangsu OU in elderly education. He reiterated the need to collaboratively address this issue and foster innovation in supporting the national aging strategy and the development of a learning society. It is crucial to position the SUC as a "main channel" for elderly education, a "strong orientation" for proactive health, and a "catalyst" for the silver economy through systematic and collaborative reforms and innovation. This will add new strength to the proactive practice of enabling the elderly to learn, enjoy, and contribute.

Jing Xuan noted that the Jiangsu Branch will uphold the SUC’s educational tenet of “cultivating virtue, pursuing lifelong learning, proactively maintaining health, embracing a joyful life, and achieving positive accomplishments.” It will also follow Jiangsu OU’s educational philosophy of "innovation, openness, integration, and sharing." This approach will ensure consistent efforts to meet the elderly’s specific needs for “access to teaching, learning, happiness, and accomplishment.”

Ding Rongyu has issued the action declaration "Serving Elderly Learning and Promoting Aging Civilization." The declaration emphasises the need to establish a positive view of aging, practice respect for the elderly, uphold the new development concept, advance lifelong learning, and promote elderly development. It promises to deepen the integration of digital and intelligent technologies to improve service quality and calls for strengthening collaborative innovation to build an aging civilization together.

On the afternoon of 24 April, Fan Xianrui attended the 2024 Elderly Education Development Forum, titled "Aging Civilization and Modernization of Elderly Education," hosted by Jiangsu OU. She delivered a keynote speech at the event.

On 25 April, Fan Xianrui and her team visited Suzhou Seniors University and Suzhou OU for a research investigation. They also held discussions with staff from the Suzhou Education Bureau, Suzhou OU, Suzhou University, and other institutions to gain a deeper understanding of elderly education development in Suzhou.

Representatives from the Comprehensive Management Centre, the Seniors College, and the General Office of the Party and Administration at the OUC (SUC) participated in the investigation.

By SUC