Recently, the Open University of China (OUC) hosted the inaugural lecture of its "2024 Special Training Series on Integration of Ideological and Political Education into Courses."

The lecture, titled "Upholding the Spirit of Educators and Cultivating a High-Quality Teacher Team," is part of the "Lectures by Famous Teachers from 100 Universities" series. The lecture was delivered by Professor Meng Fanhua, a renowned Chinese educator, chairman of the Beijing Education Association, and former Party secretary and president of Capital Normal University. The session was chaired by Liu Xuanxuan, deputy Party secretary and secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of the OUC.

In the lecture, Professor Meng Fanhua, who is deeply knowledgeable and has extensive practical experience, discussed the profound significance and practical demands of the educator's spirit. He emphasised that upholding this spirit is essential for developing a high-quality teacher team, a requirement of our times. Professor Meng shared his thoughts and insights on nurturing top-tier faculty and offered suggestions and measures to foster teachers' professional development through the educator's spirit.

Liu Xuanxuan expressed her high appreciation and sincere gratitude to Professor Meng Fanhua for his outstanding lecture. She emphasised that the lecture served as an excellent kickoff for OUC in its efforts to promote the development of high-quality integration of ideological and political education into courses. She encouraged all teachers to actively embrace and embody the spirit of an educator, continuously enhance their educational and teaching skills, and make significant contributions to nurturing exceptional talent. This, she noted, would support the construction of a robust educational system and contribute to building a strong educational nation through practical actions.

The atmosphere of the lecture was charged. Over 150 teachers from headquarters attended in person, while nearly 40,000 teachers from regional branches and schools participated online. During the interactive session, the teachers engaged in discussions and exchanged ideas with Professor Meng Fanhua, focusing on "how to embody the spirit of educators starting with themselves" and "how the OUC can offer better training for teacher development in counties and villages." Participants noted that Professor Meng Fanhua delivered the lecture with profound insights in a clear and simple manner. The content was rich, the thoughts were deep, and the approach was innovative. The inspiring presentation shed light on understanding and implementing the spirit of educators and provided professional guidance on building a high-quality teacher team.

In the future, the OUC will continue to organise special training sessions on integration of ideological and political education into courses in line with the overall strategy, providing teachers with additional platforms for learning and exchange.

This activity was co-organised by the Academic Affairs Department, the School of Education, and the Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development.

By the Academic Affairs Department and School of Education