From 23 to 26 May 2024, a delegation led by Li Song, vice president and a member of the Party Committee of the Open University of China (OUC), embarked on a special research mission in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces.
The objective was to implement the directives outlined in the "Key Tasks for 2024 of the Open University of China (OUC, also known as Seniors University of China)" and to enhance the open education system and the credit bank framework. This initiative aimed to foster the high-quality development of open universities and bolster their capacity to serve the construction of learning-oriented societies.
During the visit, the research team engaged in comprehensive discussions with leadership teams from both Heilongjiang Open University and Jilin Open University. These included Man Chuntao, Party secretary, Guan Changfu, president, Wang Chuntao, deputy secretary of the Party Committee, Zhang Tiejun, vice president, Geng Yulong, secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, and Hu Yunping, along with other department heads from Heilongjiang Open University. From Jilin Open University, Vice President Sun Li and relevant department heads participated. The discussions focused on the operational status of the educational systems and the progress of the credit bank, followed by in-depth group seminars and field visits to relevant sites.
Li Song emphasised the critical role of open universities in elevating the educational standards of the populace, bridging educational disparities, and promoting equity in education. In the context of building an education powerhouse, open universities are encouraged to capitalize on historical opportunities, leverage their unique strengths, and pursue a development strategy that prioritizes standardization, ensures quality, embraces distinctiveness, and leads by innovations and reforms. This approach is pivotal for advancing the high-quality development of open education and contributing to the formation of a learning-oriented nation. Li Song also underscored the importance of the credit bank as a foundational institution for building a learning-oriented society, advocating for its strategic alignment with the national goals, clear direction setting, development of synergy within the system, and enhancement of its service capabilities to broaden its scope and impact.
The research activities were supported by key personnel from the OUC, including Wang Ran, executive deputy director of the OUC Credit Bank (Learning Outcomes Accreditation Centre), and Jin Yan and Zhao Jia, deputy directors of the OUC Department of Quality Monitoring and Control.
By OUC Credit Bank (Learning Outcomes Accreditation Centre), Department of Quality Monitoring and Control