From 28 to 29 May 2024, 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 Hebei Province to survey the state of elderly education.
On the 29th, Fan Xianrui attended and addressed the video promotion meeting on elderly education in Hebei Province.
The video meeting, held a year after deeply implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during the fifth group study session of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, was a concrete measure by the Hebei Provincial Department of Education to actualize the vision of high-quality elderly education. Attending the meeting in person were Zhang Chunsheng, deputy director of the Hebei Provincial Department of Education; Ji Xianping, secretary of the Party Committee of Hebei Open University (SUC Hebei Branch); Chen Junping, vice president of Hebei Open University; and other heads from relevant departments such as the Hebei Provincial Party Committee's Bureau of Elderly Cadres, the Provincial Culture and Tourism Bureau, the Provincial Adult Education Association, and the Hebei Provincial Department of Education. Over 240 individuals, including leaders from the educational bureaus of various cities in Hebei, municipal open universities, and higher vocational colleges, participated online.
At the meeting, Fan Xianrui highlighted the positive progress of the SUC since its inception a year ago. She outlined the university's commitment to advancing a "Ten Major Actions" plan, urging all stakeholders to collaborate, resonate, and align their efforts. The goal is to transform the SUC into the "primary channel" for elderly education, a "strong orientation" towards proactive health, and a "catalyst" for the silver economy through systemic and collaborative reforms. Subsequently, Fan Xianrui announced the "Notice on the Establishment of the SUC Hebei Branch."
Zhang Chunsheng emphasised that the Hebei Provincial Department of Education is deeply committed to elderly education, actively constructing and refining the educational framework for the elderly. He underscored continuous improvement in professional and faculty development, the advancement of digitalisation, and the efforts to establish a new paradigm for elderly education. Zhang declared that the department would use the establishment of the SUC Hebei Branch as a springboard to strengthen coordination, enhance demonstration effects, gather innovative forces, and propel high-quality development in Hebei's elderly education.
During the investigation, the delegation, led by Fan Xianrui, visited Tayuanzhuang Village, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City to survey the local elderly education initiatives. They also engaged in discussions on the construction of the SUC Hebei Branch at Hebei Open University. Relevant leaders from the SUC's Comprehensive Management Centre, Resource Platform Centre, Seniors College, and Bell & Horn Education and Technology participated in the business investigation.
Contributed by SUC