Recently, Luoyang Open University held the opening ceremony for its inaugural calligraphy undergraduate class and the "Luo • Lecture Hall" Lifelong Learning Lecture Series in Xin'an County, known as the hometown of Chinese calligraphy.
The event was attended by notable representatives including Pang Zhonghua, a distinguished professor at the Open University of China (OUC); Wang Jidong, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Henan Open University; Li Xin, secretary of the Party Committee of Luoyang Open University; and Xin'an County leaders Wang Zhi and Wang Xiaohui, along with Wang Shaofan, a calligraphy teacher from the School of Art of the OUC. Over 200 participants, including new students of the 2024 autumn calligraphy programme at Luoyang Open University and local calligraphy enthusiasts, attended the event. The ceremony was hosted by Li Xin.
In his opening speech, Wang Jidong emphasised the importance of cherishing learning opportunities and encouraged all calligraphy class students to strive to improve their calligraphy skills and theoretical knowledge. He urged them to inspire more people to love and engage in calligraphy, thereby contributing to the local economic, social, and cultural development. He called for enhanced cooperation among the provincial, municipal, and county-level open universities, under the guidance of the OUC, to build a high-quality educational system. He also stressed the importance of promoting the coordinated development of degree and non-degree education to advance the high-quality development of open universities. Additionally, Wang Jidong presented Professor Pang Zhonghua with an appointment letter as a distinguished professor at Luoyang Open University.
Tuo Wenjing, former vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Xin'an County , spoke on behalf of the new calligraphy students. He expressed his determination to practice lifelong learning and excel in calligraphy, and he extended his gratitude to the OUC for offering the calligraphy programme. With deep emotion, he said, "Today, I confidently step into the open university and become a student in the calligraphy undergraduate programme. I have been waiting for over seventy years for this day. I am grateful to the open university for its broad-mindedness, for accepting an elderly person over sixty years old and giving me the opportunity to pursue my passion."
After the ceremony, Professor Pang Zhonghua delivered a special lecture. Drawing from his own experiences in learning calligraphy, he explained "Pang Zhonghua's Joyful Quick Learning Method" in a simple and easy-to-understand way, encouraging students to continuously accumulate knowledge and practise diligently. The students actively participated in interactive teaching sessions and received meticulous guidance from Professor Pang. He also played the accordion while discussing the relationship between calligraphy and music, providing an immersive calligraphy experience for the audience.
This opening ceremony represents a concrete practice of the four-level school-operational system involving the OUC, Henan Open University, Luoyang Open University, and Xin'an Open University, working together to promote high-quality calligraphy education. The educational institutions at all levels will use this opportunity to continue advancing the development of the calligraphy programme, optimising curriculum design, expanding enrolment, and further enhancing the university's influence. These efforts aim to implement the Ministry of Education's directives on fully integrating aesthetic education into schools, thereby contributing to lifelong learning and the construction of a learning society.
By School of Art, OUC