Editor’s Note: In July, 2012, the Open University of China (OUC) was inaugurated on the basis of the China Central Radio and Television University. For 5 years, the OUC has always been adhering to its unique mission and has made active explorations around the "1314 projects" and new contributions to promote equality in learning and the formation of a society for all people to learn and lifelong learning, which has won wide recognition from the society.
The ICDE (International Council for Open and Distance Education) Leadership Summit and ICDE-UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Leadership Forum were held from 22-24th May, 2017 in Nancy, France and the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, respectively. A delegation of five people from the OUC, led by vice president Qi Yanwei, attended the conferences.
Introduction
Changes in the economy, society, higher education, and technologies have influenced open universities significantly.
On 1st April, 2017, Huaqiao College of the Open University of China (OUC), oriented toward Chinese living overseas, Chinese and their family members returned from overseas, and Chinese learners across the globe, was established in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This signifies Chengdu’s development into a city of national importance, a key hub connecting China with the world, as well as an important channel to spread Chinese culture.
From 16th to 24th March 2017, at the invitation of Egerton University, African Council for Distance Education, and the Open University of Tanzania, the Open University of China (OUC) dispatched a delegation led by its vice president Yang Xiaotang to visit Kenya and Tanzania.
The results of the “Top Ten People in the News for Chinese Undertakings for the Disabled 2016” were unveiled recently. Rong Jing, a member of the China Wheelchair Fencing Team and an OUC student, achieved the most votes and successfully entered the selection.
On the morning of 7th March 2017, the president of the Open University of China (OUC), Yang Zhijian, visited the office of www.china.org.cn. Deputy chief editor of the website, Xue Lisheng, greeted the OUC delegation. Later, Yang was invited to appear on the programme "Educational Celebrity Lectures” run by the website’s education channel, in which the president shared his views on lifelong learning and the construction of open universities.
On 16th - 17th February , 2017, the OUC held its 2017 Working Conference in Beijing. The OUC’s leadership and mid-level management attended the conference. OUC President Yang Zhijian unveiled the key tasks for 2017.