On March 7, 2014, a silk banner reading “Good education is like a spring breeze and rain, brining help like fuel delivered in the snow,” and a letter of thanks, were presented by a relative of a student to the Academic Affairs Department of the Open University of China(OUC). The banner and letter expressed the family’s appreciation to the department.  

The student in question had enrolled as a civil engineering major at a certain remote branch of CCRTVU in Xinjiang province in Fall 2011, and graduated in Spring 2014. Due to the assessment of work on February 14, the student badly needed his graduation certificate, which was being handled according to normal procedures.

On February 11, the student entrusted a relative with going to the OUC to inquire whether he could get the certificate in advance, but it happened to be winter vacation at the time. However, Kuang Guiqiu, Director of the Academic Affairs Department made a commitment right after learning of the student’s actual difficulty: “Although it is winter vacation, we will do our utmost to finish handling the student’s certificate to make sure that he can get the certificate before the 14th.” As a result, he supervised the process in person, coordinated relevant staff to return to work during the holiday and handled the urgent request. The staff in the Student Records Management Section of the Academic Affairs Department immediately started printing the graduation certificates, although the office ordinarily would have been closed over winter vacation. After more than an hour of ardent labor, a red certificate was “baked out.” The relative left happily with the certificate in hand. The student was later promoted successfully thanks to the certificate.        

In his grateful letter: the student wrote, “I have now passed my examination smoothly and entered into my next work assignment. I realize that I owe a great deal of thanks to Director Kuang and his staff for their contribution to an ordinary student like me. Meanwhile, I sincerely wish Director Kuang and his staff good health and a happy family life. My blessings are with the educational cause of my alma mater, as are my wishes that it prosper with each passing day and continue its great achievements long into the future.” 

Hearing of the heartfelt praise, the OUC Academic Affairs Department staff expressed that the silk banner indicates the recognition and trust the student placed in them. The entire staff of the Academic Affairs Department sees the prosperity of students as their top priority. This event further inspired them to be responsible with every piece of work shay do, so as to continue fostering the development of the OUC.  

By Bao Yunli, the OUC