The Open University of China (OUC) recently hosted two sessions of the exhibition and exchange activities showcasing construction achievements for the national-level demonstration project of integrating ideological and political education into courses.
These sessions took place on 31 October and 14 November 2023. The aim of these activities was to advance the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education and to deepen teaching reforms in line with the Ministry of Education's requirements. Seven teachers, including Guo Qingchun, Liu Zhimin, and Gu Xiaohua, who have received honours for their contributions to the project, shared their experiences and outcomes in incorporating ideological and political education into their courses.
The exhibition and exchange activities were conducted both in-person and online, involving all teachers and related teaching management staff from the OUC system. Over 360 participants attended the event on-site, while the online live broadcast attracted an audience of 63,000 persons/times. During the workshop sessions, teachers and presenters engaged in in-depth exchanges and discussions on various aspects of ideological and political education. This included exploring and integrating ideological elements, addressing student needs, utilizing effective teaching methods, fostering teacher-student interaction, and evaluating course outcomes.
The teachers in attendance expressed their satisfaction with the richness and practicality of the activities, highlighting their relevance and the practical guidance provided. The seven demonstration project teams displayed their collaborative innovations in course-based ideological and political education, each exhibiting their unique strengths. They focused on comprehensive course design and paid meticulous attention to details, resulting in significant educational effectiveness. This highlights the OUC's commitment to steady progress and dedicated cultivation in teaching exploration. The teachers unanimously agreed that they greatly benefited from this activity, which will significantly guide the improvement of their own work in the future.
These initiatives are integral to the OUC's ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of integrating ideological and political education into its curriculum, while also advancing educational and teaching reforms. The university's dedication to this objective is clear in its persistent determination and efforts. Through the organisation of focused exhibitions and exchange activities, the OUC has fostered increased collaboration and research engagement among faculty members. This has not only strengthened the internal framework of the university but has also significantly deepened its commitment to teaching reform.
Looking ahead, the OUC is committed to further developing its demonstration project, which focuses on integrating ideological and political education into its courses. This initiative includes the creation of "model rooms" and "premier course groups" that showcase the distinctive aspects of open university education. Additionally, the project aims to enhance its leading role by expanding these features. There will be special training sessions on course-based ideological and political education, alongside selection of achievements in this area, teaching design, and lesson plan presentation competitions. These efforts are designed to effectively boost teachers' awareness and skills, positioning them as the key drivers in integrating ideological and political education into the curriculum. Furthermore, the OUC is dedicated to vigorously advancing comprehensive education reform. This involves focusing on various elements to ensure educational effectiveness and aligning with the contemporary mandate to "build a leading country in education: the OUC’s role."
By OUC Academic Affairs Department