From 3 to 4 December 2023, the Open University of China (OUC) held the Third Plenary Session of its Third Academic Committee in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province.
This meeting was organised by the OUC and jointly hosted by Jiangxi Open University (OU) and Shangrao OU. The event saw a total of 76 participants, comprising members and secretaries from the Academic Committee of the OUC.
Li Song, a member of the Party Committee, vice president, and director of the Academic Committee of the OUC
Jiang Lihua, a member of the Standing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the Shangrao Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC); and He Ruihu, secretary of the Party Committee of Jiangxi OU; delivered speeches.
Professor Li Song, a member of the Party Committee, vice president, and director of the Academic Committee of the OUC, delivered a work report titled “Drive Innovation and Scale New Heights to Serve the Construction of a World-Class Open University with Chinese Characteristics through High-Quality Academic Research" at the meeting.
Li Song highlighted that since its inception, the Third Academic Committee has been steadfast in driving the growth and innovation of open education. This commitment aligns with upholding the Party’s leadership and involves grounding strategies in the new development stage, adopting the new development philosophy, and fostering a dynamic pattern conducive to new developments. There has been a significant focus on strengthening academic responsibilities. This approach has catalyzed the transformation of academic achievements, the optimization of teaching models, and the innovation in paths for talent development. The Committee has actively worked to boost supply capacity and service levels, thereby proactively contributing to the high-quality evolution of open education.
In the OUC system, teachers and students are actively encouraged to participate in academic activities. This encouragement has resulted in over 500,000 participations. Moreover, teachers and students within the system have secured more than 800 national and provincial-level research projects. The frequency of various academic activities organised has witnessed a 30% annual increase, with participation soaring by nearly 40%.
Li Song emphasised that the goal of becoming a leading country in education sets new, elevated standards for the development of open universities. It is crucial to consider specific circumstances while striving to enhance the quality of academic research at open universities. To achieve this, several strategies have been outlined:
- Focus on contemporary issues to address the pressing questions of our times.
- Strengthen discipline construction, which is pivotal in promoting high-quality academic research through the development of disciplines and majors.
- Encourage applied research to improve the rate of transforming research findings into practical applications.
Furthermore, the Committee should maintain a China-centric approach while also embracing a global perspective. This balance is essential in fostering the development of a world-class open university that embodies Chinese characteristics.
Wang Xiaofei, a member of the Party Committee of China National Academy of Educational Sciences
Wang Xiaofei, a member of the Party Committee and director of the Research Office at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences, shared insights into the importance of organised educational research and high-level educational research in the context of establishing a leading nation in education. He also emphasised the key elements necessary for successful high-level educational research.
Huang Pinghuai, director of the Sub-committee of Literature, History, Philosophy, and Art; Yang Dongmei, director of the Sub-committee of Economics; Wang Lei, a member of the Sub-committee of Law; Chen Sheyu, director of the Sub-committee of Education; Shao Yunda, a member of the Sub-committee of Science and Engineering; Lin Xiazhen, director of the Sub-committee of Agroforestry and Medicine; and Tan Mingjie, director of the Sub-committee of Management Science, shared the achievements of their respective academic subcommittees within the OUC Academic Committee.
Professor Li Qiumei from Qinghai Open University, representing the Academic Committee members, and Chen Fengying, a representative of the members of the Youth Work Committee at the OUC headquarters, exchanged their academic insights. Secretary-General Li Wei presented a report on the adjustment of the members of the Committee.
Deputy Directors Du Ruo and Wang Zhuo of the Committee presided over the meeting. During the session, the critical role of the academic community in supporting the high-quality development of open universities was emphasised. The meeting focused on implementing the guiding principles and requirements necessary for establishing a leading nation in education, organising scientific research, and advancing the high-quality development of academics. This approach aimed to bolster confidence and drive in contributing to the high-quality growth of open universities through superior academic research.
By the Secretariat of the Academic Committee, OUC