On March 20-21, the OUC held a conference for the official launch of a pilot project to establish local colleges and learning centers. A number of research proposals were discussed during the conference. The pilot project and research proposals were examined and approved in accordance with the general requirements of the OUC’s operating mechanism. During the conference, it was also decided that Tianjin Open University would be included in the pilot project.
Yang Zhijian and Yan Bing, president and vice-president of the OUC, and other leaders from project-related provincial RTVUs in Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Gansu, Qingdao, Guangzhou and Xi’an attended the conference.
The OUC will work together with provincial RTVUs and local open universities to promote the construction of the OUC operating mechanism and increase the standard of local RTVUs, according to the principles of “negotiation, joint development, joint management, sharing, mutual benefit, spirit of willingness and equality”. It is hoped that the pilot project will strengthen cohesion among RTVUs, and stimulate the reform of the OUC headquarters.
In order to build a better OUC, the following six issues need to be addressed: the overall structure of the OUC; the use of the school’s operating system to promote joint-development and sharing; technological support; institutional design; adjustment of the inner reform of the headquarters and its branches to the OUC’s operating mechanism; and negative energy control and positive energy release during the construction of the pilot project. The local colleges and learning centers are also facing six issues: essential elements; functions; development mode; operating mechanism; overall structure; and evaluation system.
Leaders and research staff from seven provincial RTVUs gave a summary of their strategic plan for the pilot project. They also presented research proposals. In addition, the conference set out issues including scope, target, name, organization, expenditure, and schedule.
By Yao Wenjian, the OUC