On the morning of January 21, 2014, the China University of Petroleum (Beijing) Distance Cup Press Conference was held to announce the result of the Top Ten News Events for 2013 Modern Distance Education in China. The 2013 Top Ten Hot Pilot Institutions of Higher Education for Modern Distance Education was also released. Executive Vice Secretary-General Li Defang
of the Modern Distance Education Coordination Group for National Institutions of Higher Education, Zhang Shaogang, Vice President of the Open University of China and Director of the Academic Committee, President Zhang Yunxiang of the School of Distance Education of the China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Yin Weizhong, proprietor of the magazine Distance Education in China, Xia Weifeng, Executive Editor-in-chief of Distance Education in China (news), and journalists from all major media outlets assembled for the announcement of the selection of the top ten news stories of 2013 on modern distance education in China.
The ten top news events on distance education in China were selected according to the criteria: “big events, great influence, new trends, and new topics”. Candidates were selected by the publisher of Distance Education in China, and final selections were made via network voting and expert review. This marks the 14th year of this selection and announcement, which has been in place since 2000.
Those especially invited for the selection of the top ten news events include Liu Ying, Director of Distance and Continuing Education Division under the Department of Vocational and Adult Education with the Ministry of Education, Li Defang, Executive Vice Secretary-General of the Modern Distance Education Coordination Group for National Institutions of Higher Education, Vice President Yan Bing of the Open University of China, Shang Junjie, Vice President of the School of Education and Director of the Department of Education with Peking University, President Zhang Yunxiang of the School of Distance Education of the China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Yin Weizhong, proprietor of the magazine Distance Education in China, and other experts.
At the conference, experts and media journalists jointly reviewed the landmark events in modern distance education in China during 2013. There were extensive deliberations and in-depth discussions on a number of issues, such as the impact of MOOCs over traditional universities, the evolution of education brought on by advances in information technology, and the successive involvement of internet institutions in online education. They pointed out that education in China is currently undergoing profound changes from the top down. According to the experts, the once marginalized and unknown online education has swiftly begun to experience a great surge in popularity. The great support for MOOCs creates both challenges and opportunities for China, who should seize the opportunity and follow its own path in MOOCs.
Those at the conference asserted the authority and influence of the top ten news events selected by the magazine Distance Education in China for over ten years in a row.
The list of the 2013 Top Ten Hot Pilot Institutions of Higher Education for Modern Distance Education was also announced at the same time. This represents the eighth selection done through xuexigang.com, the website of the magazine Distance Education in China since 2006. The award winners are: The Open University of China, School of Online Education of Chongqing University, School of Distance Education of the University of International Business and Economics, School of Distance Education of Nanjing University (Admission Office), School of Online Education of Beijing Language and Culture University (Admission Office), School of Distance Education of the China University of Petroleum (East China), School of Distance Education of the China University of Petroleum (Beijing), School of Online Education of Jiangnan University (Admission Office), School of Online Education of the Southwest University of Science and Technology, and School of Continuing Education of the Harbin Institute of Technology (Admission Office).
The following are the top ten news events for 2013 modern distance education in China:
China’s First Set of National Standards for Adult Education Training Service Put into Practice
Media Attention to Quality of Online Degree Education, Early Warning Given by the Ministry of Education for 2013 University Online Education Admission
Successive Launch of Massive Online Open Courses by China’s Institutions of Higher Education, a Positive Involvement in International MOOCs Upsurge
Astronaut’s Lecture in Space Watched by Over 6,000 Teachers and Students
CPC Central Committee Issuing 2013 — 2017 National Cadre Education and Training Plan, a Sharp Increase of the Need for Cadre Online Education
First International Conference on Learning Cities Held in Beijing
Heated Discussions on Crises Confronted by Universities at International Conferences Leading to Consensus Reached: Internet is Changing Universities
Empowering Project Launched to Build the Capacity of Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Information Technology Application
Promoting Education Equity with Information Technology Put Forward at the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth CPC Central Committee
Arrangement of Online Education by Internet Companies Quietly Changing Market Structure
By：Distance Education in China (News)