To effectively implement the guiding principles from the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and build upon the results of the thematic educational campaign focused on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Li Song, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of the Open University of China (OUC), led a team on a visit to the Fujian Branch from 8-11 October, 2023.
This visit aimed to conduct on-site evaluations of the Ministry of Education's "One College Student Per College Village" Programme. They delved into areas such as major setups, curriculum structure, learning resources, assessment techniques, support services, and sustainable development.
At Fujian Open University (OU), the investigative team held a round-table discussion with key leaders, programme managers, and course leaders. They gained insights into the accomplishments and experiences of the Fujian Branch in executing the "One College Student Per Village" Programme. Additionally, they explored the current state of their educational initiatives and future development strategies, as well as challenges in enrollment, instruction, management, and course delivery.
The investigation team convened round-table discussions at Quanzhou Open University and the Nan'an School of Fujian OU. During these sessions, they engaged with the leadership, faculty representatives, students, and local education authorities. The dialogues offered a comprehensive insight into the local implementation of the "One College Student Per Village" Programme. They addressed challenges, learning requirements, development visions, and suggestions. Furthermore, they shed light on the significant practices and accomplishments of local open universities and students in supporting local socioeconomic growth and rural revitalisation.
The investigative team toured Zenglin Community in Lingyuan Street and Lingpan Village in Cizao Township, both in Jinjiang City. Lingpan Village stands as a model for provincial-level rural governance in Fujian. Throughout their visit, the team gained insights from the Party branch secretaries about the community and village's progress. They also delved into the hands-on experiences shared by Wu Guozhou and Wu Shunjin, participants of the "One College Student Per Village" Programme. These students played pivotal roles in championing the combined growth of "Party Building+" neighborhood centres and rural governance in these regions. Additionally, the team explored the preservation, evolution, and innovation of ceramic culture in these areas.
Li Song emphasised the need to bolster awareness from the standpoints of establishing China as a frontrunner in education, fostering a nation dedicated to lifelong learning, the pivotal role of open universities in aligning with national strategies, and the pathway of open education to attain comprehensive, high-quality growth in the coming years. He underscored the importance of deepening research and systematically assessing the progress of the "One College Student Per Village" Programme over the last two decades. The methodology should be problem and outcome-driven, aiming to strategically map out an effective route for open universities to nurture specific local talent crucial for rural revitalisation as China embarks on its modernization journey. This effort is set to groom more grassroots talented people who are not only willing to remain but are also competent and invaluable for local progress.
Li Zhengguang, Party Committee member and vice president of Fujian OU, along with Li Guangde, dean of the Faculty of Agroforestry and Medicine (Rural Revitalisation College) at OUC, and Huang Linhao, vice dean of the School of Science and Engineering at Fujian OU, join the investigation.
By Du Ziyi, OUC