On June 20-24, a six-member delegation led by Secretary Li Ling of the CPC Committee of the Open University of China (OUC) went to the Open University of Taiwan (OUT), OUT Taizhong Learning Centre, and Chinese Culture University of Taiwan (CCU) for an academic visit. Representatives from the OUC Human Resources Department, Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, the Research and Training Centre for Community Education with the Ministry of Education (MoE), and others joined in the exchange activities.
On June 20, the OUC delegation visited the OUT campus. Mr. Zhang Jihao, the OUT president, introduced the basic conditions of the university, and officials from the OUT Department of Academic Affairs, Department of Student Affairs, Publication Centre, Instructional Media Department, and Department of Research and Development introduced teaching and student guidance work, development of online learning and teaching models, the organization, standards, and procedures for producing multimedia teaching materials, and the development of OUT teachers and teaching methods. Secretary Li Ling introduced the background, current conditions, and work plan for the next period of OUC construction. Director Guo Hongyang from the OUC Human Resources Department, Director Yang Yongbo from the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, and Director Zhou Yanjun from the MoE Research & Training Centre for Community Education each respectively introduced the OUC's work on the credit bank, the four support and cooperation alliances, teaching Chinese as a second language, and community education. There was an interchange of constructive communication. Both sides expressed their hope to further strengthen exchange and cooperation in course construction, teacher training, online teaching and research, and so on.
On June 21, the OUC delegation visited the OUT Taizhong Learning Centre. Director Lin Liancong gave a brief introduction to the development of the construction of Taizhong Learning Centre. Outstanding alumni, and representatives of student associations and the student union, were invited to introduce their diversified student activities as well as the practice and experience of enhancing the students’ sense of belonging and sense of identity. Descriptions were also provided on the construction of learning centres, non-degree education, and cooperation in running schools with industries and enterprises.
On June 24, the OUC delegation visited the CCU School of Continuing Education and its intelligent teaching building. Dr. Zheng Xucheng, information director of the CCU School of Continuing Education, introduced the curriculum for continuing education and the development of teaching staff. Both sides talked at length on the topics of organization management, financial relations, organization setup, and course production.
All the OUC delegation members said that the exchange activities opened their horizons, inspired their thinking, and initiated new thoughts on the reform and development of the school. The visit was fruitful. The members were determined to use the experience gained from the visit to help further the growth of the OUC in new ways and by implementing new, practical solutions in future construction.
By Xu Mingjun, the OUC