The Education Research Institute of the Open University of China (OUC) has been working together with other OUC sectors to strengthen exchanges with international open and distance educational organisations and open universities from around the world in order to promote international academic research — in particular, cooperative academic research with open universities along the Belt and Road routes — and expand the OUC’s influence in the field of international open and distance education.

On the morning of 23 April 2019, the OUC Education Research Institute and the OUC Press jointly held a manuscript review meeting for A Study of the University of the Philippines Open University, one of the second batch of World Open Universities Case Study Series (Chinese and English version) of books. President of University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and chancellor of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria and Ms. Li Yawan, researcher and former director of OUC International Cooperation and Exchange Department, were invited to attend the review meeting in the capacity of review experts. Other personnel attending the meeting included the book’s author team from both the Chinese and Filipinos sides: Feng Lin, deputy chief editor of OUC Press and Media Group; Wang Xiangxu, deputy head of the OUC International and Comparative Education Centre of the Education Research Institute; Liu Zhijun, director of the General (Academic) Business Department of the OUC Press; Xin Yin, project editor of the OUC Press; Dr. Joane Serrano, director of the Information Office of UPOU; and Dr. Yang Bo and Dr. Shi Sen from Beijing Open University. The meeting was presided over by Wang Xiangxu.

Feng Lin gave a welcome speech to Professor Melinda dP. Bandalaria on behalf of the OUC Press and Media Group and conveyed their appreciation to the experts for their careful review of the book. Wang Xiangxu introduced the background of and latest progress on the World Open Universities Case Study Series on behalf of the team. The two review experts gave detailed comments on the manuscript for A Study of the University of the Philippines Open University and put forward suggestions for further improvement. The author team held exchanges and discussions with the review experts.

On the afternoon of the same day, Professor Melinda dP. Bandalaria was invited by the OUC Education Research Institute and the OUC International Cooperation and Exchange Department to attend a symposium. The personnel attending the symposium included Chen Haishan, director of the OUC International Cooperation and Exchange Department; Du Qian from the same department; Wang Ying and Li Wei, director and deputy director of the OUC Education Research Institute; Wang Xiangxu, deputy head of the OUC International and Comparative Education Centre; Pan Chao, director of the Editorial Department of the E-Learning Magazine; and Yang Bo from Beijing Open University. The symposium was presided over by Wang Xiangxu. The attendees discussed issues related to cooperative research between UPOU and AAOU, and expressed their intention to extend their cooperation.

By Wang Xiangxu, OUC