The afternoon of November 15 saw the OUC-TRU Joint Research Center unveiled in the Wukesong Publishing Building. The President of the Open University of China (OUC) Yang Zhijian and the New President of the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) of Canada Alan Shaver signed a statement of intent at the inauguration ceremony, and participants held discussions on the plans for cooperation.

Since the two universities 2008 agreement on the collaborative research programme of prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) was signed, the bilateral cooperation has progressed smoothly. A strong cooperative foundation has been laid for research and smooth communication channels established through frequent bilateral visits in the past three years. As a result of the current consultation, the content and plan for PLAR training have been defined, with a joint research center to be established, laying a foundation for future in-depth and extensive cooperative research between the two universities. At present, the work of the joint research center will focus on PLAR research, PLAR staff training, as well as cooperation on Chinese language teaching.

Those who unveiled the plate of the OUC-TRU Joint Research Center include OUC President Yang Zhijian, Vice President Zhang Shaogang, TRU Interim President Roger Barnsley, New President Alan Shaver, and TRU Vice President Judith Murray.

President Yang expressed his hope for the joint research center to become bigger and stronger. He said that the OUC, should further expand its international perspective with extensive international exchanges and cooperation, learning from others' experience and sharing resources. Vice President Zhang expressed his congratulations on the establishment of the joint research center and his hope for new avenues to expand and deepen cooperation.

President Alan Shaver said in his speech that he chose China for his first overseas trip after taking office because China will be one of his university's most important partners in the future. Both the OUC and the TRU are universities engaged in teaching with technology, so there is great potential for cooperation. He added that the current PLAR cooperative research forms a very good beginning and he hoped to see greater bilateral cooperation in the future. Vice President Judith Murray in charge of the TRU's open education expressed her appreciation for the efforts made by the both sides, hoping that deeper cooperation on PLAR research and training could be realized over time.

By Wang Ying, Yin Shuangxu, the OUC