The 24th AAOU (Asian Association of Open Universities) Annual Conference was held in Hanoi, Vietnam between October 26-28. This year's conference was themed "Open Distance Learning towards Building Sustainable Global Learning Communities" and sponsored by Hanoi Open University of Vietnam. 415 representatives from 22 countries and regions attended the academic exchange conference on distance education. A delegation headed by Zhang Hui, vice president of the Open University of China (OUC) attended the conference, at which the OUC was elected a member of the next AAOU Executive Committee (2011-2013).

Eight influential experts on distance education were invited to deliver keynote speeches at the plenary sessions, namely Professor G. Dhanarajan from Wawasan Open University (WOU) in Malaysia, Professor Jon Baggaley from Athabasca University in Canada, Professor and Vice Chairman Asha Kanwar from the Commonwealth of Learning, Professor Hiromitsu Ishi from the Open University of Japan (OUJ), Professor Emeritus Anuwar Ali from the Open University of Malaysia (OUM), Professor Insung Jung from the International Christian University in Japan, Professor Lam Quang Thiep from Thang Long University (the first private university in Vietnam), Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, Doctor and Director of Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC). The experts shared their insights and experience with the other participants. 180 full papers were collected at the conference. At five parallel sessions speeches and discussions were held on the sub-themes of Ideology and Philosophy, Partnership and Communication, Methodology and Technology, Sustainability, Accessibility, Equity and Quality, and Opportunities and Challenges. OUC delegation members Li Ying, Yuan Yaxing, Li Xueying and Niu Ben read their papers on the sub-themes of the conference, such as ideology, partnership and communication, and the sustainable development of distance education.

At the plenary session on October 26th, the AAOU Executive Board Meeting and AAOU General Body Meeting elected the next president and members of the AAOU Executive Committee for 2011-2013. President Wong Tat Meng from WOU of Malaysia was elected as the next president of the AAOU. OUC Vice President Zhang Hui attended the AAOU Executive Board Meeting and AAOU General Body Meeting, on behalf of the OUC, and the OUC was elected one of the nine members of the Executive Committee.

Vice Premier Nguyen Thien Nhan delivers his speech at the opening ceremony.

Vice Premier Nguyen Thien Nhan is talking with Mr. Zhang Hui, the Vice President of the OUC.

On the afternoon of October 26th, a pre-conference panel presentation and discussion was held on the transnational research programme of open education resources (OER) in Asia. The programme is chaired by Professor G. Dhanarajan, a senior expert on distance education in Asia. It is sponsored by the International Development Research Center of Canada, with the aims of understanding the development and future of open education resources in Asia, and promoting the sharing of distance education course resources, learning tools and transmission strategies in Asia through multinational cooperative research. Several Asian open universities participate in this research programme, including the OUC, HOU, the OUJ, the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), WOU, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the University of Philippines Open University. Li Yawan, Director of the OUC International Cooperation and Exchange Division presented a report on the development of OER in China. The leaders of research groups from HOU, the OUJ, the OUHK also reported on the development of OER in their countries and regions. This research programme is expected to be finished in 27 months. In the implementation process, each open university participating in the programme will carry out an investigation into the OER in its own university and make a comparison with other institutions. They will also report their work and exchange experiences with each other via the AAOU Annual Conference and other avenues.

On October 27th, the 24th AAOU Annual Conference held its grand opening ceremony, attended by Vice Premier of Vietnam Nguyen Thien Nhan and Deputy Minister for Education and Training Bui Van Ga. Vice Premier Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed his readiness to cooperate with China on distance education and will organize a special delegation from the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam to visit the OUC.

 Mr. Zhang Hui and Ms. Li Yawan, the Director of the International  Cooperation and  Exchange Division of the OUC are taking a photo with Mr. Le Van Thanhthe, the President of Hanoi Open University.

Delegates from the OUC are with the attendees from other countries.

By Li Ying and Niu Ben, the OUC