On 28 October 2024, Liu Xuanxuan, vice president of the Open University of China (OUC), met with a delegation led by Dr. Matthew Landu, pro-vice chancellor of the University of Goroka (UOG) in Papua New Guinea.
They carried out discussions and exchanges regarding the Papua New Guinea Open Learning Centre and the inter-university cooperation between the two institutions. Robert Parua, UNESCO Beijing Education specialist, and Dr. Jane Awi, executive director of Somare Research Institute at the UOG, among others, participated in the discussion. The symposium was presided over by Liu Haiying, deputy dean of the College of International Education at the OUC.
Liu Xuanxuan warmly greeted Matthew Landu and his delegation upon their arrival. She provided a succinct overview of the OUC's 45 years of educational expertise, highlighting the university's recent strides in international development. She also reflected on the recent collaborative achievements with the UOG. Looking to the future, Liu expressed her desire to closely collaborate with the UOG to enhance the development of the Papua New Guinea Open Learning Centre, aiming to seamlessly integrate this initiative into the broader framework and strategic objectives of the OUC’s Open Learning Centre programme, thereby elevating the partnership to new heights.
Dr. Matthew Landu articulated his desire to enhance the collaboration with the OUC, aiming to further enrich and expand the curriculum and pedagogical approaches at the Papua New Guinea Open Learning Centre. He expressed his gratitude towards the OUC for the technical support extended to the UOG and proposed the initiative to dispatch technicians to China for advanced training. He earnestly extended an invitation to the leadership, faculty, and technical staff of the OUC to visit Papua New Guinea to provide expert guidance on the development of the local online learning platform.
Wang Xiangxu, deputy dean of the College of International Education at the OUC, introduced the latest progress in the relevant work of the university's Open Learning Centre programme. Lan Tian, operation manager of the OUC Online Education & Information Technology Co., Ltd., presented the design plan for the online learning platform development for the UOG.
The two parties engaged in thorough discussions regarding the enhancement of the Papua New Guinea Open Learning Centre's infrastructure, as well as the development and implementation of the supported online learning platform. They also explored cooperative initiatives such as the provision of 'Chinese + Vocational Skills' training programmes. These discussions are expected to solidify a strong foundation for achieving greater outcomes in their future collaborations.
Written by Lyu Guangru, photos by Zhuge Huanyu, OUC