Li Jiqiang, President of the Jianghan Branch School of Wuhan Radio and TV University (RTVU) is a person who "dares to eat crabs" (someone who dares to try new things). In Wuhan, no one had tried to offer degree education for the disabled using modern education information technologies, but with his years of experience in distance education, Li Jiqiang thought he should give it a try.
In 2005, the OUC's Jianghan Tutorial Centre of Wuhan School for the Disabled was founded in Jianghan Branch School of Wuhan RTVU. Since then, he has been working on the front-line, fighting for education, teaching, and management for the disabled, without regard for any rewards, attentively devoted to education undertakings for disabled persons.
Study Hard to Explore Rules of Special Education
He has a deep affection for distance education undertakings on behalf of the disabled, and adopts the idea of modern distance education in teaching. He is diligent, willing to explore new ideas, and can endure hardship. He makes full use of a variety of media teaching methods and strives to explore the new methods of modern distance open education teaching, adapts to the situation and the demands of the students in a timely manner, strengthening the interaction between tutors and students. His teaching methods are very popular with students. In his teaching activities, he adheres to the student-centred education concept, cares for the all-round development of students, pays attention to students' healthy personality shaping, and the cultivation of their learning ability, practice ability, and innovation ability. In teaching, he prepares lessons earnestly, with great patience and achieving good results. Due to the variety of special needs for the disabled students, sometimes the same subjects have to be opened more than once. Sometimes, courses may be offered for one single student. It is this self-sacrificing spirit and energy that allows education undertakings for the disabled to continue making advancement. He said that he is devoted to education as a cause rather than a job.
Great Love without Borders, Making Friends with Disabled Students
With his boundless and infinite love, he views the disabled as his friends and family. He is exemplary in his daily teaching work. He not only undertakes the role of a tutor, but is also a guide for his students. He is popular with the disabled students. As he said, only when we do well in the education for the disabled can we achieve true equality in education, and he truly practices what he preaches. The school focuses tightly on the needs of disabled students. As long as there is demand from students, he is always trying to satisfy them. Therefore, many disabled students from three municipal towns around Wuhan come to this school, because here they can find dignity and make new friends. The school becomes a second home to the disabled friends. This ideal situation has now become a reality. At the school, in the "one helps another" activities between tutors and disabled students, Dong Ming is the one who receives his help. Now, Dong has graduated from Jianghan Branch School, and become a national moral model.
Sow in Spring and Harvest in Autumn, Results Speak for Themselves
Li Jiqiang has been devoted to teaching within the OUC's special education programme for more than 10 years, and has an outstanding record of teaching and scientific research. He has undertaken teaching courses such as Introduction to Social Work, Administrative Management, and Entrance Guide for Open Education. He presides over the "11th Five-Year Plan" key subjects of education and science planning, in which the key subject Disabled Education Model and Practice Research of Community Education was recognized with the title "Wuhan Education Science Research Achievement". In 2008, he received a special grant from Wuhan municipal government. In 2015, he was awarded 2015 "Gardener Award for Special Education by the Bank of Communication” issued jointly by the General Office of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) and the General Office of the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Under his leadership, the OUC's Jianghan Tutorial Centre of Wuhan School for the Disabled has made gratifying achievements. In 2006 and 2007, the Centre was selected as the excellent national tutorial centre by the OUC’s School for the Disabled, and he has been able to share his experience multiple times nation-wide. In 2008, the Centre won the title "Wuhan Advanced Unit in Education, Employment, Poverty Alleviation, and Social Security Work for the Disabled"; it was named as 2009 national demonstration tutorial centre by CCRTV; it was recognized as the advanced collective of RTVU teaching affairs administration in Wuhan; and it was awarded the Organization Award in Wuhan RTVU's 2nd "High Quality Courses" selection activities.
By Chen Jing, Jianghan Branch School of Wuhan RTVU