Dec. 2023
The OUC sent a delegation to Ireland and France for a collaborative dialogue with the Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFU Global Network) and the International Association of Universities of the Third Age (IAUTA). This visit aimed to exchange views on advancing senior education on an international scale.
The OUC organised a delegation consisting of representatives from over 10 mainstream media outlets of the CPC Central Committee, including the People's Daily, Guangming Daily, China Senior Citizen Newspaper, and China Education Television. This group was sent to Fujian and various grass-roots sites of the SUC for comprehensive interviews. Their mission was to foster a societal atmosphere of awareness, concern, and support for the construction and development of the SUC, thereby engaging the wider community in this initiative.
2023-2025 Action Plan for the SUC Construction Project was issued.
Beijing Language and Culture University branch school of the SUC was founded. It is the first SUC branch school established in higher education institutions directly affiliated to the MOE.
A delegation of Xiamen Senior-Citizen University and Xiamen Open University visited the SUC to discuss on promoting the branch pilot work at the provincial level.
In the new year, we will comprehensively implement the 2023-2025 Action Plan for the SUC Construction Project. Our focus will be on promoting openness and coordination, expanding resource sharing, extending teaching services, and striving to build a superior SUC.
Nov. 2023
The 2023 SUC "Seniors Enjoy Happy Reading and Bathing in the Fragrance of Books" recitation teaching achievement and offline practice activities were successfully held in Xiamen.
The OUC, Xiamen Open University, and Xiamen Senior-Citizen University have signed an agreement to jointly establish the Xiamen Branch of the SUC. This collaboration aims to enhance the quality of education for seniors, promoting its high-quality development.
The 2023 OUC Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy Teaching Achievements, titled "Write and Draw the World with Painting and Calligraphy," was successfully held in Xinhua and Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. This event marked the beginning of a study tour focused on depicting the water-town villages of South China through painting and calligraphy, set against the backdrop of a clear blue sky and bright sunshine.
The 2023 National Lifelong Learning Activity Week kicked off with its opening ceremony in Chongqing. During this event, the National Senior Education Public Service Platform was unveiled. This platform's course resources are thoughtfully structured into five key areas: Virtue, Learning, Health, Happiness, and Accomplishment. Additionally, the national senior education teaching achievements exhibition has been recognised in the 2023 "Lifelong Learning Brand Programme" recommendation lists, as released by the China Adult Education Association.
Oct. 2023
A symposium focused on the construction of the SUC was recently organised in Beijing. Sun Yao, a member of the Party Committee and vice minister of the MOE, participated in this symposium and delivered an impactful speech. In his address, he outlined a strategic plan for deploying the SUC's national network. This plan emphasises leveraging the resources and capabilities of open universities as well as private colleges and universities to facilitate the project's success.
Senior University of National Radio and Television Administration became the second branch school of the SUC.
The "Health and Happiness Lectures for the Double Ninth Festival" were launched, featuring esteemed speakers Hu Dayi, Cao Hongxin, and Fu Guobing. These experts shared their extensive knowledge on health-related topics. The event was a resounding success, attracting an audience of over 1.5 million people who tuned in via video link.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Workshop, organised by the OUC, focused on enhancing digital competency among younger older adults. This initiative aimed to improve re-employment opportunities and overall well-being in the digital era for this demographic.
Sept. 2023
The chorus from the National Centre for Performance Arts graced the SUC, introducing the autumn semester's first lesson in aesthetics. Embracing the new semester, the SUC offered a blend of online and offline classes.
The delegation from the OUC recently visited The Open University of Japan for a comprehensive field trip. This visit facilitated in-depth discussions on providing high-quality learning support services for the elderly.
Aug. 2023
The Resource Sharing Platform for Universities for Older Adults Affiliated to China’s State Organs, known as the Sangyujinhui Cloud Classroom and built by the OUC, has been operational for three years. It has emerged as an exemplary model of the "Internet+Senior Education" platform, integrating aspects of online teaching, teaching management, and digital reading.
Jul. 2023
The SUC visited 13 provinces and 2 municipalities directly governed by the Central Government, including Tianjin, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, and Sichuan. The purpose of their visit was to conduct an investigation and research, aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the realities of senior education administration in each region.
Jun. 2023
The exhibition titled "Write and Draw the World with Painting and Calligraphy," showcasing teaching achievements in painting and calligraphy, has been launched. Nearly 500 senior universities and senior education institutions from across the country have participated in this event.
The SUC has signed a cooperative agreement with Guizhou Senior Citizens University, aiming to bolster collaboration with both Guizhou Senior Citizens University and Guizhou Open University (OU). This partnership is dedicated to jointly advancing the high-quality development of senior education in Guizhou and opening a new chapter for elder education in the region.
The meeting to launch the establishment of national non-governmental senior universities was convened. The SUC and the China Association for Non-Government Education signed a cooperation agreement. Thirty non-governmental universities undertook pilot programmes for senior universities.
May. 2023
The large-scale public art education program "Art Master Lectures" was recently launched, featuring in-person sessions by 10 calligraphy and painting masters. This artistic feast was attended by 15.8 million students online, with over 520,000 continuing their studies through the programme's online platform.
"Pay tribute to Van Gogh, Monet" Oil Painting Course for Beginners piloted a new model of small-scale offline-led large-scale online senior education.
The eye health awareness campaign, "Ten Thousand People from Ten Cities Taking Action to Care for the Eye Health of Older Adults," was recently launched. Prominent ophthalmologists from local tertiary hospitals delivered lectures on eye health awareness and offered complimentary medical services. This event garnered extensive coverage from over 40 media agencies, including the People's Daily, Xinhua News, and the China News Agency.
Apr. 2023
The SUC Reading Community was officially launched, offering 99 premium books for readers to enjoy online free of charge. In addition, the "Seniors Enjoy Happy Reading and Bathing in the Fragrance of Books" recitation teaching achievement exhibition was initiated. This event has garnered participation from over 500 senior universities and senior education institutions nationwide.
3 March 2023
Huai Jinpeng, the minister of the Ministry of Education (MOE), attended the establishment ceremony of the Seniors University of China (SUC) and delivered a speech. Wu Yan, vice minister, presided over the event.
Huai Jinpeng emphasised that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed significant emphasis on education for older adults and implemented a series of crucial decisions and arrangements. The report presented at the 20th National Congress of the CPC highlighted the need to implement a proactive national strategy in response to population ageing, which has provided us with the direction to develop education for older adults and served as a fundamental principle. The establishment of the Seniors University of China (SUC) is a tangible step taken by the education system to serve the national strategy and assist in building a society and country where lifelong learning is pursued by all. In compliance with the requirements outlined in The Guideline of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Strengthening the Work on Ageing in the New Era, and with strong support from the relevant departments of the central government, the SUC was officially inaugurated today. This represents a specific measure to fulfill the people's expectations and implement a proactive national strategy in response to population ageing in the year of thorough implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. It also marks a significant milestone in the reform and development of education for older adults in China.
Mar. 2023
The founding activity of the SUC was held successfully. Party secretary and minister of the MOE Huai Jinpeng attended the event and delivered a speech.
Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and the great TCM master Zhang Boli gave a lecture on "Traditional Chinese Medicine Aiding Elderly Health", opening the first class in the new semester for millions of the elderly nationwide.
Senior University of the MOE became the first branch school of the SUC.
Feb. 2023
Eight departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Office of China National Committee on Aging, the Organisation Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, and the China Association for Science and Technology, have jointly issued the Work Plan for Preparing for the Establishment of the SUC. This plan outlines the developmental direction for the SUC.
Jan. 2023
A national public service platform for senior education has been established, facilitating synchronous learning across various programmes, apps, and PC terminals. This platform hosts an impressive collection of 436,000 courses, amounting to a total of 4,089,000 minutes of course content. The SUC is prepared for its opening in the upcoming school year.
17 November 2022
The general office of the Ministry of Education issued the Notice on Unveiling the Seniors University of China in the Open University of China. In light of the deployment and requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on strengthening the work of ageing in the new era and with the approval of the Central Institutional Organisation Commission, the Leading Party Group of the Ministry of Education decided to unveil the Seniors University of China at the Open University of China (OUC).
8 December 2021
On 8 December 2021, Liu Chen, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the OUC and president of the OUC University for Older Adults, was invited onto the "Voice of the Elderly" programme by the China Media Group to speak on this issue. In the interview, Liu Chen emphasised the role of the CPC Central Committee in promoting the new university, with education of older adults being enhanced in terms of resources and operations by being incorporated into the system of lifelong education.
11 November 2021
The State Council issued guidelines for promoting services to the elderly during the period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) as a national response to an ageing population. The guidelines set out general requirements as well as major goals and tasks, which include integration and enhancement of services to the elderly such as healthcare.
14 October 2021
On 14 October 2021, on the occasion of the Double Ninth Festival, the Open University of China (OUC) held a ceremony in Beijing for the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with the China Broadcasting Network Group Corporation Ltd.(CBN).
The two sides will focus on implementing the national strategic guiding principles for coping with an ageing population, carrying out in-depth cooperation in such aspects as education and services for older adults, resource construction, brand promotion, training, and uses of 5G in their systems and channels. The aim of the endeavor is to promote joint development of national senior-care services, and meet public demand for enhanced cultural resources.
7 September 2021
On 7 September 2021, the first anniversary of a resource sharing platform for universities for older adults affiliated to China’s state organs, Wang Zhaoxu, director of the Financial Management Department of the National Government Offices Administration, together with four colleagues, toured the Open University of China (OUC) to investigate the development of online education at its University for Older Adults.
25 August 2021
A series of study-tour "Landscape Appreciation" activities organised by the University for Older Adults of the Open University of China (OUC) kicked off on 25 August 2021. Its enthusiastic participants, students in the university’s Colored Ink class, visited Yuyuantan Park in Beijing to paint.
17 June 2021
The Open University of China (OUC) and the Financial Management Department of the National Government Offices Administration of China recently held a symposium to discuss plans for a resource sharing platform, aiming to promote enhancement of such platforms for universities for older adults affiliated to China’s state organs.
30 March 2021
On the afternoon of 30 March 2021, the University for Older Adults (UOA) of the Open University of China (OUC) held the opening ceremony of its spring semester 2021. Liu Chen, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and UOA president, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. About 150 students and teacher representatives of the Weigongcun Experimental Demonstration Class attended in person, with the remaining students watching the ceremony and the first lesson of the new semester live online.
28 January 2021
The Open University of China (OUC), together with such units as the Office of the China National Working Commission on Ageing (CNWCA), launched the Open University for Older Adults (OUOA) on 28 January 2015.
Over the past six years, the OUOA has remained true to its founding mission and continued to press ahead. Outstanding breakthroughs have been made while continuously expanding the coverage of elderly education, building an educational platform of lifelong learning for older adult learners, enriching the spiritual and cultural life of older adults, and improving their quality of life.
5 January 2021
On 5 January 2021, Gu Xiulian, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress, director of the Working Committee of Care for the Next Generation of China, and honorary chairwoman of China Association of the Universities for the Aged, conducted an investigation trip to the Open University of China (OUC).
7 September 2020
On 7 September 2020, the Financial Management Department of the National Government Offices Administration (NGOA) and the OUC jointly held an opening ceremony to launch the resource sharing platform for the universities for older adults affiliated to China’s state organs.
Wang De, director of the Financial Management Department of the NGOA, and Jing Degang, secretary of the Party committee and president of the OUC, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Over 15,000 students, teachers, and administrators from 60 universities for older adults in more than 50 departments of the state organs attended the ceremony and watched the "first class" of the new semester through the Sangyujinhui Cloud Classroom WeChat mini-programme and the website of the resource sharing platform.
4 September 2020
On 4 September 2020, the OUC signed a cooperation agreement with the Financial Management Department of the NGOA to jointly build a resource sharing platform for universities for older adults affiliated to China’s state organs. Jing Degang, secretary of the Party committee and president of the OUC, and Wang De, director of the Financial Management Department of the NGOA, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the two sides. Relevant staff from the OUC and the Financial Management Department of the NGOA attended the signing ceremony.
The resource sharing platform of the universities for older adults affiliated to China’s state organs can be accessed from both computer terminals (website) and mobile terminals (WeChat mini-programme). Its main function is to provide a centralised, unified, functional, and easy-to-use technology platform for universities for older adults affiliated to various departments of the state organs and to provide rich high-quality online courses and digital library services to retirees from various departments under the state organs in an effort to build learning gardens, education fronts, and service bases for senior cadres from China’s state organs.
August 2020
In August 2020, the OUC signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the State Development and Investment Corporation’s (SDIC) Health Industry Investment Co., Ltd in order to meet the increasingly diversified and individualised needs of older adults for spiritual culture and to explore innovative models for the “integration of nursing services and education for older adults.” They will cooperate to create high quality service products and demonstration projects for the “integration of nursing services and education for older adults” and further promote education for older adults and the development of relevant industries. Both parties will give full play to their comparative advantages in the fields of education and services for older adults to create opportunities for in-depth exchanges and research cooperation in education for older adults, and on-the-job education and academic research of professionals in social services for older adults.
Recently, the OUOA-SDIC Yikang Study Centre and the OUOA-SDIC Hukang Study Centre were officially established respectively in Beijing SDIC Health·Senior Apartment and Caihongwan Elderly Welfare Home in Shanghai’s Hongkou District.
24 July 2020
On 24 July 2020, Wang De, head of the Financial Management Department of the National Government Offices Administration (NGOA), led a delegation of six people to the Open University of China (OUC) to conduct research. The delegation took a tour of the "Internet plus University" Exhibition Centre, the Cloud Classroom, the HD Studio, and the Streaming Media Recording Room. It also held talks with Jing Degang, secretary of the Party committee and president of the OUC, Liu Chen, deputy secretary of the OUC Party committee, and responsible people from relevant departments.
During the talks, the two sides discussed the overall situation of the OUC operation, the development of education for older adults, and the construction of the online resource sharing platforms of universities for older adults attached to China’s state organs. They also agreed to promote the establishment of a long-term effective cooperation mechanism in the construction of the online learning platform of universities for older adults and learner-support services for retired cadres.
21 May 2020
On 21 May 2020, the OUOA initiated a series of cloud study tour activities with the theme of “From the Heart to Afar,” leading the students to enjoy beautiful scenery without ever leaving home. The first destination of the cloud study tour was Inner Mongolia, and everyone was taken for an in-depth visit of Five-Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si), one of the places of historic interest in the City of Hohhot, and to virtually sample of lamb shaomai, a local delicacy in Inner Mongolia. At the same time, rich online courses and pleasant Mongolian songs were prepared. Everyone experienced a different kind of spring outing and had a happy time.
April 2020
In April 2020, the research and development of the Xueletang app was completed and the app was put into trial operation for testing. Xuelatang is a mobile app offering synchronous courses in the learning network of the OUOA, allowing for an interflow of accounts and data with the website. It brings together a large number of quality course resources to support learning for older adults. It is a mobile university for older adults.
25 March
On 25 March, the OUOA offered the second phase of live online courses of the "Happy Learning and Epidemic Prevention" joint action. It united its partner PSM Beijing Foundation and invited Ms. Zhang Bihua, a senior pharmacist and vice director of the prescription room, Department of Pharmacy, Beijing Hospital, to give basic information about drugs and safe and appropriate drug use for older adults during the epidemic.
18 March 2020
On 18 March 2020, in order to meet the learning needs of students staying at home, the OUOA launched the "Happy Learning and Epidemic Prevention" joint action and carefully planned outstanding live online courses as part of the “Happy Learning, Good Courses” series. Liu Caimei, doctor of psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK, was invited to the first phase of the "Happy Learning and Epidemic Prevention" live online courses. She told students how to mitigate the pressure caused by the epidemic and how to recover a healthy and optimistic attitude. She led students in considering what they had gained in the epidemic and offered older adults a sweet “psychological prescription.” The students learned by signing up through a WeChat group and watching the courses on a live broadcast platform. More than 3,800 students joined the live broadcast.
The live courses were popularised inside the OUC’s system of education for older adults, and local radio and TV universities and open universities organised for their older students to watch the live courses at home and to learn to make emotional adjustments by themselves, how to relieve anxiety, and how to maintain healthy social contacts while “staying home.”
3 February 2020
On 3 February 2020, the OUOA took the initiative to organise the “Happy Learning and Epidemic Prevention” joint action. It called on open universities for older adults across the country to leverage the advantages of distance education and of systematic school running to send classes to the homes of older adults, to promote epidemic prevention knowledge and wonderful courses, and to ensure that “classes were suspended but not learning.” At the same time, free online courses were offered to educational institutions for older adults. People throughout society responded positively to the joint action. The OUOA united all provincial open universities for older adults and those under direct management. It was active in gathering course resources for health and epidemic prevention, launching public welfare lectures under the mantle of the “Happy Learning and Epidemic Prevention” joint action, and offering learning support to older adults.
2 February 2020
On 2 February 2020, the WeChat mini-programme “laoninaxuetang 100” was officially launched. The WeChat mini-programme has synchronous courses from the learning network of universities for older adults developed by the OUOA. It gathers together a large number of quality course content for the OUOA and the OUC’s system of education for older adults. It offers learning support to older adults and works hand in hand with universities for older adults.
November 2019
In November 2019, the second version of the learning network of open universities for older adults was revised and officially launched. The brand new interface and course learning offers a diverse course learning experience, creates real-time records of learning data, provides online-offline integrated non-degree and degree education services, achieves the interflow of accounts with the “Xueletang” app, and provides diversified learner support via multiple terminals.
8 November 2019
On 8 November 2019, the opening ceremony for the 2019 Life-long Learning Week for All was held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. At the opening ceremony, the Ministry of Education officially launched the “2019 Resource Sharing Action of Community Education and Elderly Education,” and started the construction of the “national resource sharing and public service platform of education for older adults.” Under the guidance of the Department of Vocational and Adult Education under the Ministry of Education, the activity week of the first phase of the national resource sharing and public service platform of education for older adults constructed under the charge of the OUC was put online on the same day. Leaders and guests present at the opening ceremony, as well as representatives of the attendees at the meeting, experienced all the functions of the platform during an informatised presentation of “Into Universities for Older Adults,” and watched the collection and construction achievements of e-learning resources in education for older adults.
24-28 June 2019
On 24-28 June 2019, the first teacher training class for the calligraphy major of the OUC’s elderly honourary degree education was successfully held. The class was sponsored by the OUOA. Professor Wu Hongqing from the OUC’s School of Arts and Law and president Qiu Chenjun of Guangzhou Shangshutang Painting Academy were invited as instructors, and 15 calligraphy teachers from pilot open universities and radio and TV universities took part in the training. Based on the educational system of open universities for older adults, the OUOA chose the first batch of pilot universities for honourary degree education of the major of calligraphy from those in the system of open universities and radio and TV universities that have a great need, rich teaching resources, and complete teaching teams.
6-10 May 2019
On 6-10 May 2019, the OUC successfully held the second seminar for backbone teachers of education for older adults. The experts present at the seminar included vice secretary of the OUC Party Committee, Liu Chen; professor Zhang Weiyuan from Beijing Normal University; director Li Jing from the Institute of Ageing Society and Culture under the China Research Centre on Ageing; director Li Zhihong from the Policy Research Department under the China Association for Ageing; head of the Education Division of the National Bureau of Statistics, Wu Xiang; chief architect Ye Biao from Beijing Yihe Humanistic Kaiyuan Architecture Design Office; director Wen Shuyu from the OUC Office for Career Development and Comprehensive Management of Universities for Older Adults; and president Tao Dinghong from the OUC Beijing University for Older Adults. Nearly 70 workers in education for older adults from provincial open universities and radio and TV universities attended the seminar. Each of the experts and scholars from the field of education for older adults gave themed reports and exchanged experience with the students at the seminar from the perspectives of concept transformation and practical innovation of education for older adults in the internet age, the situation of the ageing population and the development of education for older adults in the new era, diversified education for older adults in the context of an ageing society, and the promotion of education development with the tourism-study-health preservation model centred on lifelong education for older adults.
6-7 November 2018
On 6-7 November 2018, the 2018 Tourism-Study-Health Preservation Conference and Presidents Forum of Universities for Older Adults in China was held in Jiuhua Mountain. The event was jointly sponsored by the OUC, the Anhui Provincial Tourism Development Commission, the Anhui Provincial Association of Universities for older adults, and Chizhou City People’s Government. The experts and scholars in attendance explored new models for ageing services including setting up an exchange platform, building a think tank, redefining happy old-age life, and creating a new cooperative era of “enterprises, universities, and research institutes” for older adults.
19 October 2019
On 19 October 2019, the Fifth International Education Forum on Elderly Education was successfully held at Chaoyang Community College, Beijing. The forum was co-sponsored by the China Education Association for International Exchange, the Community Education Research and Training Center under the Ministry of Education, the Open University of China, Chaoyang Community College, China Women’s University and other vocational education universities, Beijing Oriental Senior Women’s University, the Research Centre for Elderly Education under the China Adult Education Association, and China Press-Cutting Agency. The forum has the theme of “The Modernisation of Education for Older Adults: Practice and Exploration,” and in-depth exchanges and discussions were held about elderly education modernisation. Vice secretary of the OUC Party Committee, Liu Chen, shared the OUC’s exploration and practice of promoting the construction of the OUOA and the construction of education communities for older adults with the leaders, experts, and audience present.
12 October 2018
On 12 October 2018, the OUC, Jilin Radio and TV University, and Fusong County People’s Government held a signing ceremony in Fusong County for Strategic Cooperation in the Joint Construction of Changbai Mountain College for Older Adults of the Open University of China and held a round table meeting. By adhering to the principle of “complementary advantages for win-win cooperation,” the three parties will integrate their respective advantageous resources to build a first-class university for older adults through cooperation.
17-21 September 2018
On 17-21 September 2018, the OUC successfully held a seminar for backbone teachers of education for older adults. The experts present at the seminar included Wu Yushao, member of the Leading Party Group and vice director of the Office of China National Working Commission on Ageing; vice president of the OUC, Liu Chen; Chen Gong, head of the Institute on Ageing of Peking University; Wang Bin, president of the University for older adults of Beijing Normal University; and chairman Zhang Xiaole from the PSM Beijing Foundation. Sixty-four educational workers for older adults from prefectural city radio and TV universities attended the seminar. All the experts, together with relevant representatives of the OUC system, gave themed reports and exchanged experience with the students at the seminar from the perspectives of the interpretation on the situation of and policies for the ageing population, understanding the characteristics of population ageing, and the theoretical research and innovative practice of elderly education.
28 May 2018
On 28 May 2018, Feng Xiaoli, president of the China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, led a delegation of five people to the OUC to investigation its work in the education of older adults. They visited the exhibition hall of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the OUC and cloud classrooms of information technology. Later, they surveyed the progress of the OUOA and watched some of the OUOA’s MOOCs.
9 May 2018
On 9 May 2018, the OUC held the “Thematic Forum on Culture and Education for Older Adults” with the China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service, Welfare China magazine, and Beijing Zhongfu Elderly Cultural Media Co., Ltd. At the forum, senior experts and scholars from the industry held positive discussions about the theoretical support and practical path of cultural education for older adults. They shared the latest research achievements and deep feelings of their work practice.
21 March 2018
On 21 March 2018, Wu Yushao, member of the Leading Party Group and vice director of the Office of the China National Working Commission on Ageing (CNWCA); He Changmei, vice director of the CNWCA Career Development Division; Wang Pin, director of the CNWCA Liaison Division; and Chen Zhenghua, director of the Information Technology Section of Information Centre for Older Adult Talents of the China Association for Ageing visited the OUC to investigate its work on education for older adults. They visited the OUC’s Cloud Classroom, the Streaming Media Recording Room, the HD Studio, and the Credit Bank Office. Later, they listened to a work report from the OUOA and held discussions with people present on the OUC’s progress in education for older adults.
January 2018
In January 2018, the Sichuan Senior Care Service Association and the OUC jointed hands to build the OUC Tianfu College for Older Adults. The learning platform of Tianfu College for Older Adults was set up by the OUOA, and Tianfu College for Older Adults makes comprehensive efforts to promote study tours for older adults, learner support to older adults, and the cultivation and training of professional staff in social services for older adults with the coordination of the OUOA.
21 December 2017
On 21 December 2017, a Seminar on Elderly Education in the Open University of China was held in Xiamen. The seminar had the theme of “Implementing the Development Plan for Elderly Education (2016-2020), strengthening the construction of the operational organisation system for elderly education, and jointly implementing the ‘advancement programme of elderly education’.” The OUOA held discussions with representatives from each branch and prefectural city radio and TV universities on how to improve its organisation, explore a mechanism, and synergise operation.
December 2017
In December 2017, the OUC joined hands with Beijing Zhongfukang Senior Care Service Co., Ltd to build the OUC Zhongfukang College for Older Adults. The OUOA built the learning platform of the Zhongfukang College for Older Adults, and Zhongfukang College for Older Adults integrated resources for health preservation and senior care to establish a base for study tour and health preservation, and to develop quality products for study tours with the coordination of the OUOA.
December 2017
In December 2017, the learning network of Qinghai Open University for Older Adults, a learning platform built by the OUOA based on the OUC system, was officially launched. Under the guidance of the OUOA, the learning network of Qinghai Open University for Older Adults created an integrated online learning service platform representing learning, publicity, and exchange, bringing together a great many cutting-edge, high-end, and high-quality learning resources for older adults to formulate an open, flexible, interconnected, and shared learning system.
6 November 2017
On 6 November 2017, the OUC signed an official strategic cooperation agreement with Anhui Jiuhua Mountain Investment and Development Group. Both parties worked together to build Jiuhua Mountain College for Older Adults of the Open University of China. In the future, they will carry out cooperative projects such as study tours for older adults, learner support to older adults, and training for professional staff in social services for older adults to jointly build first-class open universities for older adults.
1 September 2017
On 1 September 2017, the OUC held in-depth talks with Wuzhou City People’s Government of Guangxi to build Lingnan College for Older Adults of the Open University of China. The preparatory office for the establishment of Lingnan College for Older Adults was set up to create a new school-running model featuring cooperation by the government, the university, and enterprises. The talks represented a solid step taken by the OUC and the OUOA in exploring new types of elderly education models.
13 June 2017
On 13 June 2017, the OUC and Wuzhou City People’s Government of Guangxi held a signing ceremony on strategic cooperation in Beijing. They also held talks and made exchanges. The two parties cooperated to build Lingnan College for Older Adults of the Open University of China. By adhering to the principle of “complementary advantages for win-win cooperation,” they combined their strengths to provide degree education and non-degree education to older adults and professional staff in pension services, and work together to explore a new type of education model for “health preservation and education.”
31 October 2016
On 31 October 2016, vice president of the OUC Liu Chen was invited to be a guest on the “Chang’an Street” column of China Education Television. He discussed the situation and countermeasures for the current development of education for older adults with the theme of “elderly education for an especially splendid life.”
October 2016
In October 2016, the OUOA cooperated with Beijing Zhongkangyihe Health Management Co., Ltd. to operate the “Elite Training Programme for the Formation of Skilled Health Management Professionals.” Tasks such as project planning, resource integration, platform construction, online course design and upload, implementation of online and offline integrated teaching, and course completion assessment were completed, and the Training Programme was well received by the students.
October 2016
In October 2016, the General Office of the State Council issued the Development Plan for Elderly Education (2016-2020). The plan mentions the need to “give impetus to open universities and radio and TV universities to run ‘open universities for older adults’ or ‘online universities for older adults’.” It encourages the application of information technology in education for older adults and gives the system of open universities and radio and TV universities the main responsibility for “the advancement plan for distance education for older adults,” one of the priority programmes. The OUOA formulated The OUC Implementation Plan to Put Into Effect the Development Plan for Elderly Education (2016-2020) in accordance with the guiding principles of the plan, focused on nine major tasks and six key projects. It worked hard to complete the goals and tasks in the plan.
September 2016
In September 2016, the OUOA officially initiated the construction project for volunteer teams of open universities for older adults. In December, the recruitment of teachers and volunteers for elderly education was launched inside the OUC. At the same time, social forces were enthusiastically mobilised to set up management teams, teacher teams, and volunteer teams for distance education for older adults.
7 June, 2016
On 7 June, 2016, the OUC set up the Career Development and Comprehensive Management Office of the Open Universities for Older Adults, and special staff members were assigned to take the responsibility and work full time. As a result, it was able to seize a major strategic opportunity to energetically advance education for older adults nationwide and to develop the senior services industry. Positive explorations were made on a system and mechanism to combine public welfare with marketing, and great efforts were made to improve all jobs of open universities for older adults.
4-5 May 2016
On 4-5 May 2016, the Seminar on Education for Older Adults of the Open University of China and the establishment ceremony for the Expert Commission of the Open University for Older Adults was held in Beijing. Vice president Liu Chen and members of the expert commission of the OUC, as well as 78 representatives from the OUC’s branches and schools, attended the seminar. All the guests present at the seminar held in-depth discussions on developing the elderly education cause, creating new situations in distance elderly education, and other issues.
4 May 2016
On 4 May 2016, the OUC and China Association of Social Welfare co-hosted the “Symposium on Education for older adults and Training for Service Care Professionals.” At the symposium, experts and scholars from China and abroad held exchanges and discussions on education for older adults and training for older adult service care professionals.
3-5 May 2016
On 3-5 May 2016, the OUC attended the Fifth China International Senior Services Expo. With the theme of “Open Universities for Older Adults Open a New Era for Senior Services Across Time and Space,” the booth showed the practice and exploration of education for older adults in open universities for older adults over the past one year plus in an all-round way, focusing on the super curriculum for senior education, information-based construction, training for professional staff in social services for older adults, and study tours of older adults.
May 2015
In May 2015, based on its existing resources and platforms, the OUOA developed a super curriculum for senior education, an easy-to-use educational product for institutions serving elderly education and older adults, which was officially put into trial operation in May.
6 April 2016
On 6 April 2016, the OUOA was invited to take a place on the headline media platform of Headlines Today.
Records of Growth Rings, the OUOA’s top-grade we-media column for original documentary content, has officially been online since March 2016. The column produces one programme per month. Each programme includes exclusive interviews, videos from we-media, and other content. The programmes are pushed to the OUOA’s official website, WeChat, and microblog, as well as Tencent and Youku . It is hoped that the stories will shed light on the lives of older adults.
March and April, 2016
In March and April, 2016, offline classes in photography and English for older adults were launched by the OUOA. The students were enthusiastic about learning. The OUOA will continue to offer classes that match the interests of the older adults and help them get access to learning.
21-26 March 2016
On 21-26 March 2016, the second class of “Seeing Fujian: City Marks in South Fujian and Hakka Culture” was held. The class was one of the “Seeing China” series of study tour activities. On 18-22 April, the study tour class of “Seeing Guangxi: Wind By the Sea and the South in Pictures” was held. In March, “Seeing Antarctica: The South, Unimaginable but Touchable” was officially held from 12-27 November 2016.
27 October 2015
On 27 October 2015, the OUC and China National Radio held a signing ceremony for strategic cooperation and launched “I Solved a Difficult Problem for My Parents,” a competition to collect encyclopaedic knowledge about older adults. The competition signals the entry of the “internet + happy learning action” actively promoted for older adults into thousands of households.
22 September 2015
On 22 September 2015, the Ministry of Education held the University Seminar on Education for Older Adults in Harbin, Heilongjiang and established the Union of the Third Age in Higher Education Institutions (U3AU). The OUOA was elected as a vice president unit. The aim of this initiative was to implement the strategic deployment of “paying attention to education for older adults” outlined in the educational plan, to actively serve the national ageing strategy, and to promote the formulation and implementation of the National Development Plan for Elderly Education (2016-2020). During the same period, the China Adult Education Association and China Association of the Universities for older adults co-hosted the “Merry Gathering in Longjiang for Dreams of a Silver Age,” an exhibition of third age educational achievements in China.
“Seeing China,” a series of large-scale study tour activities sponsored by the OUOA, has been taking pace since September 2015. To date, two study tour classes have been offered, “Seeing Hunan: Folk Customs in Ancient Towns of the Miao and Creative Classes in Pictures” on 11-15 September and “Seeing Fujian: City Marks in South Fujian and Hakka Culture” on 22-27 November. Later, other study tour classes of “Seeing China” and “Seeing the World” were successively launched. The OUC’s study tour classes give full play to the spirit of senior care services through education and mental cultivation through classes, integrating education and tourism for older adults and helping older adults to make gains in both their learning and their quality of life.
July 2015
In July 2015, the development of a training platform for professional staff in social services for older adults (short version) was completed.
March to July 2015
From March to July 2015, the OUOA developed the first versions of several apps, including the senior desktop, enrolment, happy learning class, app market, little helper, and bridge college, all of which have now officially launched.
July 2015
In July 2015, a feasibility study of the Healthy and Artistic Pension Service Experiential National Demonstration Centre was submitted to the Ministry of Education and the National Development and Reform Commission for approval.
In the first half of 2015, online and offline experiential classes, including Chinese calligraphy for older adults (Ouyang-style regular script), Chinese painting (freehand brushwork flower-and-bird paintings), computer use, smartphone use, vocal music (happy learning of songs), and Bridge (card game) were established, with the number of people enrolled reaching 204.
7-8 May 2015
On 7-8 May 2015, the OUC held a seminar on education for older adults in Beijing. Seventy-two delegates attended the seminar, including President of the OUC, Yang Zhijian, and vice presidents Zhang Shaogang and Liu Chen, leaders from 41 branches of the OUC in charge of non-degree education or education for older adults, and responsible people from other relevant departments. During the seminar, they held discussions with the experts present on many aspects, including how to coordinate the OUC’s non-degree continuing education and construct the OUOA, as well as training programmes, community education, and the construction of majors.
7 May 2015
On 7 May 2015, the OUC and CASW jointly held a forum on the education and construction of teams of professionals for older adults. During the forum, Chinese and international experts held in-depth discussions on the development of education for older adults and the cultivation of teams of professionals for older adults.
6-8 May 2015
On 6-8 May 2015, the OUC attended the Fourth China International Senior Services Expo. The OUC's booth was designed around the theme of "The Open University for Older Adults: Launching a New Education Services Model for Older Adults,” fully demonstrating the top-level design and the school system of the OUOA, focusing on the integrated design of degree and non-degree education majors and training programmes for professional staff in social services for older adults. It also showed off the learning website of the OUOA, along with its apps, training platform, and educational products for older adults. At the Expo, the OUC also introduced the planning and design of the Healthy and Artistic Pension Service Experiential National Demonstration Centre.
April 2015
In April 2015, the planning and design proposal for the Healthy and Artistic Pension Service Experiential National Demonstration Centre was approved by the Ministry of Education.
March 2015
In March 2015, the OUC established the Preparation Working Office for the Experiential National Demonstration Centre for Healthy and Artistic Senior Care Services.
28 January 2015
On 28 January 2015, the Open University for Older Adults was officially founded. Those attending the founding conference included MOE Vice Minister Lu Xin; Deputy Director of the Office of China National Working Commission on Ageing, Wu Yushao; leaders from the Veteran Cadres Bureau of the Organisation Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Retired Cadres Bureau, and the Department of Vocational and Adult Education under the Ministry of Education, the CASW under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Occupational Skill Testing Authority (OSTA) under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security; and the heads of relevant veteran cadres bureaus, ageing working committee offices, community colleges, universities for older adults, and Beijing Municipality sub-district offices.
December 2014
In December 2014, a seminar on the planning and design of the Healthy and Artistic Pension Service Experiential National Demonstration Centre was held at the OUC Conference Centre.
November 2014
In November 2014, the OUC invited the Office of the China National Working Commission on Ageing, the Occupational Skill Testing Authority (OSTA) under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the CASW under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Veteran Cadres Bureau of the Organisation Department of the CPC Central Committee, and the Retired Cadres Bureau under the Ministry of Education, and other institutions to form the Council of the OUOA.
The OUC School for Vocational Education and Training signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing Homemaking Services Association and Huaxia Zhongqing Housekeeping Service Company. The different parties worked together to carry out training for professional housekeeping and senior care services staff.
September 2014
In September 2014, the first phase of the pilot training class for the “Certificate Courses for the Major of Chinese Calligraphy for Older Adults” was launched. The training class lasted 10 weeks with 30 students, who were all issued with course completion certificates upon the completion of the courses.
August 2014
In August 2014, the sorting of the OUOA’s learning resources were completed, creating a resource library for the education of older adults, including the issuance and publication of the Resource Catalogue of the Open University for Older Adults.
July 2014
In July 2014, the first stage of the construction of the OUOA website portal was completed and it was put into trial operation online.
In June 2014, as stated in Opinions on Accelerating the Cultivation of Professionals in Elderly Services proposed by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and six other ministries, “the OUC should give full play to its school running advantages, set up majors related to services for older adults, accelerate the construction of information-based learning resources and platforms, actively develop modern distance education, and explore a teaching and support service model for professional staff in social services for older adults.”
May 2014
In May 2014, the Construction Scheme of the Open University for Older Adults was submitted to the Ministry of Education (MOE). Vice minister Lu Xin and minister Yuan Guiren from the MOE gave written instructions, saying that "the scheme is both meaningful and feasible. It is suggested that positive support be given to the scheme to create a national demonstration base for education for older adults.”
Vice Premier Liu Yandong from the State Council gave an important instruction to "reinforce the construction of the Open University for Older Adults in order to satisfy the learning needs of older adults.”
April 2014
In April 2014, the Construction Scheme of the Open University for Older Adults was reviewed and approved at the Meeting of the OUC President's Office. According to the scheme, the OUC should set up majors relevant to professional staff in social services for older adults, carry out training projects on education for older adults and senior services, build an information platform and digital learning courses, build a new education system, and promote the construction of the demonstration base.
In addition, the OUC convened a review meeting for the construction of the majors. A professional training scheme for services, management, and social work for older adults has been reviewed and approved.
March 2014
In March 2014, the OUC issued the Opinions of the Open University of China on the Promotion of Education for Older Adults.
November 2013
In November 2013, the OUC set up a Leadership Group for the Promotion of Education of Older Adults.” President Yang Zhijian of the OUC served as the group leader.
September 2013
In September 2013, the Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Development of Social Services for Older Adults (Guo Fa [2013] No. 35) clearly stated the need to “support higher education institutions and secondary vocational schools to set up relevant majors and courses related to social services for older adults, in order to expand the scale of training” “by fully leveraging the role of the OUC in carrying out continuing education and distance degree education.”