Guest Profile
Zhang Xia, a professor, joined the Open University of China (OUC) in 2003 as a faculty member of the School of Education. In 2019, she was honoured as a Beijing City Distinguished Teacher. She has received accolades such as the Beijing High-Quality Teaching Materials for Higher Education, the first batch of National High-Quality Resource Sharing Courses, and the 15th Beijing Higher Education Distinguished Teacher Award. Over the past decade, she has published over 10 papers in core journals, authored two monographs, contributed to eight academic works and textbooks, and led four key projects of the China Adult Education Association 's "14th Five-Year Plan" research. She has also participated in a project commissioned by the Ministry of Education's Department of Teacher Work, "Research on Enhancing Online Education and Teaching Capabilities for University Teachers." Her work has earned her the second prize in the 9th OUC Outstanding Research Achievements and the second prize in the Beijing Adult Education Outstanding Research Achievements.
Q: Could you please introduce your experience working at the OUC?
A: I graduated from Beijing Normal University in 2003 and joined the OUC, then known as the Central Radio and TV University's Department of Teacher Education, the same year. Over the past 20 years, I have witnessed the establishment and transformation of 14 educational majors, including educational management, primary school education, preschool education, educational technology, family education, and sports-related programmes. It is particularly moving to have seen the OUC enroll and educate approximately 2.13 million students in educational programmes at both junior college and undergraduate levels. Reflecting on my 20-year career, I feel a profound sense of pride and accomplishment.
Q: What expectations do you have for the new generation of the OUC teachers?
A: As teachers at the OUC (also known as the Seniors University of China), we carry the sacred mission of providing education that meets the people's aspirations. We must uphold the noble tradition of open education, embody the spirit of educators, and strive to be the "four-qualified" teachers as advocated by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Although the work of an open university teacher may seem ordinary and detailed, I believe it is a vibrant and fulfilling career that requires each teacher to always cherish a joyful attitude towards teaching, a deep affection for students, and a willingness to dedicate themselves. We should prioritise students, offering high-quality, equitable, thoughtful, and heartfelt support services to vulnerable groups. As teachers of the open university, we particularly need to cultivate a diligent, pragmatic, and innovative mindset. In the digital and intelligent era, we must continuously enhance our digital literacy, strengthen our knowledge and skills in digital technologies, and contribute to the advancement of a digital university and the high-quality development of the OUC.
Q: What blessings do you have for the university?
A: As a member of the OUC, I sincerely wish the university, on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, to navigate with determination and courage in the construction of a learning society and nation. I also wish every member of OUC to journey alongside the university, with a heart for the nation, dedicated to serving the country with utmost sincerity, and with a global perspective, nurturing individuals through cultural means. Together with the faculty and students, we can collectively realise the noble vision of "respected learning and universal education."