The OUC Digital Learning Resources Centre (DLRC) – formerly the CCRTVU Resources Centre for Modern Distance Education, established in April 2004 – was founded in June 2012. Its main function is to integrate, develop, and promote the use of digital learning resources within the e-learning environment.
Since its establishment, the DLRC, based on its rich experience in the research and development of digital learning resources and education software, has undertaken the task of constructing micro-lectures, online courses, mobile courses, and a large number of other learning resources. It has also developed a number of tutoring and management information systems, such as the OUC experimental and training centre, the learning network of general courses, learning network of MOOCs, the tutor training platform, the resource management system, and the payment system. Furthermore, OUC Digital Learning Resources Research and Development Centres have been set up in Shenyang, Tianjin, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangzhou, and Jiyuan.
The National Digital Learning Resource Centre (NERC) has also been established, with the support of the “Construction of Digital Learning Resources Centre for Online Learning of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance” project. The main function of the NERC is to build and maintain a public-facing platform of national-level resources and the DLRC system, as well as integrating extensive educational resources, advancing the availability and sharing of quality resources, and providing resource support for online learning and lifelong learning.
In line with the philosophy of “opening, sharing, coordination, and innovation”, as of September 2015, 224 sub-centres have been founded in 31 provinces, municipalities and regions throughout China, integrating approximately 42,000 degree education and non-degree education courses, and 310,000 various media resources, with a total capacity of 57TB. The resources cover the various domains of degree education – including regular higher education, vocational education, and basic education – and non-degree education, involving community education, education for older adults, rural education, and on-the-job training. A public-facing system of national-level resources, which satisfies a range of learning needs, is in the early stages of construction.
The OUC Micro-Lecture Website