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Ⅲ. Thoughts and strategies for the construction of the OUC operating system under self-organization theoryBased on the OUC’s objectives, function and its distinctive pursuit of quality, the content of self-organization theory, and the features of the OUC operating system, the external conditions and internal mechanisms for the construction of the OUC operating system can be advanced from five aspects within three major categories: policy system, operation mechanism, and educational support. The establishment of a complex adaptive system with the support of external social and government conditions, the conversion of internal power and a conscious initiative of system construction will better shape the function and structure of the OUC operating system It will also innovate management system and operation mechanism; strength the capabilities of comprehensive coordination and support services; and improve the standard and capacity of system construction. Furthermore, it will help to accomplish the OUC’s historic mission and development objective of building a learning society (see Figure 5).
1. Determine construction principles and clarify development ideas
In accordance with the principle of self-organization theory, there must be a clear path for the construction of the OUC operating system, in order to realize the OUC’s function in building a learning society, bring about the deep integration of information technology and education, promote the sharing of quality education and teaching resources, improve the teaching quality of open and distance education, and bring into play the enthusiasm, initiative and originality of the relevant parties. The OUC has put forward the principles of “Unified Strategy, Common Platform, Resource Sharing, Relative Independence, Staggered Development and Distinctive Characteristics”. The aims of the principles are as follows: to advance the integration of education and information technology; to make full use of information technology to boost educational reform and innovation; to consolidate the construction of the national school network and platforms so as to provide all members of society in China with a diversified continuing education opportunities and services; and to help China become a country known for its strong human resources. The ultimate goal is to realize the strategic transformation[7] from RTVU to the OUC under the new historical conditions.
2. Create innovative ideas and strengthen policy research
Creativity is one of the fundamental characteristics of self-organization. The success of the construction of the OUC operating system lies firstly in the emergence of new ideas and new thinking i.e. conceptual innovation and ideological emancipation. “The most important prerequisite in building a new national open university against the existing historical background is ideological emancipation”[8]. As far as the conversion of internal power is concerned, all members of the OUC operating system attach great importance to renewing ideas and studying policies. They should establish a systematic view of the OUC education as a whole that covers “cooperative consultation, mutual construction, mutual management, sharing, and mutual benefit” to remove barriers among different members. Strengthening communication and cooperation on both internal and external factors affecting the OUC system, such as the policymaking regarding the development of distance education and open universities, will help to take the construction of the OUC to the next level, and achieve coordinated and sustainable development from the perspective of national RTVU development. In view of external conditions, effort must be made to obtain support from both the national and local government to create a favourable policy environment. The OUC headquarters should actively enlist the support and guidance of the Ministry of Education to aid in system construction at all levels. Each branch, college and learning centre should create the conditions to obtain policy, funding and project support from their local government so that they can contribute to the organization of the OUC’s teaching activities and the construction of a complete and powerful operating system that covers the whole country, and creates a basis for the OUC’s operating system and mechanism innovation.
3. Strengthen system construction, and establish a dynamic operating mechanism
A dynamic mechanism is the core internal development condition for a self-organization system. The OUC should enhance the institutional improvement of its operating system; formulate relevant internal policies and regulations; ensure the coordination and continuity of the system through institutions and mechanisms; and guide members inside the system to strengthen communication, understanding and support so as to carry out the reform and collaborative innovation of the system. Firstly, it should promulgate The Rules of the Open University of China to define the educational concept, development objectives and characteristics, and strategies of the university. In order to ensure rights of participation and decision making at all levels, it should reform its leadership system, governance structure and management model, and institutionalize democratic management within the system. Secondly, it should explore new teaching management models appropriate to the OUC’s management system and operating mechanism, and establish a new type of management institution and quality assurance system. Thirdly, Several Suggestions on the Advancement of the OUC System Construction should be published as soon as possible to aid in the formulation of standards and management measures for the branches, local colleges, learning centres, industry and enterprise colleges. Finally, it should explore new cooperation models; adhere to the principles of “demand-led, complementary advantages, resource sharing, win-win cooperation and quality guarantee”; strength overall planning and the OUC’s cooperation with key learning cities, conventional universities, industries (ministries and commissions) and enterprises; and strive for the support and participation of all social forces to carry forward the construction of the OUC operating system.
4. Encourage the exploration of pilot projects and summarize the experiences of reform in a timely fashion
The development of self-organization is a non-linear process, and chaos and imbalance often occur before new functions can come into being. In order to try and shorten the period of instability and stimulate the construction of the operating system, special pilot projects such as wide-ranging exploration, classification guidance and stepped implementation can be implemented. At the same time, attention must be paid to the coordination between each pilot project by combining theoretical research and practical experimentation. Firstly, it is necessary to study the features, orientation, functions and changes of RTVUs in central cities, to launch special pilot projects for the construction of the local RTVUs and the OUC branches in a timely manner, and to take the lead in making breakthroughs in the construction of OUC branches, future development and classification management at the implied development level. The second is “to focus on the terminal” and “explore and formulate the essential elements, construction model, operation mechanism, comprehensive support, and evaluation index necessary for the construction of the OUC’s local colleges and learning centres, in order to strengthen their capacity to stimulate local social and economic development”[9]. Thirdly, the OUC headquarters should cooperate effectively with its different departments and branches. A number of pilot OUC schools and learning centres should be set up around China in accordance with the requirement to experiment with school management, service and assessment models, so that they can play a leading role in teaching and management. Finally, the OUC headquarters should establish schools of different disciplines with the help of its branches. In this way, it can integrate and make use of quality education resources from different disciplines and schools, and explore and reform both its continuing education school management model and its learner formation model so as to meet the needs of different industries and improve the overall quality of China’s workforce.
5. Strengthen the construction of supporting projects
The development of a self-organization system is a dynamic process influenced by the environment. Therefore, certain order parameters must be applied to this dynamic development in order to drive prompt feedback and ensure the necessary action is taken. As far as the OUC is concerned, digitization, teaching resources, teaching staff, scientific research, the credit bank, and university culture can all be regarded as development order parameters and major supporting factors in the construction of its education system. Firstly, information technology should be leveraged to reform the OUC’s school management model, learner formation model, and teaching management model, in order to reduce management costs, improve management efficiency, and to gradually build a new system that provides technological support. Secondly, it is necessary to collate the OUC’s large quantity of high quality digital resources and formulate a resource sharing and resource joint development mechanism based on the OUC operating system. This will provide a high quality, efficient, convenient and rapid service for all social actors. Thirdly, the OUC should build a strong, professional teaching staff, including the qualified teams of teaching, scientific research, administration, learner support and technical support, through methods such as qualification standards and competency models. Fourthly, it is necessary to carry out scientific research in order to search for and solve the overall, strategic and potential problems facing the construction of the OUC operating system. The fifth step is to launch credit bank construction with the help of the project implemented by the Ministry of Education: “Research and Practice of a System for the Accreditation, Accumulation and Transfer of Learning Outcomes for National Continuing Education”. The aims of this project are as follows: to establish credit bank branches on the basis of OUC branches, local colleges and learning centres; to improve the credit bank’s work mechanism; and to establish a degree and non-degree credit accreditation and management system that covers the entire OUC system. Finally, the OUC should intensify and promote cultural construction, and integrate cultural construction with education and teaching activities. This will cement common values among the OUC members and create a spiritual community within the operating system, as well as optimizing the popularity and reputation of the OUC brand.