Summary

China’s Ministry of Education has announced a reform plan for the country’s distance learning universities. The plan calls for more integration between the Open University of China and provincial- and city-level distance learning institutions, as well as a greater focus on continuing education and postgraduate provision.

China currently has one national-level open university, five provincial-level open universities and 39 provincial or city-level distance learning institutions known as Radio and Television Universities (RTVUs). The MoE’s announcement calls for these 39 institutions to be renamed as open universities and for the Open University of China to work more closely with local-level open universities in terms of joint development and sharing of courses and a combined “credit bank” system as well as providing guidance and management support. However, these universities will continue to report to their respective provincial and local government authorities rather than being fully merged.

The announcement calls for the Open University of China itself to focus more on meeting national development needs and supporting career progression. The institution should increase its provision of short-term flexible learning and community education but should also apply for the right to award postgraduate degrees in addition to the degree, diploma and non-award programmes it currently offers.

From a management perspective, the announcement delegates some additional powers to the Open University such as the ability to decide professional titles for its academic staff, and promises to expand its autonomy further as time goes on. It also establishes a National Open University Reform Leading Group to oversee the reform of the sector.

According to the reform plan, the Open University of China has enrolled an accumulated total of 20.5 million students on undergraduate degree and diploma programmes, with 15.1 million graduates to date.

Analysis by Kevin Prest, Senior Analyst, IES

The reforms aim to build a more integrated open university system with a greater focus on meeting national development needs. China’s open university system enrols a huge number of students although employers in the country often see distance learning degrees as inferior to those earned through in-person study.

Source

http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A07/zcs_zhgg/202009/t20200907_486014.html