On 12th April, 2016 Department of Vocational and Adult Education Deputy head Liu Jiantong, Higher Continuing Education Division head Gao Yang and their fellows came to our university for investigation and discussion on national reforms of continuing education. The group visited the Museum of University History, Xiang’an Campus, the construction site of the new educational building, and had an overall understanding of the university history as well as the situation of continuing education. During the visit, Party Secretary of XMU Zhang Yan communicated briefly with Deputy Head Liu, who was asked for comments and suggestions on continuing education work of Xiamen University.
Chair Zhang Yan speaking to Deputy Head Liu Jiantong
Vice president Zhan Xinli introducing university history
The investigation meeting was held on 12.April in the morning at Jiageng main building 1605. Attenders included Deputy head Liu Jiantong, university vice president Zhan Xinli, Division Head Gao, CCE president Zheng Wenli and Party Secretary Cai Zhengwei, Vice-president of the Economic School Zhu Mengnan, Vice-president of the Management School Lin Tao, Vice-president of the Law School Li Lanying, CCE Vice-president Wang Chuanjin and Deputy Party Secretary Zheng Bijiao, EDP center director of the Management School Zhu Pinghui, and related staff of CCE. The meeting was hosted by deputy director of Continuing Education Committee Office Zheng Wenli.
On behalf of the university, Zhan Xinli expressed in her speech that the investigation has magnificent meaning to the continuing education work as guidance to deepen reforms, improve education quality and levels, and future development.
Liu Jiantong introduced the objectives and missions of the visit. He pointed out that there was clear requirement for continuing education in the essay called 'Speeding up the construction of learning oriented society' in the the thirteenth five year plan for national economic and social development, which has just passed. In the congratulation speech in the UN 'Education First' campaign 100 anniversary, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to 'continue investing in developing national education and lifelong education, build up a learning oriented society', and ‘strive to ensure better, more equal education for 1.3 billion people, to achieve self-development, dedication to society, and benefit for people'. Continuing education plays an important role in serving social, economic and personal development. In the process of promoting national and lifelong education, colleges and universities are the main carrier and battlefield, and the task of continuing education in Colleges and universities is very difficult. Through this investigation he hopes to learn more about good experiences from practical works, and obtain constructive suggestions on national education reforms.
Afterwards, Zheng Wenli presented the continuing education work of our university from 6 aspects, including the history, the degree and non-degree continuing education, building the continuing education base of Xiamen University, difficulties and problems, and main ideas and measures in the future. We deeply know that good continuing education is important for improving education quality and level, and an important part for building a first-level university. For many years, the university keeps up with current situations, follows law and deepens reforms. Gradually, the university developed a path where quality and levels are equally weighed, with diverse forms, which contributes to constructing learning-oriented society and the ‘two hundred years’ goal. Later, Vice-president of the Economic School Zhu Mengnan, Vice-president of the Management School Lin Tao, and Vice-president of the Law School Li Lanying introduced the highlights and thoughts of non-degree continuing education work. Continuing education work should enhance advantages of each principle, serve the society, develop brand features, serve teaching and study in return as a platform for practicing theories. These are deep understanding recognized by all three departments.
Later they discussed the opportunities, challenges and prospects of continuing education. Issues were discussed, such as how to set up, manage and assess learning centers after the state council delegated online education approval rights to local government, non-degree continuing education codes, management institutions, duties and rights of education carriers.
At the end, Liu summed up the meeting by speaking highly of the continuing education of XMU, saying that leaders of Xiamen University made positive achievements especially in the precise understanding of ‘connecting society and university, and counter-serve education and research’. Relying on advantage principles such as higher education research in Xiamen University, learning experiences from world-known universities, further work can be done to make greater contribution to speeding up the country’s continuing education reform.
