From December 20th to 21st, the 2023 Annual Academic Conference of the Lifelong Education Research Association of Jiangsu Province was held in Changzhou. The conference was co-hosted by the Association and Jiangsu Open University, with Changzhou Open University responsible for its organization. The theme was Serving the Whole People's Lifelong Learning, Promoting Quality Development of Community Education.
Cui Xinyou, Chairman of the Association, presided over the opening ceremony and delivered a concluding speech. He emphasized the important role of community education in promoting the comprehensive development of individuals and the construction of a powerful nation of education. He stated that the Association would continue to delve into the field of lifelong education, work together to build a high-end platform for research, communication, and cooperation in lifelong education in Jiangsu, better serve the people's demand for quality and equitable education.
Jing Guibao, Level I Division Rank Official from the Jiangsu Education Department, conveyed the requirements of the supervisory department from various aspects of further enhancing the status and role of social education, strengthening the foundation of social education, accelerating the digital transformation of social education, improving the quality of social education, expanding its coverage, creating a strong atmosphere for lifelong learning among all citizens, and solidifying the foundation for the development of social education. His remarks set clear directions for the Association's work plan in 2024.
JSOU’s Vice President Hang Zhuhong said, community education is an important carrier for the whole people’s lifelong learning. As a research and communication platform for lifelong education, the Association should better play its role as a bridge to promote the quality development of community education and strengthen cooperation with governments, full-time universities, open universities, enterprises, and institutions. Gu Xihong, Party Secretary of CPC Changzhou Open University Committee, reiterated the importance of community education for the new chapter of modernization of Jiangsu and shared experiences and achievements of Changzhou Open University in community education from brand construction, team building, and family education.
In keynote speech session, Cui Jingguo, Party Secretary of CPC Jiangsu University of Technology Committee, delivered a speech focusing on the quality development of community education with digitalization, modernization, and quality as keywords, and envisioned the future direction of modern community education with Chinese characteristics in the journey of building a powerful nation of education; Han Shunping, Dean of the School of Lifelong Education at Nanjing University, presented a report based on the analysis of the connection between higher education and a learning society, and shared practices of lifelong education conducted by Nanjing University and other institutions, highlighting the necessity and importance of universities participating in community education; Li Jiacheng, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Education at East China Normal University proposed promoting community education through system integration, enhancing its effectiveness and value by serving the public, and showcasing Chinese wisdom in community education internationally.
Subsequently, guest speakers from Nanjing University of the Arts, Nanjing Open University, Changzhou Open University, Jingcai (Jiangsu) Technology Co., Ltd., Bacheng Town Community Education Center in Kunshan City, Zhenzhou Town Community Education Center in Yizheng City, etc., shared their achievements in both theory and practice of community education.
Additionally, Wu Guanglin, Chairman of the Community Education Committee of the Association, led the delegates to visit the Industrial Heritage Exhibition Hall of Changzhou Section of the Grand Canal, an exemplary site of community education in Changzhou. During the conference, a full council meeting was held where attending directors and representatives engaged in enthusiastic discussions about the future development of the Association, especially the priorities for 2024. They offered many constructive opinions and suggestions and reached a consensus on promoting the construction of secondary institutions, fostering multi-party cooperation, and strengthening scientific research training.
