The AAOU Meritorious Service Award (MSA) in 2019 was presented to Dr. Yang Zhijian at the 33rd AAOU Annual Conference in Lahore, Pakistan.  

Dr. Yang has led the Open University of China (OUC) from strength to strength through his strong leadership and administrative skills. Dr. Yang has continued to contribute to research and scholarship in open and distance learning throughout his tenure. He has been responsible for instituting several innovations at the OUC including the ‘credit bank’ and ‘six-network integration’ for learner development. He has also integrated ICTs into open and distance learning for providing a more personalized experience to learners. He has had a huge impact on education and lifelong learning in China. Dr. Yang’s work is an inspiration at the international level.

The MSA result was based on the recommendation by the 2019 MSA Adjudication Committee who are past awardees of the AAOU Meritorious Service Award themselves (Prof. Asha Kanwar of Commonwealth of Learning, Prof. Tian Belawati of Universitas Terbuka, Dr. Naveed Malik of the Virtual University of Pakistan, and Dr. Grace Alfonso of the University of the Philippines Open University).  The Chair of the Adjudication Committee, Prof. Kanwar, recommended to the AAOU President that the 2019 AAOU MSA be bestowed on Dr. Yang on the basis of the committee’s assessment of the merits and contributions of the nominee in the field of open and distance learning in Asia. The recommendation was also approved by the AAOU Executive Committee.

During the Awarding Ceremony, Dr. Yang’s representative, Mr. Shi Yunzhi, Deputy Director of the International Office of The Open University of China, received the award from President Melinda Bandalaria.

On behalf of the AAOU General Membership, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Yang!

The AAOU may award the MSA to an individual every year for his/her outstanding service and contributions to open and distance education (ODE). If you intend to submit a nomination, you can view the details here and send your nomination by email to aaou@upou.edu.ph.