Guangdong is building a province-wide lifelong learning public service system, a strategic project serving as a major public initiative to protect residents' right to lifelong learning and improve overall well-being.   

The plan was unveiled at a press conference held recently by the Information Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government. Hu Jinjun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Provincial Committee and head of its Publicity Department, addressed the conference. The following are edited excerpts of his remarks. 

Hu Jinjun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and head of its Publicity Department, addresses a press conference on a province-wide lifelong learning public service system on February 25 

The development of this system is a strategic, pioneering and foundational project planned by the provincial Party committee and government, and a major livelihood initiative closely tied to the people’s aspiration for a better life. Our core vision can be summed up as “lifelong learning, opportunities for all to shine.” On the new journey toward high-quality development, we will make lifelong learning, which enables everyone to excel, the defining hallmarks and an enduring trend of Guangdong’s modernization. 

At the beginning of the year, Guangdong issued a public call for proposals for public cultural services under the 15th Five-Year Plan to accelerate the development of an inclusive public cultural service network with great growth potential. This year, we will also organize a series of mass-participation events across the province to advance lifelong learning.  

Why are we making such a strong commitment? There are three main reasons:  

First, the changing times. We are living in an era of rapid knowledge expansion and accelerated transformation. Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are profoundly reshaping production, daily life, and employment. The old notion that one skill can keep one employable for a lifetime is no longer viable. Continuous and lifelong learning has therefore become vital to the province’s adaptation to such changes while it is securing its future development. 

Second, Guangdong’s responsibility. As an economic powerhouse and a populous province, Guangdong must take the lead in promoting development. The key to achieving that lies in talent, and the foundation of nurturing talent lies in education. To be a pioneer and a major driving force in achieving high-quality development, Guangdong must invest in people, promote all-around human development and accelerate the transformation of its large population into a strong advantage of human resources. 

Third, the people’s needs. The public aspires for a better life not only in material wellbeing but also in cultural enrichment, capability enhancement and personal fulfillment. From young people seeking employment to professionals advancing their careers, farmers endeavoring to increase their income, children broadening their horizons in exploring the world, and seniors contributing to society through continued learning, all demonstrate a profound thirst for knowledge. 

Our task is to ensure those needs are met effectively. What kind of system are we building? 

Guangdong’s lifelong learning public service system is a super learning ecosystem and a closed-loop service system, built entirely around the needs of the people. 

Not sure where to begin? We will create an online unified entry point—log in once and you will access learning resources across the entire network. Not sure what to learn? We will build a course marketplace that offers the best courses from across the province and beyond. Worried about outdated content? We will introduce smart evaluation mechanisms to keep courses continuously updated. Concerned about practical applications? We will establish a “credit bank” that rewards you for learning.

Our goal is simple: to enable everyone to learn anywhere, anytime. 

The system will focus on advancing six key initiatives: First, the ideological and political education initiative. A “power station for ideas,” it will turn Guangdong’s fruitful practice in advancing Chinese modernization into high-quality “golden courses” in ideological and political education, bringing top-tier courses and instructors closer to the public. 

Second, the academic advancement initiative. This initiative is a “growth overpass” focusing on young people and industrial workers in eastern, western, and northern Guangdong. We will provide over 300,000 high-quality continuing education slots each year, enabling more people to pursue  in-service academic advancement. 

Third, the skills enhancement initiative. A “career accelerator,” this initiative targets key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, healthcare and elderly care, providing more than two million training opportunities each year to address skill gaps at the source and ensure that what is learned aligns with corporate needs. 

Fourth, the cultural and arts promotion initiative, a “nutritional diet for the mind.” Through the “100 Works in Five Years” program and the integration of digital cultural resources, fine culture, especially Lingnan culture, will be more accessible to the public. 

Fifth, the concept of “yuexue yueyou” (meaning “the more one learns, the more content will pop up in online recommendations”) brand initiative. In this “tailored service package,” we will offer a “Courier Academy” for delivery workers, “Senior Learning Classes” for older adults, and a “Rural Revitalization Academy” for new-generation farmers… In short, we will provide whatever services key groups need, tailored to their specific demands.  

Sixth, the learning network integration initiative to build a unified learning network. We will promote the development of learning-oriented cities, communities, enterprises, and households and integrate online and offline resources to build a comprehensive lifelong learning network spanning counties (cities, districts), townships (streets) and villages (communities). 

What are the system’s distinctive features and value? Let me highlight several aspects:  

Demand-driven and open competition: Rather than having been developed behind closed doors, the system draws on top-quality educational resources nationwide.We will adopt a challenge-based course development model, publicly inviting proposals based on what people most want to learn and mobilizing the best educational resources to develop the courses. 

Employment-orientation and practicality: Focusing on employment, income growth, and development needs, the system aims to remove institutional barriers, strengthen policy incentives, and deepen talent development by translating knowledge and skills into stronger employability and career advancement. 

Credit transfer and mutual recognition: Through the “credit bank,” learning outcomes can be accumulated like bank savings. Every course completed and certificate earned becomes a learning asset. Once accredited, these can be converted into credits for formal education, accumulating toward the attainment of relevant academic qualifications and breaking down barriers between different learning institutions. 

Clear levels and pathways: A clear qualifications framework will be established within the system, enabling learners to understand their current proficiency level, identify the direction for further progress, and advance on a solid footing 

AI-enabled personalized learning: The platform will incorporate large AI models that serve as attentive intelligent learning companions and smart tutors, recommending the most suitable courses, answering questions, and providing personalized learning support to enable more intelligent and effective learning. 

We warmly invite everyone, no matter where you are and what you do for a living, to log on to this platform, start learning, and join us in building a learning-oriented society where anyone can learn anywhere, anytime.