Recently, the Agriculture and Rural Programme Centre of China Media Group (CMG), the CMG Shanghai Station, and Shanghai Agriculture and Rural Committee jointly held the inaugural Annual Rural Revitalisation Conference in Shanghai.
Through case analysis, innovative model sharing, and cutting-edge technology demonstration, the event comprehensively reviewed and showcased the phased practical achievements in rural revitalisation made by Party committees and governments at all levels and various sectors of society. These exciting achievements have built strong momentum for comprehensively advancing rural revitalisation.
The CMG Rural Revitalisation Observation Report (2023–2024), co-authored by CMG’s Agriculture and Rural Programme Centre, China Media Group Institute, and Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was released at the Conference. The “One College Student Per One Village Programme,” which was submitted by the Department of Development Planning, Ministry of Education (MOE), was featured in the report for its initiative to “cultivate one million local college students in their communities”. HOU Dongsheng, a student enrolled in Rural Regional Development major under the MOE’s “One College Student Per One Village Programme” at the Open University of China (OUC) in 2019, attended the event as a guest speaker. He shared how he applied his expertise to develop the local edible mushroom industry and to lead the villagers to prosperity.
Since the implementation of the “One College Student Per One Village Programme,” OUC has teamed up the entire education system to cultivate nearly one million locally rooted professionals with practical knowledge. These individuals are passionate about agriculture, skilled in technology, and adept at management. After training, they can “stay in and contribute to” rural areas. These efforts have established a distinct Chinese model for rural talent development, providing critical talent support for China’s rural revitalisation.
HOU Dongsheng
A 2019 enrollee in the Rural Regional Development major under the MOE's “One College Student Per Village Programme” at OUC. HOU spearheaded the large-scale development of the local edible mushroom industry, which has employed more than 1,000 people and achieved a cumulative output value of over RMB 50 million (about USD 6.8 million). He currently serves as General Manager of Shanxi Weiyun Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Director of Weiyun Biotechnology Doctoral Workstation, Vice Chairman of Yicheng County Federation of Industry & Commerce, Deputy Party Branch Secretary of Caogong Village, Mentor of Yicheng Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Alliance, Deputy of People's Congress of Linfen City & Yicheng County. He was awarded Shanxi May Fourth Youth Medal (Top provincial youth honour), 2022 Lifelong Learning Role Model (Shanxi Province), Outstanding Communist Party Member (Linfen City), Top 10 Young Entrepreneurs (China Edible Mushroom Industry), Gold Award of 2023 China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, National Outstanding Entrepreneurial Project (Awarded by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security).
By LI Ruifu, OUC