The predecessor of National Open University is Central Radio and TV University. In July of 20 10, the Outline of Education Planning put forward the idea of "running the open university well". In July of 20 10, the State Council issued the Notice on Launching the National Education System Reform Pilot, and identified Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Yunnan and Central Radio and TV University as the pilot units for "exploring the construction mode of the open university".
20 12 In June, China Central Radio and TV University was renamed as the National Open University. In August, 2020, the Party Group of the Ministry of Education deliberated and passed the Comprehensive Reform Plan of the National Open University issued by the Ministry of Education, clearly demanding that the National Open University be built into the main platform (four platforms) for lifelong education, online education, flexible education and foreign cooperation, marking the transformation and upgrading of RTVU and the high-quality development of the Open University entering a new stage.
The National Open University is a new type of institution of higher learning directly under the Ministry of Education, with the mission of promoting lifelong learning, supported by modern information technology, characterized by "internet plus" and open education for the whole country. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, the school co-ordinates the construction of the national open education system, guides and serves the national open education, strives to build a public service platform for lifelong learning, provides lifelong education and services for the whole people, and advocates that "everyone can learn, learn everywhere, and learn all the time".