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 an open university well". In July of 20 10, the State Council issued the Notice on Launching the Pilot Work of National Education System Reform, and identified Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Yunnan and China Central Radio and TV University as the pilot units for "exploring the construction mode of open universities".