Established in 1985, the Institute of Open and Distance Education (Research Division) of the Open University of China (OUC) is China's oldest research institution on distance education. Since 2001, it has assumed the additional function as the Research Division of OUC.

Geared towards the interests of all OU students, the Institute actively pools the wisdom and talent of the experts and the staff members of OUs.  Over the past 25 years, it has engaged in research and achieved numerous results in the theory and practice in such fields as distance education, open education, adult education, and the application of educational technology. 

As the research arm of OUC, the Institute has undertaken numerous national level research projects since 1986.  Such projects include the research on educational mode, curriculum design, teaching mode, administrative mode, support services, as well as quality assurance, and the assessment system of distance education.  The research findings have been published in many journals and books.  As a result of such sustained academic pursuits, a team of full-time and part-time researchers, which consists of researchers, teachers, administrators and technicians, has emerged.  They have gained a solid domestic and international reputation for the quality of their research in distance education.

Since 2008, the Institute has been publishing, on an irregular basis, Currents in Research (internal circulation).  The Journal focuses on the latest developments and trends in research in educational technology as well as in open and distance education (ODE).  The articles may serve as the rationale and reference for decision-making, strategy planning, curriculum development, technology application, support services, and other research projects of the OUs throughout the country.

Currently, it consists of the Office of Theory and Policy Studies, the Office of Teaching and Administrative Studies, the Office of Media Technology and Application Studies, the Office of Research Management, and the General Office.

The Institute has 13 members, most of whom have graduated from such renowned universities as Beijing Normal University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Nankai University, and Jilin University.  They also come from diverse academic backgrounds, including philosophy, economics, physics, education, educational technology, history, management, and law.  There are three professors (research fellows), four associate professors (associate research fellows), and three lecturers (assistant research fellows).  Three of them hold a doctoral degree, and another six of them hold a master's degree.  While each of them has his/her own research interests and fields, they often work together in a team for larger projects.