"POSITIVE MONGOLIA CONFERENCE - 2023" 2ND SESSION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED
The Government of Mongolia, in collaboration with the JCI Mongolian NGO and Otgontenger University, successfully hosted the 2nd session of the "POSITIVE MONGOLIA CONFERENCE-2023." This session, centered around the topic of "Introducing Work-Based Learning in the Higher Education System," took place on March 21, 2023, under the auspices of Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, the Prime Minister of Mongolia. More than 500 representatives actively participated in the event, resulting in valuable recommendations that subsequently guided concrete actions within the framework of these suggestions. A consensus was reached to reconvene after six months to assess the outcomes.
Over the following six months, universities and enterprises collaborated extensively within the context of introducing work-based learning in the higher education system. This joint effort involved testing and implementing policies, regulations, and standardized programs.
The meeting witnessed the active participation of the Government of Mongolia, public institutions, entrepreneurs, members of the JCI Mongolian NGO, university administrators, student representatives, and delegates from the Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The ERASMUS+ MONGWBL Project of Otgontenger University was also represented. During the gathering, students who had engaged in work-based learning for six months delivered presentations, allowing participants to ask questions and exchange viewpoints.
The primary achievement of this initiative is the integration of Work-Based Learning, which empowers students to graduate with skills that align with the labor market's demands, leading to immediate job opportunities upon graduation. Employers benefit from hiring graduates who meet workplace requirements without the need for extensive retraining. Additionally, this approach fosters improved collaboration between universities and employers. The project involved the development and testing of policy documents, common requirements, and standardized programs for workplace-based training, benefitting more than 100 students by providing them with employment opportunities.
The central aim of this meeting is to present the progress achieved by stakeholders in implementing workplace-based training in the Higher Education System, in line with recommendations from the first meeting. The conference has generated recommendations aimed at identifying opportunities, solutions, and more effective ways to implement work-based learning.