– Development of a professional workforce is the key to success –
Our country has developed rapidly in recent years and intensive development requires a capable and competent workforce. Contributing to this development, Oyu Tolgoi is fulling its social responsibility to help meet the increasing demand for a technically qualified workforce. Making a significant investment in the technical education sector, Oyu Tolgoi are spending 200 billion MNT on training and education over the next five years – the largest investment in Mongolian technical education history.
Oyu Tolgoi have already invested over 200 million MNT in the Technical and Vocational Education Training center in Nalaikh district providing autorepair, electrical, welding equipment and building a practical training center. The training environment is just like real factory. MP and Minister of Labor Ya.Sanjmyatav said “the donation of modern practical training equipment provides valuable practcal experience. Your investment is a unique contribution to development of Mongolia, and the Mongolian workforce.”
There are many young people who wish to learn a new profession, work at the mine and contribute to this great development in the South Gobi. Oyu Tolgoi is investing in the future and the livelihoods of these people and has built and commissioned a Technical and Vocational Education Training center in Khanbogd soum of South Gobi aimag. The training center is fully equipped with practical training rooms and equipment that Oyu Tolgoi uses for its 20-24 week practical training courses for mechanics, welders, electricians and other trades.
The industrial town of Darkhan as expericed intensive recent development. Foreseeing its future needs, Oyu Tolgoi has expanded facilities and built a student dormitory at the Darkhan Polytechnical College, a branch of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. The facilities were completed at the end of 2012. During the opening event, Labour Minister Ya.Sanjmyatav emphasised the value of the facility and said: “After 31 years the school is moving into a new building. This will encourage students to study harder. The Polytechnic College is a nation-wide establishment where students will be trained not only from the local area but from all over Mongolia. The new dorm will allow us to increase the number of enrollments.” This investment is extremely important for the development of professional workforce for the whole country. The school extension improves the training environment, capacity and equipment. The school dormitory, initially built to accommodate 250 people, has in recent times been overcrowded with over 370 students, but now an additional 108 bed dormitory has been built to accommodate the students.
Oyu Tolgoi has aslo recently expanded the Govisumber aimag Polytechnical college building increasing the college capacity to no be able to train 950 students. The student dormitory has also been fully renovated, improving living conditions for 250 students and 30 teachers. The college renovations include a fully equipped gym that will be used not only for college activities, but will become the main center for aimag (province) sporting events. In a speech made at the opening ceremony, the Governor of Govisumber aimag L.Odser said. “Our Polytechnical college will provide a valuable contribution to the development of capable and world standard mining specialists.”
Construction of a Technological School of Excellence in the Nalaikh district of Ulaanbaatar is currently underway. The Oyu Tolgoi funded project includes 6,000 square metres of classrooms and 2,500 square metres of student dormitories, housing units for the teachers, sports fields and a gym. The school design is energy efficient and uses heat saving technology. Solar energy can be obtained from the special windows that make up most of the front of the school building. These windows have triple chambers that keep out the cold and retain the internal heat. In addition to this there is a very thick foam, insulating layer on the exterior of the building. The material is compressed and hard so it retains the heat generated from within the building in winter. This new technology is one of the best solutions for energy efficiency in Mongolia’s harsh winter climate.
South Gobi aimag is in the spotlight of public attention, not only as the mining sector is being developed, but also as new railroads, infrastructure and construction projects are planned. Oyu Tolgoi is investing in the Dalanzadgad Technical and Vocational Education Training center extensions and providing a dormitory to house over 100 students.
All this development requires money and time, but Oyu Tolgoi looks beyond today and considers the future benefits of a highly qualified workforce to be a worthwhile the investment. The benefits of this investment are endless. There is a demand for qualified professional workers so salaries will rise accordingly. Young people with salaries and incomes will have confidence in their future and will be able accomplish great things. Thousands of well trained young men and women, full of desire to work hard and contribute to the development of our country will graduate from these schools and colleges.
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