Oyu Tolgoi Awards Full Scholarships to 40 Students
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Guided by its vision to turn natural wealth into enduring value, knowledge, and skill, Oyu Tolgoi offers a variety of educational programmes to support the growth and development of Mongolia’s youth. In line with this commitment, Oyu Tolgoi hosted an Education Fair on October 31 and November 1, 2024, attended by over 2,000 high school and 1,000 university students.
During the event, certificates were presented to students selected for the “Domestic Scholarship Programme” and the “Youth Development Programme.” The fair also featured “Crushing on Your Profession,” a career guidance event aimed at helping young people and their parents explore various career paths. Additionally, Oyu Tolgoi announced the re-launch of its “Industrial Research Programme” to inspire innovation and collaboration in education and industry.
At the scholarship award ceremony, Oyu Tolgoi CEO Deirdré Lingenfelder remarked, “In the nearly 15 years since Oyu Tolgoi first launched its talent pipeline programme, I am incredibly proud to say that almost 3,000 bright highschoolers and university students have benefited in various ways from it. Many have become sought after mining, engineering and other professionals in their fields at Oyu Tolgoi, Rio Tinto, and around the globe. In this manner, Oyu Tolgoi will continue to be a supporter of education as our partnerships mature further. We are committed to train future generations of miners, engineers and industry professionals in collaboration and with the support of the Ministry of Education and many other partners. I also want to highlight that we have successfully re-launched our Industrial Research Programme, which aims to stimulate and incentivise research at universities”
Domestic Scholarship Programme
The Domestic Scholarship Programme awarded certificates to 40 students pursuing studies in critical fields across Mongolia, with particular emphasis on supporting local communities and the mining sector. Each scholarship includes tuition coverage, dormitory fees, and monthly stipends, representing a substantial investment in the education of Mongolia’s future workforce.
Industrial Research Programme
Oyu Tolgoi has re-launched the Industrial Research Programme to strengthen partnerships between industry and academia. This initiative allows university faculty, researchers, and students in undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes to conduct applied research for Oyu Tolgoi, addressing real-world challenges. Through this programme, participants gain hands-on insights into the mining sector, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint projects.
Youth Development Programme
For the 2024-2025 school year, 46 students from Ulaanbaatar and 25 from Umnugovi province were chosen for the Youth Development Programme, with plans to expand to Dornogovi province. Since 2013, Oyu Tolgoi has supported over 1,600 students through this programme, which emphasizes personal growth, leadership, and soft skills while fostering peer learning.
“Crushing on Your Profession” Fair
Since 2017, Oyu Tolgoi has collaborated with Rio Tinto, the National Council for Children, the Mongolian Red Cross Society, and the Scout Association to organize “Crushing on Your Profession.” This event offers career exploration guidance to young people and their families. To date, over 14,000 students from Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor, Umnugovi, Bulgan, and Khuvsgul provinces, as well as Ulaanbaatar, have participated in career counseling sessions. This year’s event saw more than 2,000 attendees receiving insights into high-demand professions from industry experts.
Oyu Tolgoi continues to support Mongolia’s future professionals through initiatives like the Internship Programme, Graduate Development Programme, and International Scholarship Programme. For more information, visit www.ot.mn.
