– Nalaikh vocational training and production centre launches its new hands-on technical training centre –
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Mongolia currently boasts huge construction and mining developments. To cope with these developments a pool of skilled and qualified workers is essential. To keep up with the demand for skilled workers it is vital to have new schools, upgrades to existing ones, the provision of the necessary equipment and suitably qualified teachers. All this, of course, needs considerable funding. Oyu Tolgoi is making a huge investment in our vocational education system. So far Oyu Tolgoi have invested US$126 million (equivalent to 168 billion MNT) into our vocational education system by building a modern technical school and donating training equipment to existing vocational schools, located in the Nalaikh district of Ulaanbaatar. Yesterday, State Great Khural member and Labour minister, Ya.Sanjmyatav, along with his officers responsible for vocational training and Oyu Tolgoi LLC executives visited the construction site of the technical school and took part in the opening of the hands on technical training facility wing of the Vocational Training and Production Centre. The full facility, built by local Mongolian contractors, will be operational by August 2013. The technical school will be a modern, energy-efficient complex with fully mechanised technical facilities, classrooms, recreational and sporting facilities and dormitories for teachers and students. The facility will be a very modern and comfortable learning environment for students. After touring and viewing the progress of the site, Labour minister Ya.Sanjmyatav shared: “Making this facility operational will enable quality vocational training for employees at the big projects of Oyu Tolgoi and Tavantolgoi. The great investment will have deep impact on the quality of our trained workforce. It is the right training centre in the right place. Taking the lead in starting construction of the students’ campus is particularly beneficial.”
At the event, Oyu Tolgoi handed over 200 million MNT of auto repair, electrical and welding equipment and opened the hands-on technical training centre. The minister for Labour, Ya.Sanjmyatav said: “I would like to thank the management of Oyu Tolgoi. I am sure the donation of this technologically advanced equipment for practical training is greatly appreciated by the teachers and the students. Your investment is a valuable one, helping in the progress of our country, in particular, our human resources.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC board member, Ch.Ganbold, commended Oyu Tolgoi LLC’s efforts to improve vocational education and especially the timing of the opening to coincide with the commencement of production at the Oyu Tolgoi site. He said that the Oyu Tolgoi project will not only develop mining but will also to contribute to the long-term development of Mongolia. Mr.Ganbold also noted the various activities being implemented to enhance vocational education, including, establishing world-class training centres, upgrading vocational training curriculum to meet international standards, training qualified workers and providing refresher courses for teachers. Overall, Oyu Tolgoi LLC will implement the largest programme ever established in Mongolia to train the local workforce, including building three technical schools, and extending and upgrading four other centres in Mongolia.
Training skilled and qualified workers requires a combination of good teachers and good equipment. The extension to the centre in Nalaikh meets both these requirements. The hands on technical training facility is very well equipped, providing students with ‘real work environment’ experiences. The school director N.Baramsai proudly showed to facilities to the guests. Along with the extensions to the current school and the opening of the new hands-on technical training facility a brand-new advanced technical school will be opening next autumn in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://en.ot.mn/)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC is Mongolia’s largest copper and gold mining company and is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia (34 per cent stake), Turquoise Hill Resources (66 per cent) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Turquoise Hill Resources and the manager of the Oyu Tolgoi project. In addition to dividends from its 34 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, the Government of Mongolia will receive taxes and royalties.
Oyu Tolgoi, located in the Gobi desert in southern Mongolia, will be one of the largest and highest-grade copper and gold mines in the world. It is the largest project ever developed in Mongolia, requiring a capital investment for phase 1 of more than US$6 billion.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to contributing to a sustainable future for Mongolia. At least 9 out of 10 employees will be Mongolian once the mine is in production and Oyu Tolgoi is investing US$58 million dollars (78 billion MNT) in training and education and an additional US$27 million dollars (36 billion MNT) in the Workforce Employment Project designed to help address the general skills shortage in Mongolia
Oyu Tolgoi’s key priorities are the health and safety of employees, best-practice environmental management, contributing to sustainable communities and always doing business with integrity, for the benefit of all the project’s shareholders and the people of Mongolia.
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