In 2013, Oyu Tolgoi set up the Youth Development Programme (YDP) in order to support the development of a talent pipeline and upskill high school students who are potential future candidates for employment or training programmes within the company. Additionally, the programme aims to support the wider education and skills development of young Mongolians. Besides the selected high school students, the programme is open to national and Umnugobi scholarship holders.
Programme details
The YDP is designed around five areas, focused on developing the most important interpersonal skills needed for the development of future leaders and skilled professionals.
The five areas are:
- Who I am;
- Teamwork;
- The bigger picture;
- Project Management;
- Project implementation.
All stages are designed to develop effective communication skills, build on personal strengths, enable respect and understanding for diversity, leverage teamwork and collaboration, and help participants to become effective at problem solving and decision making.
Programme framework and duration
Each year, 50 high school students are selected for the first stage of the programme. The five best performing participants are then selected for the Domestic Scholarship Programme and are supported for the next stages of the programme.
These students later become programme facilitators, supporting participants at the earlier stages of the programme.
Each of the five stages of the programme lasts for three months, with three hours of classes taking place each Saturday.
Partner organisations
The programme is run in collaboration with a number of partner organisations. AIESEC Mongolia, which supports young leaders and promotes cultural exchange, operates the scheme with the inspirational “Youth teaching to youth” approach.
Youth teaching to their peers serves as a key motivation for the trainees.
Eligibility requirements for applicants
- Mongolian citizenship;
- Open to senior year students from targeted high schools;
- A GPA score of 85/100 or higher;
- Proven involvement in voluntary work and visible leadership skills;
- Proven English language skills.
Application materials:
- Completed application form (available from the Educational Advising and Resource Center EARC);
- Official academic transcript;
- Essay (300 words on an advised topic);
- Copy of academic awards and other recognitions.
Entry for the Youth Development Programme is announced each year in September.