Success story: Reaching the goal

– Z.Oyuntsetseg – winner of a South Gobi scholarship –

The regional development and social responsibility department of Oyu Tolgoi LLC undertakes a South Gobi scholarships programme in the Umnugovi. The programme aims to to support human resources development policies and programmes across the Umnugovi aimag, enroll capable students and young people studying crucial subjects in social and economic areas in scholarship programmes, make investments in intellectual development and provide better conditions for work and employment upon graduation and returning home.

During the last nine years, out of a total of 242 students from Umnugovi aimag who received scholarships under this programme, 142 have graduated and are now successfully working in their homeland. One of them is Z.Oyuntsetseg who graduated after studying for three years on a scholarship and now has a steady employment in the homeland – as a doctor and administrator at the Gurvantes soum clinic.

In 2005, the first year of South Gobi scholarship programme, she was a third-year student at Dornogovi aimag Medical College. At the time she was 28 years old and lived with her husband and two children when she decided to apply for the scholarship. “What are your goals for the future, will you return to Umnugovi aimag to work after graduation, what is your dream?” were the questions asked. She responded: “After graduation I plan returning to my home soum where I will work to increase the knowledge of human health and healthy lifestyles among my community members focusing on providing social health assistance. Enrolling people in regular physical exercise helps to prevent many diseases stemming from lack of movement. Healthy mothers and healthy children are the real wealth of the society, therefore I am planning to specialise in obstetrics and gynecology and contribute to reaching the Millennium development goals.” Today, this woman has already reached her goals. This native of Umnugovi graduated from Ulaanbaatar Medical College in 1996 and worked as a nurse in Gurvantes soum for eight years. She then applied to Dornogovi aimag Medical College for further study to become a doctor. From 2005, as a third year student, she enrolled in the South Gobi scholarship programme and successfully graduated. After graduation, she returned to her homeland and now works as a doctor in Gurvantes soum health center. In 2012 she became administrator of the health centre. Considering her loyalty to her homeland and her productive contribution to its development, the aimag’s Health department enrolled her into Oyu Tolgoi’s Doctors Sponsorship Programme in 2012. The Mongolian proverb says: 'Man is the master of his own destiny!' This woman and many graduates proved the truth of these words by enrolling in the Scholarship programme and launching successful careers upon returning to their homeland.