The envoy made his remarks on 12 November 2014 at a meeting with
President Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai and other senior Institute
officials. He was accompanied by Mr. Batbaatar Togtokhbayar,
Counsellor, Embassy of Mongolia, Bangkok.
Ambassador Chimeddorj’s maiden visit to the campus came just weeks
after an AIT delegation led by Prof. Worsak returned from the Mongolian
capital with strong expressions of interest for collaboration from the
government, private sector, and the presidents of leading
universities.
At the meeting, the ambassador relayed a recent message he received
from Ulan Bator. Based on the AIT delegation’s meeting with the Hon.
Minister of Education and Science Luvsannyam Gantumur on October 20,
the Ministry informed that all qualified Mongolian student applicants
to AIT who receive an offer letter of admission would now be eligible
to avail of government-funded scholarship opportunities.
“This is indeed great news,” President Worsak said. “We will inform
our alumni in Mongolia to encourage prospective students through their
network to apply to AIT for the 2015 intake.”
President Worsak briefed Ambassador Chimeddorj on AIT’s 3-day mission
in late October and the numerous outcomes that point to a revitalized
bilateral relationship, particularly in the areas of student
recruitment, human resources training tie-ups with industry, and
academic collaboration with leading national universities.
“Hopefully the relationship between AIT and Mongolia will be greatly
enhanced from your visit,” Ambassador Chimeddorj said.
Based on a meeting with Mongolian University of Science and Technology
(MUST) President Mr. Baatar Ochirbat, AIT is now discussing terms of a
Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the Institute hosting young
visiting faculty and scholars from MUST for a short period of time
ranging from 3 – 6 months up to one year, President Worsak said.
The president added that, following a discussion with New Mongol
Institute of Technology (NMIT) President Dr. Ganzorig Chimed, AIT is
excited by the prospect of working with the newly opened institute to
assist the professional development of its undergraduate curricula,
strengthen its faculty and to increase it international exposure.
Mongolian University of Life Sciences President Prof. Tumurbaatar
Kheruuga also confirmed his interest in signing an agreement with AIT
on a broad range of cooperation, such as faculty exchanges and faculty
members attaining doctoral degrees, President Worsak informed the
ambassador.
President Kheruuga will also lead a delegation on a return visit to
AIT on November 24 to discuss details of a draft memorandum of
agreement, it was confirmed.
At a meeting with senior officials of the Petroleum Authority of
Mongolia, AIT proposed that some engineers could sent to AIT for
postgraduate studies, and staff could avail of specialized short term
technical training programs conducted by AIT Extension, which has a
20-year track record for organizing high-end training programs for
officials working in the gas and oil sectors.
Though only one Mongolian national is currently enrolled as a student,
AIT boast 65 alumni from the country. Many of AIT's Mongolian alumni
now occupy senior positions across many professions, Prof. Worsak told
the ambassador, explaining how pleased he was to attend a function with
twenty alumni while in the country.
Meeting with alumnus Mr. R. Ganbold, CEO of Unitel Group, and later
senior officials of MCS Holding LLC, the AIT delegation – which
included Vice President for Resources and Development Prof. Kazuo
Yamamoto and the Director of Fundraising and Interim Director of Alumni
Affairs Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe – indicated AIT would be pleased to
offer tailor-made short term training programs in line with the human
resource development needs of the telecoms sector, as well as organize
industry-specific study tours across Southeast Asia.
