Supporting Women’s Higher Education in MongoliaSupporting Women’s Higher Education in Mongolia...
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Supporting Women’s Higher Education in Mongolia In Mongolia, only 55 percent of students complete secondary education and only 35 percent are able to continue their studies and enroll in higher education. Population increases in Ulaanbaatar, combined with poor infrastruc- ture and seasonal challenges in rural areas, make it more and more difficult to provide quality education to all children. SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND In a country where a limited portion of students enroll in higher education, many young Mongolian women face challenges in pursuing studies at a college or university. In the winter and spring of 2010, the country experienced a Dzud – a national disaster unique to Mongolia with a drought in summer followed by a severe winter with heavy snow and extreme cold. As a result, more than 8 million livestock died, representing almost 20 percent of the nation’s herds. For the one-third of the population that relies on herding for their livelihoods, the situation was devastating. More than 9,000 families lost their entire herd of livestock and thousands more experienced a reduction in herd size of more than 50 percent. For these families, and the growing number of the unemployed in Ulaanbaatar, paying for their children’s university tuition is nearly impossible. Committed to improving access to education across Asia, The Asia Foundation launched the Shirin Pandju Merali Foundation Scholarship Program in Mongolia to support university education for qualified female students pursuing science fields who, despite their academic compe- tence, are unable to continue their education due to financial constraints. Starting in 2010, the Shirin Pandju Merali Foundation, established by Pandju Merali in honor of his late wife, Shirin Merali, is providing four-year scholarships to 60 women at two prestigious public universities in Ulaanbaatar: National University of Mongolia and Mongolian University of Science and Technology. The scholarship program covers the cost of tuition, fees, and educational supplies. In September 2011, another group of 60 female students will be selected to study in these two universities, bringing the total number of Merali scholars to 120. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS In September 2010, after a competitive applica- tion process, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the Zorig Foundation, selected the first group of scholarship recipients, including 49 girls enrolling in their first year of bachelor degree programs in hard sciences, and 11 girls enrolling in their first year of bachelor degree programs in social sciences. Applicants were selected based on their financial need and academic achieve- ments. Throughout the year, the girls were In 2010, the Foundation, in partnership with the Zorig Foundation, launched a scholarship program funded by the Shirin Pandju Merali Foundation. The program supports university education for 120 female students who were unable to continue their education due to financial constraints. The Asia Foundation has been working in Mongolia since 1993. MONGOLIA The Asia Foundation promotes justice, accountability, and prosperity in Mongolia.
Transcript of Supporting Women’s Higher Education in MongoliaSupporting Women’s Higher Education in Mongolia...
Supporting Women’sHigher Education in Mongolia
In Mongolia, only 55 percent of studentscomplete secondary education and only 35 percent are able to continue their studies andenroll in higher education. Population increasesin Ulaanbaatar, combined with poor infrastruc-ture and seasonal challenges in rural areas, makeit more and more difficult to provide qualityeducation to all children.
SCHOLARSHIP BACKGROUND
In a country where a limited portion of studentsenroll in higher education, many youngMongolian women face challenges in pursuingstudies at a college or university. In the winterand spring of 2010, the country experienced aDzud – a national disaster unique to Mongoliawith a drought in summer followed by a severewinter with heavy snow and extreme cold. As aresult, more than 8 million livestock died,representing almost 20 percent of the nation’sherds. For the one-third of the population thatrelies on herding for their livelihoods, thesituation was devastating. More than 9,000families lost their entire herd of livestock andthousands more experienced a reduction in herdsize of more than 50 percent. For these families,and the growing number of the unemployed inUlaanbaatar, paying for their children’s universitytuition is nearly impossible.
Committed to improving access to educationacross Asia, The Asia Foundation launched the
Shirin Pandju Merali Foundation ScholarshipProgram in Mongolia to support universityeducation for qualified female students pursuingscience fields who, despite their academic compe-tence, are unable to continue their education dueto financial constraints.
Starting in 2010, the Shirin Pandju MeraliFoundation, established by Pandju Merali inhonor of his late wife, Shirin Merali, is providingfour-year scholarships to 60 women at twoprestigious public universities in Ulaanbaatar:National University of Mongolia and MongolianUniversity of Science and Technology. Thescholarship program covers the cost of tuition,fees, and educational supplies. In September2011, another group of 60 female students will be selected to study in these two universities,bringing the total number of Merali scholars to 120.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
In September 2010, after a competitive applica-tion process, The Asia Foundation, in partnershipwith the Zorig Foundation, selected the firstgroup of scholarship recipients, including 49 girlsenrolling in their first year of bachelor degree programs in hard sciences, and 11 girls enrollingin their first year of bachelor degree programs insocial sciences. Applicants were selected based on their financial need and academic achieve-ments. Throughout the year, the girls were
In 2010, the
Foundation,
in partnership
with the Zorig
Foundation, launched
a scholarship program
funded by the Shirin
Pandju Merali
Foundation. The
program supports
university education
for 120 female
students who were
unable to continue
their education due to
financial constraints.
The Asia Foundation
has been working
in Mongolia
since 1993.
MONGOLIA
The Asia Foundation promotes justice, accountability, and prosperity in Mongolia.
HEADQUARTERS465 California Street, 9th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94104 USATel: (415) 982-4640Fax: (415) [email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC1779 Massachusetts Ave., NWSuite 815Washington, D.C. 20036 USATel: (202) 588-9420Fax: (202) [email protected]
MONGOLIAUnited Nations Street-18Central P.O.B-1003Ulaanbaatar 14201MongoliaTel/Fax: (976-11) [email protected]
www.asiafoundation.org
The Asia Foundation is
a private, non-profit,
non-governmental
organization. Through
its programs, the
Foundation builds
leadership, improves
policies, and strengthens
institutions to foster
greater openness and
shared prosperity in the
Asia-Pacific region. It is
funded by contributions
from corporations,
foundations, individuals,
and governmental
organizations in the
U.S., Europe, Canada,
Australia, and Asia, and
an annual appropriation
from the U.S. Congress.
enrolled in Englishlanguage classes initiat-ed by the ZorigFoundation.
The Asia Foundationis a non-profit, non-governmental organi-zation committed tothe development of apeaceful, prosperous,just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programsin Asia that help improve governance, law, andcivil society; women's empowerment; economicreform and development; and international rela-
tions. Drawing on nearly60 years of experience inAsia, the Foundationcollaborates with privateand public partners tosupport leadership andinstitutional develop-ment, exchanges, andpolicy research. It isfunded by contributionsfrom corporations, foun-dations, individuals, and
governmental organizations in the U.S., Europe,Canada, Australia, and Asia, and an annualappropriation from the U.S. Congress.
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