Asia

Mongolia

• Education for Environmental Transition: Mining in Mongolia

Education for Environmental Transition: Mining in Mongolia

Project purpose: The project aims to enhance the capacity of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) to provide education for students who will work for mining companies or for the government, training for workers in mining companies and the government, training for mine operators, and essential research and policy development skills for those involved in the mining industry.

Key results to date: A Master's of Science in Geology program has been established at Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST). Four new undergraduate geology courses (introductory geology, scientific methods, mineralogy and petrology) have been designed and introduced. Lab manuals for six courses were developed or revised, including mineral resources, ore mineralogy and mineralogy. To date, there have been 241 faculty and students (108 female, 132 male) involved in project activities. The laboratory at MUST has been upgraded with 11 research microscopes and a rock-cutting saw. Three applied research projects with a strong focus on environmental issues are underway in Mongolia, signifying a shift in mining research to include consideration of environmental impacts along with economic viability. The project is also helping MUST to develop a distance education program in geology. Furthermore, MUST faculty have conducted a series of talks on environmental education in 20 villages and worked with junior and high school teachers in Ulaanbaatar to develop materials related to environmental protection and mining.