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) 392-8863info@asiafound.org

WASHINGTON, DC1779 Massachusetts Ave., NWSuite 815Washington, D.C. 20036 USATel: (202) 588-9420Fax: (202) 588-9409info@dc.asiafound.org

MONGOLIAUnited Nations Street-18Central P.O.B-1003Ulaanbaatar 14201MongoliaTel/Fax: (976-11) 311-497generalmg@asiafound.org

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.

08/2011