KOICA Donates Rona Quarantine Supplies and Scholarships to Mongol National University of Science and Technology

Minimizing Educational Gaps in Mongolia and Supporting COVID-19 Recovery

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA held a 'COVID-19 Prevention Supplies and Scholarship Donation Ceremony' on the 29th (local time) at the second-floor conference room of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as MUST) located in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the agency announced on the 30th.

This event was carried out as part of the government's 'Development Cooperation Initiative for a Safe World Together (ODA KOREA: Building TRUST)' and according to KOICA's ABC program.

Since January, Mongolia has implemented strong lockdown measures such as banning inter-provincial travel, prohibiting foreign entry, and closing schools to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Accordingly, MUST, the only national university in Mongolia focusing on science and technology education, was also ordered to close at the beginning of the year, but restrictions were partially eased from mid-month, leading to online classes starting on the 1st and offline classes (face-to-face) resuming on the 21st.

Currently, MUST lacks sufficient prevention supplies to prevent group infections among students and staff and to facilitate the transition to face-to-face classes, and support for students facing economic difficulties due to COVID-19 is urgently needed.

In response, KOICA donated a total of nine types of COVID-19 prevention supplies to MUST, including 7,000 masks, 250 hand sanitizers, and 100 face shields on the day.

All supplies were purchased locally in Mongolia, and among them, 5,000 masks were procured from 'Khongor Ujin,' a female small business enterprise nurtured through KOICA's public-private partnership project, 'Mongolian Women’s Business Center Women Entrepreneurs’ Business Capacity Building and Startup Promotion Project,' thereby also preserving jobs at grassroots Mongolian companies struggling economically due to COVID-19.

Additionally, KOICA awarded scholarships totaling approximately $9,000 (about $500 per person) to 18 MUST students to encourage academically excellent vulnerable students who are persevering in their studies despite the difficulties caused by COVID-19.

Attending the donation ceremony were Lee Yeo-hong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Mongolia, and Jo Haeng-ran, Director of KOICA Mongolia Office, on the Korean side; and Ochirbat Baatar, President of MUST, and Turmurprev Namnan, Vice President, on the Mongolian side. The event was held in a simplified manner to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jo Haeng-ran, Director of KOICA Mongolia Office, said, “I am honored to be able to provide timely support that is essential to our cooperation partner, MUST,” and added, “I hope this will be helpful to students, faculty, and staff.”