The Asia Foundation and National University of Mongolia Launch First Gender Studies Program

In a significant move to advance women’s rights in Mongolia, The Asia Foundation, with support from the Lotus Circle funds and the National University of Mongolia (NUM), has collaborated to launch the country’s inaugural Gender Studies program. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations marks a milestone for education and gender advocacy in Mongolia.

The MOU signing brought together key stakeholders from the National Committee on Gender Equality, NUM’s Department of Anthropology and Archeology, and members of the Gender Studies Program task force. The event highlights The Asia Foundation and NUM’s dedication to advancing gender studies as an interdisciplinary field that can provide students from diverse backgrounds with a specialization in gender-related issues necessary to address gender disparities at all levels of society.

Badarch Dendev, president of the National University of Mongolia, emphasized the importance of the program, saying, “The National University of Mongolia is proud to incorporate Gender Studies into our curriculum, and this is a crucial step towards nurturing a more inclusive society. We believe that this partnership will not only benefit our students but will also have a positive and lasting impact on Mongolia’s development.”

The program will commence in the 2023-2024 spring semester, with a diverse range of students expected to enroll and engage in courses from an academic and practical perspective. The Asia Foundation will support tuition fee scholarships for 20 students, contribute to the program’s initial, and launch of research focusing on the care economy.