Exactly a century ago, in 1922, 15 Mongolian boys and girls left for Moscow for the first time to enter Russian universities to study at the invitation of the Russian Government and became the pioneers of a pathway of obtaining education in Russia for thousands of Mongols. Over the past 100 years, more than 70 thousand citizens of Mongolia had received higher, secondary specialized, vocational education in different cities of the former Soviet Union or the current Russian Federation and took an active part in the formative construction and development of their homeland.
Later, in 1972, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the start of the education of Mongolian students in Russia, the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions (MAGSEI) was established under the Mongolian-Soviet Friendship Society in order to unite the strength of graduates of Russian/Soviet educational institutions, support and protect their rights and professional interests, and this year the Association celebrates its 50th anniversary.
On October 7, 2022, the Russian Center of Science and Culture (RCSC) hosted a ceremony of celebration two historical anniversaries - the 100th anniversary of the start of the education of Mongolian students in Russia and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions (MAGSEI), at which many Mongolian graduates of Russian universities met with representatives of Russian universities and Russian friends of their student years, exchanged views on the spread of the Russian language and culture among the younger generation, the development of bilateral relations and cooperation, and the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation with Russian business organizations.
From the graduates of Russian/Soviet educational institutions were born many statesmen and politicians, leading workers in industry, science, education, culture, and art of Mongolia. In a welcoming speech to the participants of the anniversary celebration event, the President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, President of the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions D.Regdel noted: “One-third of the members of the current parliament is the graduates of Russian/Soviet higher educational institutions. According to the data of the 90s of the last century, more than 60 percent of our scientists and more than 50 percent of engineering and technical workers were graduates of Russian/Soviet educational institutions. Thus, the Russian/Soviet education system has made a huge contribution to the training of our national professional personnel and formation of the national economy...”.
At the anniversary celebration ceremony, the Deputy Chairman of the State Great Khural, Chairman of the Mongolian-Russian Inter-Parliamentary Group S.Odontuya, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Mongolia, acting head of the Representative Office of “Rossotrudnichestvo” in Mongolia, acting Director of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ulaanbaatar V.V. Kilpyakova, President of the United Union of Friendship Societies of Mongolia, head of the Mongolian-Russian Friendship Society, Hero of Mongolia and the Soviet Union, cosmonaut J.Gurragchaa, Deputy Rector of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia L.I. Efremova, Vice-President of the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions, Honored Teacher of Mongolia D. Tsogzolmaa, Deputy Rector of the Ural Federal University S.G. Tushin, Deputy Rector of the Baikal State University M.P. Kuzmin made a welcoming speech and presented certificates and gifts.
President of the United Union of Friendship Societies of Mongolia, and head of the Mongolian-Russian Friendship Society J.Gurragchaa in his speech emphasized: “In those distant times 100 years ago, when the country needed well-trained national personnel to create a new Mongolia, reached the world level of culture and civilization, the People's Government made a wise and far-sighted decision to educate the younger generation in the Soviet Union. Thanks to this, our ancestors, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters diligently studied the Russian language and culture, mastered the highly professional specialties that were necessary for our homeland, and played a leading role in building new cities, creating industrial and agricultural complexes, teaching the population to read and write. You, Mongolian graduates of Russian/Soviet educational institutions, are the creators of everything new and progressive, educators, exemplary leaders, and honored creators of modern life. That is why the 100th anniversary of the start of education of Mongolian students in the Soviet Union/Russia is an important event for graduates of Russian universities and institutes...”
“Every person makes many important decisions in life, including the decision about who to become in the future, where and what profession to learn. As for me, I never regret that I made a choice to study in Russia when I was making such an important decision. Therefore, I would like you to advise your relatives, children, and grandchildren to study in Russia,” J. Gurragchaa said.
As part of the Days of Mongolian-Russian Friendship and Cooperation, organized for the 62nd time, the YII Exhibition of National Education of Russia was organized at the “Russian House” in Ulaanbaatar (RCSC), in which representatives of 22 universities of the Russian Federation took part and presented their training programs and providing specialties. This exhibition not only helped young people in choosing their future profession but also provided an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the cities in which these universities are located.
“Obviously, the Mongolian boys and girls who visited the exhibition of Russian education were very interested in the proposals presented by the universities of the Russian Federation. There is a positive trend of expanding the framework of joint projects and programs of our two countries in the new century of cooperation in the field of education. Today, about 5,000 Mongolian students study in Russia, and annually 600 graduates of general education schools come to study at Russian universities free of charge. This quota will be increased to 620 next year”, - noted in her speech the acting head of the Representative Office of “Rossotrudnichestvo” in Mongolia, the acting Director of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ulaanbaatar V.V. Kilpyakova.
The Mongolian participants of the anniversary celebration ceremony were interested in the opportunities for advanced training in the universities, from which they graduated, and possibilities of organization of industrial internships in the Russian Federation, as well as the possibilities of Russian universities providing Mongolian youth with quality education in popular professions, exchanged views with guests and teachers who came from Russia.
On this day of celebration of two historical anniversaries, President of the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions D.Regdel and Deputy Rector of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia L. I. Efremova signed a cooperation agreement, which includes a number of activities to be implemented jointly.
During the anniversary celebration events, theoretical and practical conferences were organized in three areas, where participants heard reports on specific topics and had an active discussion. In particular:
- The contribution made by graduates to the development of the country;
- The role of graduates in spreading the Russian language and culture among the younger generation;
- The role of regional universities in the education of Mongolian students, establishing links between graduates and universities, from which they graduated, and cooperation of national associations of Graduates.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of its creation, the Board of Directors of the Mongolian Association of Graduates of Soviet Educational Institutions published the third volume of the serial book “Russia close to the heart” and presented an intellectual gift to the participants of the anniversary celebration events.
S.Otgontsetseg
Source: montsame.mn
