The Japan-Mongolia Sasakawa Scholarship Program officially begins after the Office of the President of Mongolia and the Nippon Foundation of Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This program will run for 12 years and benefit 1,000 students from Mongolia’s rural areas. The agreement was signed by Uilstuguldur Altankhuyag, Chief of Staff of the President’s Office, and Takashi Arikawa, Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation. This new initiative was first agreed upon during a state visit of Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa to Japan.
The Japan-Mongolia Sasakawa Scholarship Program focuses on preparing skilled professionals to lead rural communities. It supports Mongolia’s sustainable development goals and promotes a healthy, safe living environment. Specifically, students will study subjects that contribute to the “Billions of Trees,” “Food Supply and Security,” and “Healthy Mongol” national campaigns. Students selected for the scholarship will study in various fields. These include Environmental Science, Forestry, and Ecology at the National University of Mongolia. They will also study Medicine, Public Health, and Nutrition at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences.
Additionally, students will pursue degrees in Animal Husbandry, Agronomy, and Plant Protection at the Mongolian University of Life Sciences. Furthermore, fields like Food Production, Biotechnology, and Engineering are offered at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. Applicants must have completed their first year in one of these majors and intend to return to their rural communities. The scholarship requires recipients to work locally for three years after graduation.
Odbayar Erdenetsogt, Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy, explained that the program strengthens the special strategic partnership between Mongolia and Japan. He emphasized that education remains a key pillar of this bilateral relationship. Yuji Mori, Director of the Nippon Foundation’s International Program Department, highlighted the foundation’s long-standing cooperation with Mongolia. Since 1990, the foundation has helped train skilled professionals, beginning with a master’s program in 1992. This new scholarship is a major step forward.
The Japan-Mongolia Sasakawa Scholarship Program will grant over USD 5 million across 12 years. Each year, about 100 students will receive full scholarships based on academic merit. In conclusion, the Japan-Mongolia Sasakawa Scholarship Program promises to build stronger ties between the two countries while empowering Mongolia’s rural youth to lead sustainable development efforts.
