U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar Is Helping Advance Entrepreneurship Education and Curriculum Development in Mongolia

Ambassador Piper Campbell and Dean Prof. Batnasan Namsrai.
Ambassador Piper Campbell and Dean Prof. Batnasan Namsrai.

U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar is helping advance entrepreneurship education and curriculum development in Mongolia by donating six 1-year licenses for SimVenture, a software simulation game that teaches entrepreneurship skills, to the School of Business at the National University of Mongolia (NUM).  The School of Business was launched in 2013 as a result of the merger of NUM’s School of Economics and School of Commerce.

On March 11, 2015 the donation ceremony was held at the School of Business, NUM with Ambassador Piper Anne Wind Campbell, Dean Prof. Batnasan Namsrai and Vice Dean Prof. Doljin Mandshir of the School of Business, NUM, and representatives of professors, lecturers and student body. Prof. Batnasan and Ambassador Campbell gave speeches to open the ceremony.

When Mr. David Wyche asked how many of the student representatives are interested in having a start-up, many said yes.
When Mr. David Wyche asked how many of the student representatives are interested in having a start-up, many said yes.

In her speech Ambassador said, “Entrepreneurs drive a nation’s economic growth… Today’s business climate in Mongolia is not supportive of entrepreneurs. And that has a lot to do with the lack of confidence in the future that we hear about all the time nowadays.” And she added, “What would it take to give Mongolian entrepreneurs the confidence in the future that they need in order to try something new? The answer is simple, although it isn’t easy:  a liberal business environment receptive to innovation. In creating such environment the rule of law and good institutions are critical, administrative burdens need to be low and regulations need to be sensible and relevant. Of course, other things such as capital and know-how are needed, too.”

Afterwards, Econ Chief Mr. David Wyche led a discussion on entrepreneurship with the student representatives of the School of Business, NUM.