Ulaanbaatar, June 12, 2025 /MONTSAME/. The Center of Excellence for English Language Teaching opened on June 12, 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, which is a joint partnership between the Mongolian Government, the U.S. Government, the National University of Mongolia, and other partners, including diplomatic missions and select companies.

The Center of Excellence for English Language Teaching is a key part of the U.S.-Mongolia Excellence in English Initiative.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Mongolia Richard Buangan noted, “In 2023, Mongolia enacted legislation making English the country’s official second language.  We welcomed this development and have taken concrete actions to support it.  In August 2024, the United States and Mongolia announced the U.S.-Mongolia Excellence in English Initiative, which was a result of a year of discussion between our two countries to promote English as a second language in Mongolia.  This initiative, which has received seed funding from the U.S. government, will not just be an American center, but a focus of resources and talent for all in the Anglophone community who want to contribute to Mongolia’s development of English language teaching.  All of us who are involved with the promotion of the English language should consider supporting this Center as a way to bolster the quality of English language teaching in Mongolia. Establishing the Center of Excellence today marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to advancing education and fostering professional development for English teachers across Mongolia. This Center will serve as a hub for innovation, learning, and growth, providing invaluable resources and opportunities for Mongolian educators to enhance their skills and knowledge. I am confident that the Center of Excellence will play a pivotal role in elevating the standards of English language education in Mongolia, ultimately contributing to improving human talent and making Mongolians more competitive in the international labor market.”

Director of the Center of Excellence for English Language Teaching at the National University of Mongolia B. Otgontuya said, “The Center will focus on three main areas, which are improving the English language skills of high school and university teachers, students studying in this field, and government employees. An online and classroom training program has been developed and piloted for the past three months and has been effective. The programs will be conducted by English Language Fellows, Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, Peace Corps volunteers, and university teachers. We plan to expand our activities in the future and send teachers to domestic and international short and long-term training courses.

The U.S. Embassy in Mongolia supports a range of English language programs.  These include the English Access Microscholarship Program, an after-school two-year program for high school students that currently has 200 participants. There are three U.S. English Language Fellows and seven Fulbright English Teaching Assistants working at local schools and colleges across the country.