US Secretary of State Blinken Meets "Access" Program Alumni
PoliticsUlaanbaatar, August 1, 2024 /MONTSAME/. During his official visit to Mongolia, Secretary of State of the United States Antony Blinken met alumni of the “Access” Program from Uvurkhangai aimag, Mongolia. The “Access” Program was launched in Uvurkhangai aimag in 2019. The main goal of the program is to provide basic English language skills to teens and young adults aged 13-20 from low-income families. This initiative enables youth to become competitive candidates for student exchange programs and study opportunities in the U.S. Since its launch in 2004, the “Access” Program has reached approximately 150,000 students from 80 countries. This program is one of several English language education programs implemented in Mongolia by the U.S. Embassy. Other programs include the English Language Fellow Program, the English Language Specialist Program, the Online Professional English Network Program, and the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the launch of the U.S.-Mongolia Excellence in English Initiative. As part of this initiative, an English Language Training Center will be established under the National University of Mongolia to improve the standards and quality of English teaching in Mongolia. This initiative aims at increasing the number of students participating in the “Access” Program and expand the number of English teaching professionals to enhance the efficiency of English teaching in Mongolian universities.