Through partnerships between the
U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the
United States and Mongolia have strengthened their diplomatic relationship
through educational, cultural, citizen, alumni, and cultural preservation
exchanges.

Noteworthy ECA programs in Mongolia
include EducationUSA, which provides students comprehensive, unbiased
information on educational opportunities in the United States. The centers also
provide the public with free access to educational information and
Mongolia-relevant scholarship programs. According to the annual Open Doors
Report, there were 1,258 Mongolian students in the United States in 2009-2010
(1,522 in 2008-2009); 72 U.S. students studied in Mongolia in 2008-2009 (85 in
2007-2008).

The Fulbright Program in Mongolia
began in 1993, and is supporting the exchange of 20 U.S. and Mongolian students
and scholars this year. In January 2010, the Minister of Education, Culture
& Science Y. Otgonbayar and Under Secretary of State Judith A. McHale
signed a Joint Statement announcing a new financial commitment by the
Government of Mongolia to the Fulbright program, as well as increased funding
from the United States. In December 2010, the Mongolia made its first
contribution, which will support Mongolian graduate students beginning their
U.S. degree programs in the fall of 2011.

Partnering with USA Wrestling, the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Office will host 25
members of the men’s and women’s Mongolian freestyle wrestling team November 6
– 20, 2011. The two-week program includes 10 days of training with American
male and female wrestlers at the Olympic Training facility in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. The program will conclude with the Mongolian and U.S. wrestlers
traveling to New York City to compete in the New York Athletic tournament on
Nov 19 – 20, 2011.

The Kate McGarry Quartet, a jazz
ensemble, will travel to Mongolia as part of the Bureau’s Rhythm Road
initiative in December 2011 to conduct performances, workshops, master classes,
jam sessions, and media outreach with youth and local artists.