Ulan Bator, Mongolia, 20 October 2015 - The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Mongolia (MECS), and Singapore Polytechnic (SP) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with to embark on an innovative Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) educational framework that will enhance engineering education in Mongolia. The three-year programme will be supported by Temasek Foundation, Singapore with a grant of S$641,745, while MECS will jointly fund the remaining project cost of S$347,050.

This CDIO framework will be adopted by the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), National University of Mongolia (NUM), and Mongolian University of Life Sciences (MULS), to transform the teaching and learning approach in the field of Science and Technology. 

For educators, the CDIO framework will form a basis for better curriculum planning and designing of learning experiences, as well as new approaches to engineering assessments, which are closer to the real world.  For students, they will acquire a range of technical and interpersonal skills, and product and systems-building experiences. They will be able to better integrate knowledge, skills and work experiences as needed by the engineering industry. 

A series of training workshops will be held to train 160 participants from MUST, NUM and MULS in the overall CDIO Teaching and Learning framework. A select group of 65 will then be trained as specialists to do the following:

• Design an integrated curriculum;
• Design active experiential learning experiences;
• Conceive and design innovative products and systems; and
• Evaluate programmes for continuous improvement.

Thereafter, some 20 of these specialists will be trained as specialist master trainers.  To further multiply the learning, the specialist master trainers will organise and conduct training sessions for another 120 participants.

Signing the MoU on behalf of MECS was H.E. Luvsannyam Gantumur, Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Mongolia, while Mr Lim Peng Hun, Deputy Principal of Singapore Polytechnic signed on behalf of Singapore Polytechnic. Ms. Baavgai Nasanbayar, Director, Department of Strategic Policy and Planning, and General Manager of Singapore Polytechnic International (SPI) Mr Lee Leck Seng also signed as witnesses.

Present to witness the signing was Mr Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation.

This is the first partnership between the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Mongolia, Singapore Polytechnic, and Temasek Foundation, Singapore.