The "Saxon Science Liaison Office Mongolia" is a central point of contact for young women and men from Mongolia who would like to study at a Saxon university and take up employment with a Saxon company after successfully completing their studies. A particular focus is on the natural sciences and engineering training. At the same time, the office aims to initiate and promote further co-operation between Saxon and Mongolian universities. The liaison office works on behalf of the Saxon Ministry of Science (SMWK) and the Saxony Rectors' Conference under the leadership of TU Bergakademie Freiberg and is headed by Ms Bolormaa Dendev. Freiberg University has maintained close scientific partnerships with universities in Mongolia for many years.

The opening of the office was preceded by a delegation trip to Ulaanbaatar in November last year, during which close contacts were established with the Mongolian government and further activities to strengthen cooperation were agreed. For example, a successful Saxon Education Day was organised with the support of local Mongolian partners, with Saxon university representatives as exhibitors. A scholarship programme run by the Mongolian president gave 39 Mongolian students the opportunity to study in Saxony in 2023. Further study visits within the framework of the Mongolian scholarship are planned.

Study visits and scientific exchanges with stays in Mongolia are also in preparation on the Saxon side and will be accompanied by the scientific liaison office in Ulaanbaatar in future.

State Secretary for Science Dr Andreas Handschuh said at the opening ceremony of the Saxon Science Liaison Office: "This is already the third scientific liaison office that we have been able to inaugurate, following the openings in Taiwan and Uzbekistan. Today marks a milestone for further cooperation with Mongolia and takes the good partnership to a new level. I am particularly pleased that we can do this in the 50th year of the establishment of German-Mongolian diplomatic relations. The partnership that has grown on an equal footing helps both sides. With the help of Saxony's universities, we are able to organise a first-class academic education for many young Mongolians in Saxony and at the same time actively do something for the Saxon economy, which urgently needs well-qualified specialists, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises."

Prof. Dr Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht, Chairman of the Saxony Rectors' Conference and Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg, adds: "Mongolia has a solid education and research infrastructure - especially in subject areas in which Saxon universities also have specific and globally recognised expertise. The new liaison office promotes the first-class and diverse academic education programmes on offer in Saxony and shows prospective students interesting prospects."