Preceded from the era of electronics and information technology, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, best regarded as the digital revolution, has been cultivating almost every industry in every country since the middle of the last century. As stated by Klaus Schwab, the First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create mass production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is fusing the technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres. Amid the ever-changing world that is advancing towards automation and global interconnectivity, Mongolia is taking a step towards the inevitable transformation. Several companies have adapted innovative ideas and models that could reshape the industry; for instance, Mongol Basalt LLC’s basalt stone extraction technology and nanofibers of Best Buidan LLC. However, the policy makers, producers and innovators agree that the industrialization 4.0 will require more vocational workers and engineers. This will increase demands for professions based on mathematics, chemistry and physics, as well as educational system reform. Presently, only one-fifth of high school graduates pursue vocational education, which is highly insufficient for keeping up with the fast-changing environment.

In addition, the large use of robotics is requiring new forms of collaboration, multidisciplinary studies and hybrid professions from employees. With an aim to accelerate the public adaptation to this rapid revolution, the Vocational Education and Training Partnership (VETP), a project being implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Mongolia and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, held a consultative forum and training yesterday. One of the key goals of the event was to sign a MoU on establishing professional council of mechatronics, one of the growing field of multidisciplinary studies that combines electronics and mechanical engineering, at the Polytechnic College of Mining Energy (PCME) in Darkhan-Uul Aimag. The signing of MoU confirmed the giant demand for mechatronic engineers as 11 national companies, such as Gobi, Erel and Oyu Tolgoi JSCs, were involved in it. “The demand for mechatronic engineers is very high because the profession will be required in every line of computer-controlled production,” highlighted one of the mechatronics teacher of PCME. In terms of either quality or quantity, the VETP project underlined that Mongolia’s training market is currently unable to satisfy the technical staff need in mineral resource sector and in the upstream and downstream industries, particularly in electrical, construction and mechanical occupations. This is driven by the lack of studies available for high schoolers that could indicate the labour market trend in the longer-term. Although professional studies are accessible for the young, they are mostly prepared for specified sectors and temporary demand.

Published Date:2018-03-19