The academic conference titled “100 Years Since the First Mongolians Studied in Germany and France,” commemorating the centenary of Mongolian students first pursuing education in Germany and France, was held on October 29, 2026, at the “Zuvshiltsul” Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia. The conference was jointly initiated by the Institute of International Studies of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the descendants and relatives of the first Mongolian students and teachers who studied in Germany and France. It was organized with the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mongolia, the Embassy of the French Republic in Mongolia, and the State Commission for the Management and Organization of Rehabilitation Affairs of Mongolia.
Following an opening performance on the traditional Mongolian morin khuur, Academician Ts. Tserendorj, Vice President of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, delivered the opening remarks. In his address, he emphasised that Mongolia’s relations with Western countries, including Germany and France, during the first half of the 20th century were closely linked to the legacy of the national revolutions of 1911 and 1921, as well as to the country’s national interest in consolidating its independence.
During the opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by B. Battsetseg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia; L. Enkh-Amgalan, Minister of Education of Mongolia; Ch. Lodoyravsal, Adviser to the President of Mongolia; H.E. Corinne Pereira da Silva, Ambassador of the French Republic to Mongolia; and the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mongolia.
The conference comprised two sessions, featuring a total of 18 papers and presentations. During the first session, Dr Ts. Delgersaikhan, Doctor of Science in Education, delivered a keynote address titled “Highlighting the Contributions of Mongolian Teachers and Students Who Studied in Germany and France to Mongolia’s Education, Culture and Science”. Other presentations explored topics including Mongolia’s foreign policy and Mongolian–German relations in the 1920s and 1930s, the political repression of Mongolian students who studied abroad, research on D. Natsagdorj, and the lives of the first five Mongolian women who studied in Germany. During the second session, the children and grandchildren of the pioneering Mongolian students shared accounts of their ancestors’ contributions and personal recollections. The session also featured the launch of the book titled “Gungaajavyn Batsukh: From a Pioneer Student to a People’s Teacher”.
At the conclusion of the conference, summaries of both sessions were presented, followed by closing remarks from Dr R. Turdalai, Academic Secretary of the Institute of International Studies of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
The conference highlighted the invaluable contributions made by approximately 45 Mongolian students who studied successfully in Germany and France to Mongolia’s development across various fields during the 20th century. It also emphasised their pioneering role in laying the foundations for the friendly relations and cooperation that Mongolia enjoys with Germany and France today. Furthermore, the conference provided an important platform for scholars and researchers to bring previously unexamined historical sources to the attention of the academic community, thereby stimulating greater interest in this subject among scholars and the wider public.
Prepared by: E. Buyanbileg, Researcher at the Department of Russian Studies
