Introduction to the School of Preschool Education, Mongolian National University of Education
Historical Overview
Since its establishment, our school has a rich history of 64 years in preparing generations of teachers and educators for the preschool education sector of Mongolia. It is a public institution with a long-standing tradition in teacher education.
The institution was first established in 1962 as the Kindergarten Teacher College under the Ulaanbaatar State University. Beginning in the 1996–1997 academic year, it became a constituent school of the Mongolian National University of Education. Following structural reforms in the 2014–2015 academic year, it was reorganized as the School of Preschool Education under the Teacher Training School of MNUE. Since 2017, it has continued to expand and develop as an independent constituent school—the School of Preschool Education of MNUE. Our school is the oldest state-owned institution in Mongolia dedicated to preparing teachers and professionals for the preschool education sector. At present, the School of Preschool Education operates within Academic Building No. 8 of MNUE and consists of the following administrative units and departments:
In recent years, MNUE has been striving to become a university aligned with international standards, with the goal of preparing teachers who are capable of supporting the development of every child. In line with this goal, the School of Preschool Education aims to continuously prepare nationally qualified teachers and specialists who can deliver quality, inclusive, and efficient education that supports the development of each child. At the same time, the school is working toward becoming a center for teaching, research, and innovation. Our faculty includes experienced scholars who have studied and enhanced their professional knowledge and methodological expertise in countries such as Russia, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United States, and China. These academic staff members possess extensive research achievements and serve as role models for students through their teaching practices and experience. Currently, the school employs 26 academic staff members and serves approximately 900 undergraduate and graduate students. Among the faculty, 70% hold doctoral degrees, while the remaining 30% are doctoral candidates.
Training and Academic Programs
Our school offers the Bachelor’s program in “Teacher of Preschool Education” in multiple formats:
In addition, students may enroll in the Master’s program in “Preschool Education”, with both professional and research-oriented tracks (1.5–2 years). The general admission requirement is based on the General Entrance Examination (GEE) score of the given year, meeting the minimum threshold. However, applicants aged over 30 with at least three years of work experience in the field may be admitted without GEE scores. Applicants to the conversion program must already hold a bachelor’s degree. The duration of study ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 years, depending on completed coursework and credit transfer. For part-time and conversion programs, the semester structure consists of 8 weeks of online learning and 8 weeks of in-person classes. The curriculum of the “Teacher of Preschool Education” program includes:
Professional courses are delivered in whole-class, group-based, and individual formats, depending on the nature of the subject. Students regularly apply their learning in practice by organizing and participating in performance reports, school anniversary events, commemorative activities, and independent class performances, which has become a well-established tradition. To ensure effective implementation of the program, we actively collaborate with numerous international and domestic universities. These include:
Through these partnerships, we have established a strong tradition of faculty and student exchange, as well as joint research and academic collaboration, enabling mutual learning and the sharing of international best practices.
International Accreditation
The Bachelor’s program in “Teacher of Preschool Education” was accredited for a period of 10 years (2022–2032) during the 2022–2023 academic year by ACQUIN (Germany). This accreditation demonstrates that the quality of our training is recognized both nationally and internationally. The Master’s program in “Preschool Education” was accredited for 5 years (2023–2028) during the 2023–2024 academic year by the National Council for Education Accreditation.
Student Development
From the moment of admission through the entire enrollment process, staff members of the Program Office provide continuous guidance and support to students. They assist with using academic systems, paying tuition fees, securing student housing, and even navigating course registration. In many cases, they offer hands-on guidance, accompanying students and providing step-by-step orientation when needed. Following enrollment, first-year students take the course “Introduction to the Teaching Profession,” which plays a crucial role in helping them become familiar with the school environment, faculty, and staff, while also fostering an understanding of the value and responsibilities of the teaching profession. As human beings are inherently social, students progressively develop stronger social skills as they advance through each academic year. Over time, they become more confident and engaged, eventually reaching the level where they are able to guide and support newly admitted students. We consider this developmental progression—from being guided to becoming mentors—as a key indicator of the effectiveness and success of our educational work.