 Nomin received her award at last year's office opening in UB. Here she is pictured with the Mongolian team and members from the Perth/Brisbane offices. |
 Nomin with the Mongolian team at the local ski resort! |
Since winning Gemcom’s first student sponsorship program in Mongolia last year, Nomin Byambadorj has been working hard at her degree. She has entered her final year of university, and in July she started her summer internship at Gemcom’s Mongolian office to work on developing her mining experience and technical skills. As a third year mining engineering student at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Nomin’s scholarship has opened the door for her to meet mining leaders in Mongolia, as well as learn geology and mine planning skills in Gemcom Surpac™ and Gemcom Minex™ software under the expert guidance of the staff at Gemcom’s Ulaanbaatar office. It’s not all work and study though – the team does find time to go out and enjoy themselves too, especially since there are often visitors from the Gemcom Australia office!
Gemcom’s sponsorship program has significantly helped Nomin with her studies and mining knowledge, particularly by introducing her to the various aspects of working in the mining industry. "I’m very happy and I believe in myself that I will succeed in my future career. I’m very excited I won the scholarship and it’s great that I am able to experience a practical and real-life approach to the mining industry in Mongolia," Nomin said. "I think mining engineering is a very intense profession that involves a lot of hard work. With the scholarship, I am able to prepare for working in the industry through Gemcom’s solid foundation, and also through the guidance from Dagva Myagmarsuren (Manager, Gemcom Mongolia) and the team at the office."
So far, Nomin has received a books and subsistence allowance for the year, and has had her course fees paid for by Gemcom. This has helped her to focus even more on her degree, and achieve higher results in her studies. She says, "Gemcom’s study allowance has been very helpful in allowing me to not worry about upcoming tests or assignments because I have all the books and study materials I need. I think in this way, I definitely have an advantage over other students because I am able to study better and focus my time on doing the best I can." The scholarship has also been an immense help for her family as well. "Before I got the scholarship, my parents were giving me a small allowance every week which was hard for them as they are supporting themselves and my family as well. The program has allowed me to become more independent."
Nomin has found the most important aspect of the program to be the many opportunities to meet key industry leaders from major companies involved in the Mongolian mining industry. "I’ve had the opportunity to meet many great industry leaders at Coal Mongolia 2011, such as the Chairman of Mining in Mongolia and people in the Mongolian Mining Club. These opportunities have been extended throughout my Gemcom internship, and it’s been a valuable part of the program for me. I think the scholarship has helped give me a very useful insight into mining, and a priceless opportunity to learn from mining engineers with industry experience. I’m very thankful that I was given the chance to experience life working in the industry before graduation."
Nomin is looking forward to the future, "I hope to work either at a mine site or mining company once I graduate. Gemcom’s scholarship has opened my eyes to the real world of working in the mining industry. The opportunities and independence the program has brought me have been amazing, and the friendships and contacts I have made along the way have made my experience all the more memorable."
 The team went on a fishing trip one night - Nomin's just taking abreak from the action. |  Nomin was able to attend Coal Mongolia 2011 representing Gemcom, platinum sponsors. |
