Mongolrabphak: At the Origins of the Educational Space of Russia and Mongolia

The first Forum of Rectors of Russia and Mongolia will be held in Ulan-Ude from July 4 to 6. Representatives of the academic communities of both countries will gather at its venues. Key reports and discussions will take place across four platforms, addressing current issues in educational, scientific, and technological cooperation, including the promotion and positioning of Russian education in Mongolia, reports "Buryatia" 1.

Organizers of the forum include the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Buryat State University (BSU) named after D. Banzarov, the Ministry of Education of Mongolia, the Russian Union of Rectors, and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) 1.

Further educational cooperation between Russia and Mongolia involves the search for joint solutions to modern global challenges. Over previous decades, education and science have served as vital tools for strengthening bilateral ties, mutual cultural enrichment, and training highly qualified personnel for Mongolia's economy. Key prerequisites for this are rooted in the historical connections between our countries and the Mongolian Workers' Faculty (Mongolrabphak)—the prototype of Mongolia's first educational institution on the territory of Buryatia 1.

What Was Mongolrabphak?

*"In late 1929, the USSR Government established the Mongolian Workers' Faculty in Verkhneudinsk (now Ulan-Ude), the capital of the Buryat-Mongolian ASSR, to train national cadres for the friendly country and prepare students for admission to Soviet universities. The location was chosen due to the geographical, cultural, and linguistic proximity of the Buryat and Mongolian peoples. Students at Mongolrabphak received extensive care, with special attention paid to their stay in the Buryat-Mongolian ASSR. The teaching staff included the region’s best educators, who enthusiastically embraced their work,"*
— Altyna Shoydonova, Head of the Department of Buryat History at BSU 1.

The Mongolian Workers' Faculty played a crucial role in establishing Mongolia’s education system and forming its national intelligentsia. In the 1920s–1930s, the country faced a severe shortage of educated professionals. During this period, the Soviet state committed to educational cooperation by training Mongolian citizens in several institutions:

• Mongolian sectors at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East (Moscow/Leningrad) 1.

• Two-year Mongolian courses at Irkutsk State University’s pedagogical faculty 1.

• Mongolrabphak and the Mongolian department of Kyakhta Pedagogical College in Buryatia 1.

Key Milestones

• February 20, 1930: First classes began at Mongolrabphak. It trained mid-level specialists for agriculture, education, healthcare, and industry. Organizationally, it was affiliated with Irkutsk University and the Communist University of the Toilers of the East in Moscow 1.

• 1931: Nine-month farm laborers' courses launched 1.

• 1933: An agricultural school established, focusing on meat/dairy farming—a field with shared practices in Buryatia and Mongolia 1.

• 1935: The faculty was staffed by elite educators, including mathematics teacher S.A. Khamaganova (awarded four times for excellence), literature teacher A.A. Alekseev (hosted literary evenings), and historian N.Ts. Dobzhaev (fluent in Mongolian) 1.

• 1940: Reorganized into a Pedagogical College due to Mongolia’s growing need for teachers 1.

• May 1941: Transferred to Ulaanbaatar and merged with a local college; its equipment/library gifted to Mongolia 1.

Legacy and Impact

• Over 10 years, Mongolrabphak trained 1,912 specialists who contributed significantly to Mongolia’s cultural, economic, and defense sectors 1.

• Notable graduates:

  • Yumjagiin Tsedenbal (General Secretary of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party) 1.

  • Bazaryn Shirendev (founder of the Mongolian State University and Mongolian Academy of Sciences) 110.

  • Damdinjaviin Maydar (Deputy Chairman of Mongolia’s Council of Ministers) 1.

• As Mongolian scholar Ts. Gotov noted:

  "The Mongolian people remember this remarkable school with gratitude. Many leaders, scientists, engineers, and teachers emerged from among its graduates" 1.

Modern Continuity

The Mongolrabphak legacy underpins current initiatives like the upcoming Russia-Mongolia Rectors Forum (July 4–6, 2025), co-organized by BSU. Discussions will focus on advancing educational collaboration, reflecting the enduring partnership rooted in this historical institution 113.

Author: Vladimir Matveev
Source: https://burunen.ru/news/society/137948-mongolrabfak-u-istokov-obrazovatelnogo-prostranstva-rossii-i-mongolii/