Details
The programme started with a welcome dinner, where Viktor Frank, Director of the KAS Office Mongolia, introduced the foundation’s work in the country and offered a first overview of Mongolia’s political landscape and local governance system. From there, the discussions moved quickly into substance. Dr. Soeren Kiel from the University of Passau guided participants through the foundations of local governance, combining comparative perspectives with key questions on competences, decentralisation, and financial arrangements, before the group transitioned to Terelj for a more focused and immersive part of the programme. In this setting, theory met practice. Through an interactive simulation on air pollution and traffic management in Hanoi, participants worked through complex governance challenges, negotiating priorities and testing policy responses in a very practical way. Day 3 then brought in a strong regional dimension, with participant-led country presentations from Mongolia, Cambodia, North Macedonia, and India, creating space for honest exchange and comparison, followed by an in-depth session with Lakshmi Boojoo on Mongolia’s public administration reform, service delivery, and citizen participation. Returning to Ulaanbaatar, the group had a candid discussion with Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, leader of the Civic Unity Party, where conversations focused on political participation, party development, internal dynamics, and the role of youth and women in politics. The final day shifted fully into institutional engagement. At the Sukhbaatar District Office, participants explored how local governance functions in practice, asking concrete questions about implementation and administrative realities, before moving to the Parliament of Mongolia for a high-level exchange facilitated by MP and KASYP alumna Jargalan Batbayar, joined by fellow MPs Erdenebold Sukhbaatar, Ganbaatar Gombo, and Bolormaa Enkhbat. The discussion connected local leadership experience with national policymaking, particularly in areas such as public service delivery, infrastructure, economic development, and regional inequality, while also touching on decentralisation, transparency, and evidence-based policymaking as key elements of building trust in governance.
The module closed with a networking dinner with Mongolia’s KASYP alumni, adding a personal and reflective dimension to the week.
KASYP 16.3 provided participants with a comprehensive learning experience that effectively connected theory with practice. Through a combination of academic input, practical simulations, and high-level political dialogue, the module deepened participants’ understanding of local governance and development while fostering meaningful regional exchange among emerging political leaders.
Agenda
