Project Overview
The Mongolian NREN visibility project aimed to elevate the national and regional presence of Mongolia's National Research and Education Network (Erdemnet) by addressing critical visibility gaps and promoting sustainable collaboration models. Through strategic events, comprehensive surveys, dedicated online platforms, and extensive stakeholder engagement, the project successfully fostered cross-border partnerships and identified clear future directions for Mongolian academic connectivity.
Network Visibility
Elevating Erdemnet's profile among national policymakers and regional NREN partners
Stakeholder Engagement
Building bridges between academia, government, and international research networks
Needs Assessment
Comprehensive surveys across 13 institutions to identify NREN usage potential
Sustainable Growth
Creating roadmaps and partnerships for long-term NREN development and expansion
Official NREN Platform Launched
A comprehensive Mongolian-language platform serving as the central hub for NREN users, offering connection guidelines, benefits, and ongoing project updates.
Project Objectives
Primary Goal
Increase the visibility and operational capacity of Mongolia's NREN, Erdemnet, nationally and regionally, thereby supporting its sustainable growth and integration into global academic networks.
Institutional Needs Assessment
Conduct comprehensive analysis to identify institutional requirements and potential for NREN usage across Mongolia's academic landscape.
Capacity Building
Build organizational and technical capacity through strategic knowledge sharing initiatives and international collaboration.
Strategic Roadmap
Create a comprehensive roadmap for Erdemnet's future expansion, sustainability, and integration with regional networks.
Regional Integration
Foster connections with regional NRENs to establish Mongolia as an active participant in the Asian research network ecosystem.
Policy Advocacy
Engage government stakeholders to advocate for supportive policies and licensing frameworks for NREN operations.
Key Activities
TEIN Project Launching Event
Inaugural event introducing TEIN and Erdemnet to key stakeholders, beginning strategic engagement with academia, government, and regulatory bodies.
Comprehensive NREN Survey
Extensive research conducted among 13 institutions to assess awareness, challenges, and potential for using TEIN via Erdemnet, particularly in health, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
Website Development & Launch
Created and launched www.erdemnet.mn in Mongolian to serve as a central hub for NREN users, offering connection guidelines, benefits, and ongoing project updates.
Knowledge Sharing Workshop
Major workshop in Ulaanbaatar featuring international speakers from KREONET, TEMDEC, and PREGINET, facilitating networking and technical discussions.
ICT Expo Booth
Comprehensive booth setup and staffing for "Erdemnet and TEIN" at ICT Expo 2023, showcasing NREN capabilities to a broad audience including the Minister of Education and Science.
ICT Forum Participation
Active participation in the education session of ICT Forum 2023, where regional NREN partners advocated for research collaboration through TEIN networks.
Key Outcomes & Impact
Enhanced NREN Awareness
Over 500 stakeholders gained comprehensive exposure to TEIN benefits through targeted events and strategic discussions across multiple sectors.
Institutional Engagement Success
Created a comprehensive roadmap for NREN sustainability based on detailed feedback from universities and education authorities.
Operational Website Platform
Successfully launched www.erdemnet.mn providing institutions with centralized access to connection information and project updates.
Regional Partnerships Established
Strengthened collaboration with KREONET, PREGINET, and TEMDEC, opening doors to joint sectoral initiatives and knowledge exchange.
Policy Dialogue Initiated
Engaged CRC to begin formal processes for restoring Erdemnet's ISP license, crucial for expanding its service base and reach.
Sustainable Framework Created
Developed comprehensive strategies and partnerships for long-term NREN development and regional integration.
Partner Organizations
Intec LLC
Primary implementation partner managing project coordination and stakeholder engagement
Erdemnet
Mongolia's National Research and Education Network, central focus of capacity building efforts
Ministry of Education and Science
Policy framework and educational sector coordination for NREN development
Education Information Technology Center
Technical coordination and educational technology infrastructure support
TEIN*CC
Regional network coordination and international connectivity support
KREONET
Knowledge sharing and technical expertise from Korea's research network
PREGINET
Regional collaboration and best practices sharing from Philippines' research network
TEMDEC
Technical expertise and advanced networking solutions from Japan's research community
Challenges & Gaps
ISP License Limitation
Erdemnet still lacks essential ISP licensing which significantly hinders its ability to scale connectivity across universities and expand its service offerings.
Resource Constraints
Erdemnet's technical staff and financial capacity are severely strained due to its primary focus on secondary schools, limiting university-level services.
Leadership Awareness Gap
Some university leaders lack comprehensive understanding of NREN/TEIN value proposition, reducing institutional uptake and strategic support.
Technical Connection Barriers
Institutions raised significant concerns about complex procedures, connection costs, and training requirements for connecting to Erdemnet infrastructure.
Future Directions
ISP License Restoration
Continue strategic advocacy with CRC and MEDS to formally request license reinstatement for Erdemnet, enabling expanded service capabilities.
University Leadership Engagement
Implement targeted outreach campaigns to senior university management to ensure institutional buy-in for TEIN connectivity and strategic adoption.
International Collaboration Expansion
Develop sector-specific pilot projects with Korean, Philippine, and Japanese NREN partners to demonstrate tangible research collaboration benefits.
Technical Capacity Building
Conduct regular comprehensive training workshops for local network engineers and researchers on NREN usage, maintenance, and optimization.
Platform Sustainability
Maintain and continuously update www.erdemnet.mn as a dynamic knowledge and support portal for the Mongolian research community.