Australia Awards South and West Asia

At the end of 2025, Tsolmon Purevdorj from Mongolia completed a Master of Industrial Engineering at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship.

In the following video, recorded during his time in Australia, Tsolmon discusses his experiences as an Australia Awards scholar.

“Mongolia is on the brink of rapid development,” Tsolmon declares. In his opinion, this means that his country needs a skilled and internationally-trained workforce that can work on the large-scale projects on the horizon. “Australia Awards helped me become an engineer and specialist who can work on international-level projects,” he says with confidence.

It’s not just hard skills that Mongolia’s young professionals will require. Tsolmon is adamant that soft skills will also be in demand. “Australia Awards helped me develop soft skills,” he says, pointing to networking events and mentorship programs as examples that he says have helped “develop [his] communication skills and also leadership skills”, as well as enabled him to “meet industry experts and establish a close relationship with them”.

With this in mind, he says, “I think studying in Australia is not just about getting an academic education. It’s a life lesson for me.”

Tsolmon (middle) pictured with fellow Australia Awards scholars from Mongolia, Davaajargal Lkhagvadorj (left) and Oyunzul Oyunbaatar, in Melbourne.

Tsolmon also benefited from professional development opportunities provided by Australia Awards. For example, in November 2025, he attended the Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia Scholars Symposium in Melbourne, where he reflected on what he had learned in Australia and how he could apply this knowledge to make an impact in Mongolia.

He points out that when he first arrived in Australia—an unfamiliar country with an unfamiliar culture—he had to start learning everything from square one. “Despite these challenges,” he says, “I still enjoyed the learning process … I found joy in this process because it gave me the opportunity to learn from my past experience and improve myself.” He admits that sometimes balancing academic study with these new challenges was difficult, but by applying effective planning and time management, he had succeeded.

The social culture was not the only difference that Tsolmon needed to adjust to; the educational culture was also different to that of his home country. “I think the teaching method in Australia is unique,” he says. One element he compliments is the emphasis on open discussion. “In the class, students and teachers discuss things, very freely, and we have a lot of different perspectives on topics,” he says. “It also gives other students an opportunity to learn from these different perspectives and help them develop critical thinking skills.”

Tsolmon participating in the 2025 Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia Scholars Symposium in Melbourne.

In addition, Tsolmon speaks highly about the group projects that his course involved, which required “different people with different backgrounds” to work together. While he acknowledges that this process could be challenging, he also says that it “helped us to learn how to bring our ideas together and do research together” to come up with the best solution.

Studying was of course the focus of Tsolmon’s degree and his highest priority, but his Scholarship also offered him the opportunity to experience other aspects of Australia. “I loved exploring new places, meeting new people and trying out new foods,” he says. “One of the best things in Melbourne was having a lot of green areas and parks.” These areas also appealed to Tsolmon’s daughter, who “loves to explore” and play with other children.

“Another thing is, Melbourne is known for having a very broad food culture. So, on the weekends, I tried to spend time with my family to go out and try out those foods and desserts,” Tsolmon adds.

While in Australia, Tsolmon also had opportunities to deepen his understanding of Australia’s First Nations people. One such experience took place in 2024, when he joined fellow scholars from Mongolia and South Asia on a visit to the Willum Warrain Aboriginal bush nursery in Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula. The group was welcomed through a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country. During the visit, they learned about traditional foods, culture, and Indigenous knowledge of local plants.

Tsolmon has his face painted with ochre by Peter Aldenhoven, a Quandamooka man and the founding member and CEO of Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association which owns and operates the Willum Warrain Aboriginal bush nursery.

But the absolute highlight is something he has already touched on. “The most enjoyable thing in Australia is meeting a lot of different people,” he says. Back home, he has worked in the engineering/manufacturing industry for more than ten years, but after arriving in Australia he took the opportunity to work at major sporting events such as the AFL Grand Final and the Australian Open. Working in a different industry, he had the chance to meet new people from a variety of backgrounds. “It was a very valuable lesson for me to learn from those people,” he says. “It was a great chance to learn from them about how they see things differently and what they value. As an engineer, it was especially important for us to have different perspectives when we are doing projects and providing solutions.” Wise words indeed!

Tsolmon (second from left at the back) and other Mongolian scholars with the Hon Tim Watts MP (middle, in blue suit), a Member of Australia’s Federal Parliament, at the Australia Awards Year End Event in Melbourne.

In December 2025, Tsolmon attended the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management in Melbourne. The event connected researchers and practitioners across industries, showcasing award-winning papers on system reliability, security, and decision-making. Tsolmon found the conference invaluable for presenting research, gaining professional support, and learning innovative approaches. Inspired and motivated, Tsolmon also built meaningful connections with fellow engineers that will benefit future career development. 

Tsolmon also has some words of wisdom for others seeking to advance their skills or career. “If you stay true to yourself, be dedicated and just keep moving forward even in little steps, there is endless life changing opportunity waiting for you,” he says, describing an Australia Awards Scholarship as “the biggest example” of such opportunities. “Australia Awards provided me with one of the best educations in the world, and it provided comprehensive financial and academic support throughout my study.”

Tsolmon attending the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management 2025 in Melbourne.

He sees Australia Awards as an opportunity for mid-career workers to take their professional journey to the next level.

“My advice for those people who have already dedicated a certain amount of time in their respective field: applying for this Scholarship offers you a great chance to evaluate your past accomplishments,” he says, “and reflect on how you can contribute even more in your field in the future.”

Most of all, Tsolmon urges patience. “If you don’t succeed, don’t be discouraged from applying again. Learn from your past experience and take this one as an opportunity to improve yourself,” he says.

The rewards, he says, are worth the wait. “Australia Awards helps you become a leader and a changemaker.”