GRIT EDU

Our first program

In June 2025, GRIT EDU ran its first education program in Ugiinuur soum, Arkhangai province. One year later we surveyed the graduates to measure its results and its long-term impact.

This page shares the key findings, the students' own feedback, and the evidence behind our next step — expanding to a summer camp in Kharkhorin.

20

Students took part

100%

Would recommend it to a friend

94%

Will join the next camp

81%

Use English daily or several times a week

75%

Enrolled in extra English classes

63%

Started researching scholarships and universities abroad

The program didn't only raise students' English level — it changed their plans for the future, their self-confidence and their understanding of international education.

At a glance

Location: Ugiinuur school, Ugiinuur soum, Arkhangai
Dates: June 2025 · 4 weeks
Format: Learning centre · day program
Students: 20 · grades 7–11
Focus: English (grammar, speaking, listening, reading, writing) · University applications · Advice from students studying abroad · Cognitive and teamwork workshops · Games and competitions · Information on 28 countries
Team: 7 people
Sponsors & partners: Stoic · Absolute School of English

The team

A core team of seven ran the program: students and graduates studying abroad, a cook, a designer and a manager. With limited resources they covered everything from lessons and meals to content and safety.

Name	Role	Responsible for
Bayarmagnai Usukhgerel	Founder of GRIT, program lead	Finance, organization, university application classes
B. Tulga	English teacher	English, cooking
J. Namuun	Teacher	University applications, country information
B. Munkhdalai	English teacher	English, country information
B. Nomin	Teacher	English, country information
O. Enkhgerel	Program manager	Organization, country information
M. Namuunbayar	Designer	Content

What students learned

Over four weeks, students joined five tracks of lessons and activities every day.

1Speech series

15+ talks by students and graduates studying abroad — Harvard, Yonsei, Vanderbilt, universities in Japan and Taiwan, the National University of Mongolia and more.

2English grammar

Nouns · Articles (a/an/the) · Pronouns · Plural forms · Verb “to be” · Present simple / continuous · Past simple / continuous · Future tenses · Present perfect · Adjectives vs adverbs · Comparisons · Modal verbs · Infinitive vs gerund · Quantifiers · Prepositions

3Workshops

Mission, vision & values · MBTI test · Story chain · Silent line-up · “If I were a…” · Oobleck · CV builder · Ecosystem workshop · Managing productivity · Self-talk management · Quizzes and competitions

4University applications

Application process · Application platforms · Activities list · Common essay mistakes · Early decision vs early action vs regular · Demonstrating interest · Recommendation letters · College resume · Student loans · Financial aid · Final checklist · Personal statement structure · How admissions officers read applications · Finding and applying for scholarships

5Studying abroad

Universities and scholarships in 24 countries, including the Netherlands, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Poland, Czechia, Canada, Turkey, China, Malaysia and the USA.

Impact, one year later

In April 2026 we ran an online survey of the graduates: 16 of 20 students responded (an 80% response rate). The 16 questions covered their English level before and after, lesson quality, the concrete steps they have taken since, and how their plans for the future have changed. Because it was taken about a year after the program, it shows long-term impact.

Changed “a lot” since the program

Respondents who answered “changed a lot”

Interest in studying abroad 14
Confidence speaking English 13
Understanding of a future career 12
Confidence to express themselves 10

English skills that improved

Respondents who marked each skill (multiple choice)

Grammar 15
Reading 9
Listening 7
Writing 7
Confidence speaking English 5
Speaking 4

English level before the program

Self-assessed

Beginner — letters, simple words 5
Elementary — understood simple sentences 10
Intermediate — understood simple conversation 1

94% started at beginner or elementary level — the program truly reached beginners.

Lessons rated “very helpful”

Each activity rated from 1 to 5

Cognitive and teamwork workshops 15
University admissions information 14
Advice from students studying abroad 14
English lessons 13
Games and competitions 13

Teaching methods

How clearly teachers explained

Very good — everyone understood 10
Mostly good 6
Average 0

No graduate rated the teaching negatively. Asked “What was missing?”, most answered “nothing”.

Respondents by grade

Grade in April 2026

Grade 9 4
Grade 10 5
Grade 11 2
Grade 12 5

Scholarships & certificates

100% scholarship

Full English course scholarships from Absolute School of English

Our partner Absolute School of English awards three GRIT EDU students a 100% scholarship to continue studying English at its centre. The scholarships go to the students who showed the most effort and progress during the program.

Every student who completed the program received a GRIT EDU certificate of completion.

In students' words

All 16 graduates — 100% — said they would recommend GRIT EDU to their friends, younger siblings and people they know. Nobody said they wouldn't, and nobody was unsure. These quotes come from the survey's open questions, in full or in part.

“Before, I didn't know it was possible to study abroad on a scholarship — I thought it was out of reach. Now I know so much more and understand that it's possible, so I want to study at a university abroad.”

— O. Khaliunaa · Grade 10

“I was able to answer so many of my questions. I wanted to study abroad but didn't know where to start — what to do, whether I needed a gap year or had to finish school first. My English improved a lot too. I met so many amazing older students, connected with them and got inspiration from them.”

— T. Khongorzul · Grade 12

“I now imagine my future on a much bigger scale.”

— Ganchimeg · Grade 10

“Thank you to all the teachers. You were amazing — please come back to our soum and run this program again.”

— O. Nomin-Erdene · Grade 9

“I really loved the GRIT EDU program and our teachers. I hope it grows even bigger so that many, many more children can take part.”

— O. Khaliunaa · Grade 10

“If I could, I'd skip the university entrance exam just to join the program again.”

— T. Khongorzul · Grade 12

“I now have real, active goals in life.”

— Naransolonsho · Grade 9

Challenges and lessons

What we heard

Transport and timing A few students found getting there inconvenient or difficult.
Clarity of speech One student felt some teachers “could have spoken a bit more clearly”.
Missed lessons One student mentioned they “couldn't attend every lesson”.
Games vs. learning One student suggested there should be “fewer games”.

What we'll do in 2027

Move to a residential camp (overnight, 21 days) to remove transport problems completely.
Make communication skills — speaking clearly and understandably — a key criterion when selecting teachers.
Set the lesson-to-game ratio at 70:30, with games built around the lesson goals.
Few students were at intermediate level, so we recommend A2+ as a selection criterion in 2027.
The one-year follow-up survey proved very valuable, so the 2027 program will have the same follow-up system.

Next step — Kharkhorin 2027

The first program in Ugiinuur laid the foundation of the GRIT EDU model. In 2027 we move to a deeper, more sustainable format in Kharkhorin soum, Uvurkhangai province.

2025 · Ugiinuur

Learning centre

20 students · 4 weeks · day program

Completed

2027 · Kharkhorin

Summer camp

30 students · 21 days · full board

See the program plan

2028+ · Expansion

Nationwide

5+ provinces · 200+ students · a sustainable model

Planned

Thank you

We sincerely thank everyone who helped make the first program in Ugiinuur happen: the Ugiinuur soum Governor's Office, the school's leadership, parents and guardians, the students and graduates studying abroad, and our speakers.

Most of all, thank you to the team members and teachers who made this program real, and to the 20 students who took part with all their heart and shared their honest feedback. Your words and your progress are the strongest foundation for making the next program even better.

Bayarmagnai Usukhgerel · Founder of GRIT, GRIT EDU program lead
Report published April 2026 · 16 graduates responded · 80% response rate (of 20)