Ulaanbaatar, September 19, 2025 – The Open Mind Mongolia 2025 International Conference, hosted by the Department of Sociology and Social Work, School of Arts and Sciences at the National University of Mongolia, convened a global community of scholars and practitioners to explore “Social Changes in the Digital Era.”
This year’s program featured over 30 presentations, with approximately 22 delivered in person and 11 presented online, creating a dynamic hybrid platform for meaningful international exchange. Participants represented 11 countries: Mongolia, the United States, China, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Sri Lanka, Belgium, the Philippines, and Belarus.
Plenary Session
The conference opened with a distinguished plenary session featuring internationally recognized scholars:
- Professor Dr. Gautam Yadama, Dean, Boston College School of Social Work (USA) — “Dynamic Complexity of Technology and Society: Field Observation.”
- Professor Dr. Cheng Sheng-Li, Shandong University (China) — “Chinese Families in the Midst of Great Social Transformation: Challenges and Responses.”
- Dr. Hong-Jae Park, Western Sydney University (Australia) — “Eco-Intergenerational Sustainability in the Digital Era.”
- Professor Dr. Josef Gohori, Shukutoku University (Japan) — “Cultural and Lifestyle Shifts in Urban and Rural Contexts.”
- Dean Dr. Le Van Công, Vietnam National University (Vietnam) — “Service-Learning as a Way of Transformation in Education, Training, and Information.”
Honorary Doctorate Award
A highlight of the event was the conferment of the title Doctor Honoris Causa upon Professor Gautam N. Yadama, Dean of the Boston College School of Social Work, in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the establishment of Mongolia’s national social work system.
Conference Themes
The four sub-sessions of the conference reflected a wide range of pressing issues:
- Cultural and Lifestyle Shifts in Urban and Rural Contexts – from preserving Mongolia’s nomadic heritage to comparative insights on community life in Sri Lanka, Russia, and Japan.
- Family Structures, Gender Relations, and Intergenerational Dynamics – addressing digital-era parenting, youth development, gender roles, human trafficking, and evolving care models.
- Transformations in Education, Training, and Information – highlighting cross-cultural learning, digital teaching innovations, mindful practices, and collaborative online education.
- Emerging Trends in Work, Occupations, and Labor – exploring the gig economy, the role of AI in social work, transformations in journalism, emotional intelligence in organizations, and global labor dynamics.
The conference, organized by the Department of Sociology and Social Work, National University of Mongolia, reaffirmed Mongolia’s central role in fostering international dialogue on social development, culture, and digital transformation, while showcasing the shared commitment of scholars and practitioners worldwide to advancing knowledge and building meaningful global collaboration.
