As part of the Erasmus+ ARTEST project, graduate students from European partner universities had the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program, visiting universities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The two-week exchange program took place from the 30th September to the 11th October, 2024.
National University of Mongolia
The National University of Mongolia (NUM) hosted a exchange students from the University of Catania in Italy and the University of Cologne in Germany. The exchange program aimed to provide an enriching experience for international students while fostering academic and cultural exchange. The core of the program involved a hands-on mini-project where students contributed to the digitalization of archaeological findings from various excavation sites across Mongolia. Utilizing laser scanner and photogrammetry, the students were able to create detailed digital models of the artifacts, primarily pottery, mirrors and pedals.
A key highlight of the program was the use of 3D printing technology. After creating the digital models, students produced life-like resized replica of ancient pottery using 3D printer. The replica will provide an opportunity for students to closely examine the form and structure of the original artifacts without the risk of damaging the archaeological findings. In addition to the mini-project, the students attended a lecture by NUM faculty member and researcher of the University of Catania, that offered them a broader understanding of archaeology as a discipline and heritage conservation. The lectures covered essential aspects of the field, providing insight into archaeological techniques, the significance of excavation work, and the interpretation of historical findings and techniques and project details on heritage conservation. By combining traditional archaeological methods with modern digital technologies, the program showcased how interdisciplinary approaches can revolutionize the study and preservation of cultural heritage.
University of Humanities and Otgontenger University
The University of the Humanities and Otgontenger University organized the student exchange program to focus on the linguistics mini-project and cultural activities. They hosted students from the International Hellenic University, the University of Peloponnese from Greece, and the University of Cologne from Germany.
European exchange students worked on a “Ger” mini-project. They created a 3D version of the Mongolian ger, prepared an introduction to “Mongolian ger and heritage” in Mongolian, English, German, and Greek, and expanded the model database of the UH Translate and the knowledge database of the UH AI artificial intelligence program. In addition, the exchange students obtained more experience and knowledge by training a simplified model on the server.
Moreover, exchange students visited Otgontenger University to familiarize themselves with the learning environment and learning activities and played with great interest the traditional ankle games.
