The Australian Vector of Mongolian Migration: Basic Parameters and Trends

Goals. The article aims to characterize some key aspects of present-day migration from Mongolia to Australia. Materials and methods. The study employs a comprehensive methodology to analyze international and national statistics data from the United Nations, UNESCO, Governments of Australia and Mongolia, etc. It also involves discourse analyses of Russian-, Mongolian- and English-language print and online publications dealing with the migration of Mongolian citizens to Australia. Survey methods have proved as instrumental, e. g., expert surveys, informal interviews, and questionnaires. Field research was conducted in the summer of 2022. Results. The study reveals key characteristic features of Mongolian migration to Australia. Firstly, Mongolian migrants in Australia are a fastest growing group of foreign migrants. Currently, Australia is becoming an increasingly popular labor (third place after the Republic of Korea and the USA) and educational (fourth place after China, Korea and Japan) destination for Mongolian citizens. Secondly, the main driving force of labor migration from Mongolia to Australia is the economic motive; however, non-financial factors play an equally important role — low population density, similar to landscapes, high living standards and quality of life, favorable migration situation in the host society. Thirdly, educational migration from Mongolia to Australia, as well as labor migration, has a high potential, is associated with further employment prospects and professional self-realization for Mongolian citizens both at home and in the destination country. Labor and educational migration is stimulated by active special government programs within operating Australia-Mongolia agreements both in industrial/economic (primarily in mining) and humanitarian spheres (various scholarships, academic mobility). The countries anticipate an expansion of economic, cultural and educational cooperation, which shall make it possible to implement mutually beneficial projects.