Nazarbayev University (NU) announces the launch of the Women Leadership Development Programme (WLDP), a new executive education initiative aimed at strengthening the leadership capacity of women in Kazakhstan and supporting the development of a sustainable pipeline of leaders across key sectors of society.
The programme is designed for women leaders and emerging professionals working in higher education and science, public administration and policy, business and entrepreneurship, as well as in non-governmental and regional organizations focused on human capital and leadership development.
Speaking at the launch, NU President Waqar Ahmad addresses current challenges with increasing the representation of women in technical and scientific academic fields.
«We are a technical university and it is very difficult to hire women as professors in areas such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and so on. Our hope is that as our own graduates go on to do Masters and PhDs in these fields, we will hire more of them back here. I have seen recently a few universities going to hire faculty and they are advertising for only female applicants. It is something that we want to experiment with. So, this is a start».
Vice-President Gulmira Qanay highlights on the programme outcomes:
«This is an opportunity for career advancement, which we will pilot for our female staff members at NU. For participants from business and public policy, the initiative will enable networking and institutional collaboration, drawing on international best practices. This is particularly timely in the context of the upcoming electoral cycle for the National Kurultai, where new avenues for civic participation and leadership are expected».
The programme plans to support career mobility across sectors, including transitions from business into public policy, as well as broader shifts in leadership trajectories shaped by participants’ evolving professional goals.
NU Provost Rehan Sadiq shared insight from his experience in engineering education, noting that women make up about 17% of the engineering profession in Canada, compared to approximately 52% in civil engineering at NU, highlighting significant differences in gender representation across contexts. He emphasized that while progress exists, increasing women’s participation in STEM fields remains a long-term priority globally.
Chairperson of the Kazakhstan Institute of Social Development Zhuldyzai Iskakova noted that women account for around 48% of small and medium-sized business ownership in Kazakhstan and about 55% in individual entrepreneurship, but remain underrepresented in political leadership, with parliamentary representation at approximately 17–18%. She added that Kazakhstan performs relatively strongly in the region but has declined to 92nd place in the Global Gender Gap Index, mainly due to faster progress in other countries, and emphasized that political representation remains the key structural challenge.
The WLDP is positioned as a long-term investment in human capital development, aimed at equipping participants with advanced competencies in leadership, strategic management, decision-making, negotiation, and organizational transformation.
WLDP is jointly developed by the Graduate School of Education, the Graduate School of Public Policy, and the Graduate School of Business at NU, in partnership with the National Commission on Women and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The initiative will bring together more than 80 participants selected through a competitive process. It is delivered in a blended learning format and comprises 120 hours of training, combining academic instruction, applied leadership development, mentoring, cross-sector networking, and a final Capstone Leadership Project. The programme has been launched on 6-8 June, 2026.
The Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum (EHELF) took place at Nazarbayev University, bringing together representatives of universities, international organizations, government institutions, industry, and the expert community.
Held annually from 2011 to 2019, the forum established itself as a respected international platform for discussing key issues shaping the future of higher education. Following a five-year hiatus, EHELF returned to Astana to continue its tradition of professional dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative problem-solving for higher education systems across Eurasia and beyond.
Speaking at the forum, Kazakhstan's Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek noted that the revival of EHELF reflects Kazakhstan's growing role as a regional hub for academic dialogue.
«Kazakhstan is steadily integrating its higher education system into the global academic space. And it is forums like EHELF that allow us to benchmark our progress against the world's leading universities», the Minister emphasized.
The theme of the 2026 forum, «The Future We Shape», reflected universities’ commitment to playing an active role in building a sustainable, equitable, and future-ready society. Discussions focused on technological transformation, economic uncertainty, climate challenges, and an evolving geopolitical landscape.
«In this environment, universities are expected not only to respond to change, but also to help shape the future. In Central Asia, universities have a responsibility to support the development of society and the economy. Since its founding, Nazarbayev University has built a globally connected academic ecosystem based on research, innovation, and partnerships, while remaining committed to advancing higher education in Kazakhstan and the region», said Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University.
During the forum’s working sessions, participants explored how principles of sustainability, equity, and public good can be integrated into university strategies, governance models, and academic programs. Particular attention was given to the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation, the integration of artificial intelligence into education and research, and effective leadership in times of uncertainty and crisis.
This year’s speakers included leading experts in higher education, economics, technology, and public policy. Among them were Norbert Csizmadia, a researcher and expert in global economic strategy, geoeconomics, and geopolitics; Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair, a renowned Malaysian scholar, econometrician, and data scientist; and Wayne Holmes, an international expert on artificial intelligence and Professor of Critical Studies of AI and Education at the Institute of Education, University College London, alongside representatives from universities and various sectors.
«It is a special honor to discuss the future of the «turquoise zones» here in Kazakhstan, where a new academic and civilizational dialogue is shaping the future of Eurasia. Many of the challenges facing the world today can already be seen in Central Asia, but they also create opportunities for innovation and development», said Norbert Csizmadia.
Nazarbayev University is committed to preparing graduates who can thrive in an era of globalization and technological advancement while contributing innovative solutions to complex global challenges. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, NU ranks among the top 23 percent of universities worldwide and is the highest-ranked university in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It is also ranked 150th in the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025 and is among the world’s top 106 young universities.
As universities worldwide navigate rapid technological change, shifting workforce demands, and growing societal expectations, academic leaders from across Asia convened in Astana for the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Presidents Forum 2026.
The forum featured university leaders from leading institutions across Asia and beyond, including Tsinghua University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Nazarbayev University, United Arab Emirates University, Chulalongkorn University, The University of Tokyo, Vietnam National University, and Seoul National University.
Welcoming participants, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek emphasized that the country is steadily advancing a future-oriented higher education system.
«For Kazakhstan, the development of higher education and science is a matter of national resilience and economic competitiveness. We believe that tomorrow's universities cannot simply teach AI, they must be driven by it. The AI-enabled university model is already becoming a reality in Kazakhstan, where a distributed academic cluster of four national universities is anchored by the Nazarbayev University ecosystem», noted the Minister.
Minister Sayasat Nurbek also underscored Kazakhstan’s openness to expanding cooperation with universities across Asia and working together to address the challenges of the future.
The forum brought together presidents, provosts, and senior university leaders to explore how higher education institutions can remain resilient, innovative, and relevant in an increasingly complex world. The program included working sessions focused on the AUA's financial sustainability and the development of its three-year strategic plan. Discussions addressed the alliance’s progress to date, timelines for future initiatives, and strategic priorities for the next phase of collaboration. During the summit, the presidency of the Alliance transitioned from United Arab Emirates University to Chulalongkorn University.
Held under the theme «Shaping Future Universities: Industry Engagement and Governance Innovation», the forum focused on two key questions facing universities today: how governance models must evolve to support institutional agility and how stronger partnerships between universities and industry can better prepare students for the future.
«The centre of gravity of higher education has shifted in the last two or so decades. Today, some of the most dynamic and globally relevant research-intensive universities are in Asia. The fifteen Asian Universities Alliance members include both established powerhouses such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, the University of Tokyo, Seoul National University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and smaller, more focused centres of excellence such as the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Nazarbayev University. What keeps us together is our commitment to collaboration on addressing global challenges through research and teaching», – said Prof. Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University.
The forum featured two thematic sessions. The first, «Future University Governance Models», examined how universities are redesigning leadership and decision-making structures in response to digital transformation, financial pressures, and evolving stakeholder expectations. Discussions focused on institutional flexibility, academic autonomy, governance innovation, and leadership models for future-ready universities.
The second session, «Role of Industry in University Education – Practice and Challenges», focused on collaboration between universities and industry. Participants discussed how partnerships can strengthen teaching and learning, support work-based education, and align academic programs with labour market needs while maintaining academic integrity and long-term sustainability.
The discussions generated practical insights and strengthened collaboration among member institutions of the Asian Universities Alliance. The forum contributed to an ongoing international conversation on how universities can adapt while preserving their core academic mission.
About the Asian Universities Alliance
Founded in 2017 at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Asian Universities Alliance brought together 15 leading universities across the region. Nazarbayev University – ranked in the 401–500 band and recognized as the top university in Central Asia and the Caucasus in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 – is one of the alliance’s founding members.
The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, met with NVIDIA’s Vice President for Global AI Infrastructure Development, Nicolo Caprese, as well as the co-founders of Firebird.AI. The delegation also met with students and the leadership of Nazarbayev University and congratulated the finalists of the DeepTech Bäige startup competition.
During the visit, the delegation was introduced to the university’s research infrastructure and key strategic initiatives, including the launch of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), focused on advancing mathematical sciences and AI. Provost Rehan Sadiq said the university aims to deepen industry collaboration through ISSAI’s products and further strengthen its focus on innovation as part of Kazakhstan’s emerging digital economy.
Minister Nurbek emphasized the university’s role as one of the region’s leading research institutions and underscored the importance of building an ecosystem closely integrated with industry.
«NU is Kazakhstan's flagship research- intensive university with really good fundamental research, and now our goal is to deliver real impact – on industry, society and economic growth. We are moving from good to great by focusing on multidisciplinary research and bringing together top talent to create real-time impact through applied projects», – he said.
Nico Caprez supported the initiative of NU to join the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute University Ambassador Program, highlighting the strong potential for expanding cooperation in talent development.
The program enables faculty members to undergo specialized training through NVIDIA’s advanced courses in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and high-performance computing. Upon successful completion of the training and interview process, participants are awarded the status of official ambassadors. As certified NVIDIA ambassadors, they are authorized to deliver courses independently and issue internationally recognized certificates to students.
Kazakhstan already has successful examples of this model in practice. For instance, Olzhas Olzhayev, a faculty member at the International University of Information Technologies, has certified 168 students and achieved Platinum status.
In addition, Yerzhan Galymzhanuly Kenzhebek – Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University – successfully completed the course Data Parallelism: How to Train Deep Learning Models on Multiple GPUs and has certified more than 60 students.
These results demonstrate the practical effectiveness of the program and its strong potential for scaling AI talent development within Kazakhstan’s higher education system.
«Our company would like to not only do research, but productize it, it's really important for us. So I'm sure there's some partnership here that we can explore too, and generally the conditions that you create here, for the students, but also for companies such as NVIDIA, to come and make an impact here is fantastic to see. NVIDIA has 45,000 employees today, and we're growing every day. We've seen great students here, so we'd love to give them the opportunity to join NVIDIA as well, so just encourage them to apply to NVIDIA», – he said.
The parties also discussed the possibility of opening an NVIDIA office within the university’s planned research park, as well as the company’s potential involvement in the development of a future data center.
Particular attention was given to the potential application of NVIDIA’s technological expertise in building high-performance GPU infrastructure, demand for which is rapidly increasing due to the growth of artificial intelligence, big data processing, and the deployment of national digital platforms.
The implementation of such projects could become an important step toward developing Kazakhstan’s modern computing infrastructure and strengthening its position as a regional hub in the fields of AI and high-performance computing (HPC).
The visit concluded with a meeting between the NVIDIA delegation and finalists of the DeepTech Bäige competition at the NU Onergy Creative Hub. The final cohort featured 11 promising deep tech student projects spanning agri-tech, mining, energy management and EV charging, drug discovery, biomedical screening and oncology, as well as autonomous drones, robotics and aerospace technologies.
A postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate School of Education of Nazarbayev University, Assel Sharimova, has been named a laureate of the prestigious international Michael Fullan Emerging Scholar in Professional Capital and Community Award. She is the first recipient not only from Kazakhstan, but also from across the entire post-Soviet region to receive this honor. In 2026, only two researchers worldwide were awarded the prize.
Assel Sharimova has been serving as a postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate School of Education of Nazarbayev University for the past five years. She holds a PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge. Prior to this, she worked within the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools system, where she focused on programme development and international collaboration.
«My research examined how teachers develop and mobilise professional capital through virtual professional communities, with a focus on Kazakhstan. Building on my earlier experience in teacher professional development, I became interested in how collaborative learning can extend beyond formal training. I explored how social media supports informal learning, particularly in reform contexts with varying access to professional support. I also integrate these ideas into my teaching and work with educators and researchers to support collaborative professional communities», noted Assel Sharimova.
The Michael Fullan Emerging Scholar Award is an international education prize awarded by the Journal of Professional Capital and Community for research in the field of professional capital and educational communities. Selection criteria include scholarly contribution, practical relevance, and potential impact on the development of education systems. Laureates receive a monetary prize and international recognition within the academic community.
«These outstanding researchers represent cutting-edge scholarship in professional capital across diverse contexts. Collectively, their work advances understanding of the concept of professional capital in both theoretical and applied dimensions. The future of research in professional capital and professional communities is in capable hands», the Journal of Professional Capital and Community stated.
Today, on March 17, the IV meeting of the Council of Strategic Partners of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held with the participation of representatives of government agencies, international organizations and higher education institutions.
The meeting was attended by Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gulzat Kobenova, members of the Executive Council of Strategic Partners, heads of foreign partner universities, as well as representatives of branches of foreign universities operating in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, an overview of key decisions and initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was presented. The Vice Minister noted that the Ministry is consistently carrying out a systemic transformation of higher education aimed at increasing its flexibility, sustainability, and international competitiveness. Among the priority areas is the development of Kazakhstan as an international education hub, including the expansion of partnerships and foreign university branches, the introduction of new promotion tools, strengthening the financial sustainability of universities, and the development of an updated funding model for the sector.
As part of the agenda, key issues related to the development of the higher education system and international cooperation were also discussed. In particular, in the presentation «Shaping the Future of Admissions in Kazakhstan», Terran Brown, Executive Director of the NAEP program at ETS, noted that the Admissions Insight Test (AIT) under development is aimed at creating a modern, internationally comparable admissions system. This system focuses not only on assessing knowledge but also on evaluating key 21st-century competencies, including critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills.
In turn, Nurseit Baizhanov, First Deputy Director of the National Testing Center, emphasized the phased implementation of the project in 2026–2028, including the development, piloting, and subsequent rollout of the new model, as well as its role as a strategic tool for transforming the entire education system.
A separate agenda item focused on the work plans of the Council of Strategic Partners, presented by Head of the Secretariat Olgun Cicek.
In addition, special attention was given to positioning Kazakhstan as a strategic hub for hosting the CIMEA regional office in Central Asia. CIMEA Director General Luca Lantero highlighted the country’s strong potential as a regional education hub, noting the growing number of international students and the active development of cooperation with foreign universities.
The meeting served as an important platform for exchanging experience, developing joint initiatives, and further strengthening international partnerships.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Coventry University (UK) and Coventry University Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan) was signed in London on February 25th 2026 witnessed by Yermek Kosherbayev, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and other dignitaries from Central Asia and representatives of the UK business community during the Business Breakfast organized by the Kazakh Embassy in London.
The Coventry University Kazakhstan Almaty campus is scheduled to launch in September 2026.
The campus will operate in accordance with the same academic standards and research approaches as Coventry University in the United Kingdom. The University is renowned for its strong engineering school, advanced research infrastructure, and developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
Coventry University Kazakhstan Almaty campus is set to become the leading British engineering university in Central Asia. Its academic courses will integrate global academic standards, artificial intelligence technologies, and engineering disciplines, with a faculty composed of specialists possessing significant industry experience.
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses to be delivered include Architectural technology BSc., Construction Project Management BSc., Computer Systems Engineering BSc., Electrical Automotive Engineering MSc., and Control, Robotics, and Intelligent Automation MSc.
The expansion of Coventry University campuses in Astana and Almaty is being carried out as part of a partnership between the Coventry University Group and Primus Education, a company developing international education projects in Kazakhstan, including the branch of one of the UK’s leading independent schools – Ardingly College – in Astana.
«In light of the Head of State's agenda for the implementation of new technologies, Kazakhstan requires engineering specialists capable of working with modern technologies and driving innovation. A new level of training is needed – one focused on international experience and applied technology and know-how. Opening the Coventry University Kazakhstan campus in Almaty is a significant step in this direction, strengthening our human capital and contributing to the country's technological development», said Miras Daulenov, President of Coventry University Kazakhstan, during the signing ceremony.
Coventry University Kazakhstan in Almaty will be the second campus for the Coventry University Group in Kazakhstan. Earlier, in 2024, the first Coventry University campus in Kazakhstan was launched in Astana. Today, more than 400 students from various cities across Kazakhstan are enrolled there in courses such as Business, Computer Science, International Relations, Economics and Finance, as well as the MBA Global Business (Executive) postgraduate programme.
The Astana campus has already established a strong presence in the country’s educational and student life. The Enactus team won 3rd place at the Enactus Kazakhstan National Expo 2025, while campus life is enriched by 23 student clubs spanning arts, sports, and entrepreneurship.
Background: Coventry University was founded in 1843. Today, the University is highly recognised for the quality of its education both in the United Kingdom and internationally – across Europe and Asia. Its educational excellence has been confirmed by the UK Government’s prestigious Gold award under the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), granted to only around 40 out of 130 British universities. According to the THE World University Rankings, the university is among the top 100 universities worldwide for «International Outlook» and ranks third in the UK for its number of international students.
Times Higher Education has published its Central Eurasia University Rankings for the first time, assessing universities across the Turkic world. Nazarbayev University placed fourth among 122 institutions, sharing the position with Boğaziçi University. Higher placement in international rankings enhances global visibility and may expand academic and career opportunities for students and graduates.
The ranking is based on data from the World University Rankings 2026. Despite being founded in 2010, NU remains the highest-ranked university in Central Asia among participating Kazakh institutions. It trails only three Turkish universities: Koç University (founded in 1993), Middle East Technical University (founded in 1956) and Sabancı University (founded in 1994).
«This recognition confirms our standing as a leading university in Central Eurasia», said NU President Waqar Ahmad. «Our vision is to be world class in research, innovation and teaching, while supporting the development of Kazakhstan and the region. Our sharpened strategic focus, strengthened academic leadership and investment in research and innovation, will accelerate our progress towards achieving this vision. We expect the outcomes to be reflected in improved ranking position in the years to come».
While Turkish universities dominate the ranking numerically, NU distinguishes itself through strong international engagement, measured by the number of international students and faculty, as well as research output. This performance is supported by the expansion of its doctoral funding program: NU has doubled the number of PhD grants to 200, introduced additional funding across all disciplines, and extended the application deadline through March 2026.
NU continues to expand partnerships with Turkish universities, advance joint interdisciplinary research and support academic exchange programs. Digital technologies are a priority area. The Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) develops multilingual platforms, including MangiSoz 3 and TilSync, which support speech recognition, machine translation and simultaneous interpretation in Turkic languages.
The pilot ranking includes universities from five member states of the Organization of Turkic States: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. The list of participating countries and institutions may expand in the future.
NU’s inclusion among the top universities of the Turkic world strengthens its position as one of the region’s key research centers and reflects growing competition among Central Eurasian universities on the global stage.
Toraighyrov University hosted a Winter School for young researchers and young lecturers. The aim of the Winter School was to establish a professional dialogue among young lecturers and researchers in higher education, to promote the effective use of modern scientific and academic trends in teaching practice, and to expand opportunities for the commercialization of research results.
Within the framework of the program, sessions for young lecturers were conducted under the track «The First Steps: teaching tools, experience, and resource readiness». These sessions covered digital pedagogy, assessment systems, modern teaching methodologies, and professional development issues.
The program also included modules focused on academic publications, grant funding, international programs, intellectual property, and the commercialization of scientific research.
During the session dedicated to the commercialization of research results, Aizhan Zheksembayeva, Director of the Department of Investments and New Projects at JSC «Science Fund», explained the requirements of grant programs for commercialization. Industry expert, PhD Aryn Orsariev shared practical case studies on technology commercialization in Kazakhstan, attracting investments, and developing business models.
In addition, sessions aimed at strengthening international scientific cooperation presented opportunities within the Horizon Europe, Erasmus, and other programs, highlighting Toraighyrov University’s efforts to integrate into the European research area.
As part of the Winter School, Aidyn Artykova, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (Kazpatent), along with institute representatives Nazifa Baktybayeva and Sayat Shiderbekov, Inesh Kenzhina, official representative of Clarivate for the CIS countries, and Rabiga Khojamkul, Central Asia consultant for Informascope, shared up-to-date information in their respective fields.
As a result of the Winter School, participants gained practical skills in developing research projects, preparing grant applications, protecting intellectual property, and commercializing research outcomes. This initiative is aimed at supporting young researchers and enhancing the competitiveness of university science.
During an official working visit to China, Q University and Guangzhou City Polytechnic signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. The agreement is aimed at developing a strategic partnership in education, research, and international academic mobility. The document formalizes the parties’ intention to establish sustainable academic collaboration with a focus on practical competencies and the digital transformation of education.
One of the priority areas of cooperation is Online News and Communication (Digital Journalism & Media). The partners agreed to jointly implement educational modules in online journalism, multimedia communication, and digital content creation. The partnership includes the development of joint courses in digital storytelling, data journalism, media management, and fact-checking, as well as the launch of student multimedia projects and faculty exchanges for lectures and practical sessions.
Another key focus of the Memorandum is Information Technology and Digital Solutions. The partnership encompasses the joint development of modular educational programs in web and mobile development, UX/UI design, digital learning platforms, and the application of artificial intelligence in media and business. Planned initiatives also include short-term certification programs aimed at practical skills and market demands.