The XI International Seminar on Flame Structure was held at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Leading scientists and specialists from Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Germany, Israel, Belarus, and Singapore will participated in the seminar.
The seminar continued a tradition of international scientific forums devoted to fundamental and applied research on combustion processes. The first Seminar on Gas Flame Structure was held in Novosibirsk in 1983. Over the years, the seminar series has become an important international platform for interaction among scientists working in the fields of combustion physics and chemistry, chemical kinetics, flame dynamics, energetic materials, and advanced energy technologies.
The scientific programme of the seminar covered research on alternative fuels, improving combustion efficiency, new energy technologies and energetic materials, the formation of soot, nanoparticles, and toxic compounds during combustion, waste processing and the use of waste for energy purposes, as well as modern experimental and numerical research methods.
The scientific scope of the seminar was directly related to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Research on energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and advanced energy technologies continued to SDG 7, «Affordable and Clean Energy». The development of new technologies, innovative materials, modelling methods, and modern scientific approaches supported the achievement of SDG 9, «Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure». Research on efficient resource use, waste processing, and converting waste into new materials and energy resources contributed to SDG 12, «Responsible Consumption and Production».
The seminar provided an opportunity to exchange research findings and scientific developments, discuss current scientific approaches and research methods, and explore prospects for further scientific cooperation. The seminar contributed to strengthening international scientific ties, expanding professional collaboration, and developing joint research projects.
The XI International Seminar on Flame Structure was organized by the Institute of Combustion Problems of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the V.V.Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the S.S.Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Nazarbayev University officially opened its School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) during NU Open House Day. SCAI was established in response to Kazakhstan’s growing need for expertise and research in digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The new school brings together NU’s strengths in computer science, artificial intelligence, mathematics, and robotics, creating an integrated platform for education, research, and technology development.
The opening ceremony was attended by Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan’s minister of science and higher education.
«Artificial intelligence can be seen as a new factor, a new force for Kazakhstan – one that can increase the efficiency of our national economy, production, and workforce», Minister Nurbek said.
According to him, AI development is already moving beyond generative models. The next wave includes Agent AI – systems capable of autonomously performing complex tasks, and Physical AI, which brings artificial intelligence into the physical world.
«We need to be ready for these changes, and NU is well positioned to help prepare for them», Minister Nurbek added.
During the SCAI presentation, Professor Durvudkhan Suragan, Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, outlined the school’s goals and capabilities, noting that more than 2,100 students are now enrolled, including 281 master’s students and 99 PhD students. In 2026, 608 new students joined the school. Its faculty includes around 70 professors.
SCAI plans to expand its academic portfolio with a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence in partnership with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), a PhD program in «AI for X» focused on interdisciplinary research, and a master’s program in cybersecurity.
«This field is being fundamentally reshaped by AI, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s digital security requires specialists who have a deep understanding of generative AI and its applications», Professor Atakan Varol, dean of SCAI, told participants at the event.
The school is also advancing research in Physical AI, urban analytics, computational finance, and the application of artificial intelligence across different fields. This work is supported by NU’s computing infrastructure, including the Shabyt, Muon, and Irgetas supercomputers. SCAI also works closely with NU’s Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI), drawing on computing resources, foundation models, and data for research projects.
«When we created this school, we did not focus on the short-term outcomes. We also included Mathematics inside this school, and this is also something quite unique in the world, because we just don’t want only people who have practical skills, we want all of our students to have a very strong foundational base. If you look right now at the research teams of the top AI companies, you will see that most of them are from former International Mathematics Olympiad winners», said Professor Varol.
SCAI also aims to accelerate the transition from research to practical applications. The school plans to expand its engagement with industry, support student technology projects, and create pathways for commercializing research. By 2030, SCAI aims to help launch more than 30 deep-tech startups.
The school is also strengthening its international academic profile. Two of its Bachelor’s degree programs – computer science and mathematics have received accreditation from ABET, an international organization that sets quality standards for programs in engineering, technology, and related fields. By 2030, SCAI aims to rank among the world’s top 250 universities for computer science in the Times Higher Education subject rankings.
From August 15th to 23rd, Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University once again served as a venue for the international LUPIC student program, hosting a delegation of students from the Republic of Korea. The primary goal of the program is to foster academic, professional and cultural exchange between the two countries’ youth, as well as to strengthen international student cooperation.
The visit program for the Korean students included presentations on the activities of several scientific, educational and innovation centers at the university. Particularly, the guests visited the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, where they learned about startup projects at the Kyzylorda Hub regional center and innovative youth initiatives. This meeting allowed the students to exchange experiences in the fields of technological development, innovation and artificial intelligence.
The Korean students met with their peers from Korkyt Ata University as part of the program, sharing their views on the higher education systems and student life in their respective countries in an informal format. The discussion covered topics such as admission requirements for Korean universities, youth cultural life, visual design, K-Trends, travel culture, urban lifestyle and the activities of student organizations.
One of the Korean students emphasized the importance of academic ties between Kazakhstan and Korea, noting that he was particularly impressed by the ambition and interest in new technologies shown by the students of Kyzylorda University.
«My major is architecture, and I am also studying artificial intelligence and engineering. During the meeting with the students of Korkyt Ata University, I was impressed by the passion for their work and professional drive. Today, the development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies requires not only technical infrastructure but, above all, qualified specialists and scientific cooperation. In this regard, I believe that student and academic exchange between Kazakhstan and Korea is a vital opportunity that not only brings knowledge and culture closer together but also lays the foundation for future joint scientific projects», shared Hongmin.
Key agenda items for the visit were the presentation of the 2026–2027 admission requirements for the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and participation in the dual-degree program’s entrance exam. The Korean students studied the selection procedure, paying special attention to the institute's educational tracks and the training system for future specialists.
Nurlan Kulmurzayev, Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, spoke about the institution's current activities and its main development vectors.
«The Institute of Artificial Intelligence, established in 2023 under the instruction of the Head of State and led by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, is becoming an important center for building human capital in the field of regional digitalization. Currently, 353 students are enrolled at the institute. This year, 128 applicants were awarded state grants, 34 of whom successfully passed the selection for the dual-degree program. These works will continue in the future. Our main goal is to nurture a new generation of specialists capable of transforming artificial intelligence into an intellectual resource that solves regional and national development challenges», the director noted.
The LUPIC program is aimed not only at academic exchange but also at strengthening cultural ties between the youth of the two countries. During the visit, the Korean students toured the historical and cultural landmarks of Kyzylorda, gaining insight into the rich history and spiritual-cultural heritage of Syrdarya region.
At the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of Almaty city, the Situation Center for Providing Students with Dormitory Accommodation has traditionally opened ahead of the new academic year at the Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University (QyzPU).
The primary objective of the center, located in the university building at 142 Bogenbai Batyr Street, Almaty, is to provide prompt and effective support to students who have been unable to secure a place in a dormitory.
Students who failed to reserve a room through university digital platforms or encountered difficulties during the check-in process can contact the Situation Center directly. The center's specialists promptly review each application and facilitate options for temporary housing in appropriate dormitories or partner organizations using the vacant places database.
To ensure rapid service, 8 fully functional workstations have been organized at the center. Each workstation is equipped with modern computer hardware, access to digital databases, and a multi-channel communication system capable of handling up to 10 incoming calls simultaneously. This enables specialists to maintain continuous communication with local higher education institutions and dormitory administrations to resolve student issues without delay.
Additionally, all necessary amenities have been provided within the center for students and visitors. It features a waiting and lounge area for applicants, a study corner, a coffee break area, as well as a conference room for conducting meetings and urgent briefings.
Address of the Situation Center: 142 Bogenbai Batyr Street, Almaty
Contact Numbers:
+7 700 255 14 43
+7 700 950 95 28
+7 727 237 01 70
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.