Kazakhstan Reinforces Academic Alliance with Universities in America and South Korea
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ASTANA - Kazakhstan's science and higher education ministry has struck gold with new research partnerships and university ventures with leading U.S. institutions. On a recent trip Stateside, Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, announced that Arizona State University will establish a second campus at Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University in 2026.
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US Universities Roll Out The Red Carpet
The University of Arizona, which already operates at Kozybayev University in Petropavl, is diving deep into bioinformatics, water management, and sulfur-based polymer production research.
A new technical university is brewing in Zhezkazgan, thanks to a collaboration with Colorado School of Mines and Kazakhmys Corporation.
Nurbek shared tea with the legendary Educational Testing Service (ETS), the mastermind behind testing powerhouses like TOEFL, PISA, and SAT. "We'll ink a monumental pact to transform our national testing system, develop tests, and switch to certificates," Nurbek reveals.
"Applicants will sit for a test with a certificate as a ticket to any university," he said.
An agreement in the realm of library science with Harvard University and the Davis Center in Boston was hammered out, with plans to build a digital platform for the digitization of invaluable and ancient handwritten manuscripts in Chagatai and Chinese calligraphy, dating back to the 12th to 17th centuries.
Nurbek shared that 37 foreign universities plan to set up shop in Kazakhstan, with this academic year welcoming a whopping 31,500 international students from countries like Australia, China, India, Mongolia, Russia, and more. From those students, Kazakhstan has received over 30 billion tenge (US$58.7 million) in investments, generating 40,000 jobs. By the 2028-2029 academic year, Kazakhstan aims to enroll 100,000 foreign students annually, pulling in billions of tenge in investments and creating over 130,000 jobs.
Central Asia's Next Big Education Hub
On April 28, Nurbek gathered with South Korean Deputy Minister of Education Oh Seok-hwan in Almaty to discuss the possibility of Kazakhstan becoming a Central Asian educational powerhouse. Woosong University will open a branch in Turkistan this year, offering 110 scholarships to its inaugural students. The plan is to further collaborate on mechanical engineering training with Dong-Eui University, launch dual-degree programs with SeoulTech, and set up a rare earth processing center with Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
"I'm bowled over by the advancements in Kazakhstan's higher education. I'm confident that with such a formidable foundational structure, Kazakhstan will rise to the top in Central Asia's education markets," said Oh Seok-hwan.
Kazakhstan's strategic partnerships demonstrate its commitment to boosting its research prowess through collaborations with prestigious U.S. institutions.
- In 2026, Arizona State University will establish a second campus at Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University, furthering Kazakh students' opportunities in education and self-development.
- By 2029, Kazakhstan aims to enroll 100,000 foreign students annually, attracting billions of tenge in investments and creating over 130,000 jobs, as announced by Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek.
- In the field of online education, Kazakhstan is collaborating with Harvard University and the Davis Center in Boston to build a digital platform for the digitization of ancient handwritten manuscripts.
- Woosong University, a South Korean university, has partnered with Kazakhstan, opening a branch in Turkistan this year and offering scholarships for students interested in mechanical engineering, helping Kazakhstan strive to become a Central Asian educational powerhouse.
