A bridge for East-West academic collaboration

KAZAKHSTAN

Education and research are among the most effective ways of fostering collaboration, stability and economic growth in our increasingly interconnected world. As global challenges demand joint responses and diverse perspectives, countries that bridge educational and research resources across regions are playing a key role.

With its unique geographic position between Europe and Asia, Kazakhstan is hoping to become a bridge for academic and research collaboration between East and West. Through strategic educational initiatives, Kazakhstan is looking to establish itself as an academic hub while encouraging knowledge exchange and innovation.

As the Greater Eurasia region sees unprecedented demand for quality higher education among its large youth population, Kazakhstan’s role as an education hub has the potential to fulfil regional needs.

For an international audience, Kazakhstan’s emergence as an educational bridge offers a model of how middle-income countries can serve as focal points for addressing global issues and advancing shared understanding in today’s complex geopolitical landscape.

Strategic geographic and cultural positioning

Since the establishment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan has outlined steps to reframe its education sector in line with international standards. This transformation, guided by partnerships with institutions from various countries, is aimed at better integrating Kazakhstan’s education system into the global academic space.

Kazakhstan’s central location between Europe and Asia presents distinct advantages for fostering academic collaboration. The country’s position within the culturally diverse Greater Eurasia region provides an opportunity for students and researchers from across Eurasia and beyond to connect. As the ninth-largest country by land area, Kazakhstan shares borders with countries like Russia and China, two of the most influential countries in the region.

In addition, Kazakhstan’s multicultural society offers an inclusive environment that enriches the experience for international students and faculty. The country’s openness to cultural exchange and its growing educational infrastructure provide a foundation for meaningful cross-border collaboration. With the increasing demand for quality education across Greater Eurasia, Kazakhstan’s expanding education sector can support and benefit from this trend.

International partnerships

One of Kazakhstan’s major strategies for strengthening its higher education system has been to engage with leading international universities. Over the past two years, 23 academic partnerships have been established, with De Montfort and Coventry universities from the United Kingdom opening branches in Almaty and Astana, and South Korea’s Woosong University setting one up in Turkestan.

According to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, these campuses, operating under special government decrees, will award foreign degrees, equipping graduates to work in the universities’ home countries and making them competitive on a global scale.

The presence of foreign university branches also supports the development of local academic infrastructure and introduces new educational models. With nearly 30,000 international students currently enrolled, these partnerships have made Kazakhstan a more attractive destination for students from neighbouring regions who might otherwise study further abroad.

Notable investments by institutions such as De Montfort University (US$16 million in Almaty) and Coventry University (US$50 million in Astana) also strengthen local economies, improve educational infrastructure and create job opportunities. The growth of such partnerships reflects Kazakhstan’s approach to education as a sector where international collaboration can generate long-term social and economic benefits.

Technological investments

Furthermore, Kazakhstan’s investment in technology-focused programmes and infrastructure aims to prepare students for a global economy that is increasingly driven by digital skills and technological literacy.

The country has made notable strides in developing high-tech resources, including advanced computational capacity with three supercomputers, which enhance research and innovation potential within Kazakh institutions. With a combined computational power of two petaflops, these resources support high-performance research in a variety of fields, positioning Kazakhstan among advanced research hubs in the region.

In partnership with international tech organisations, Kazakh universities are launching programmes in areas like artificial intelligence and digitalisation. Seventeen universities now offer specialised AI and digital education programmes developed with global tech leaders such as Google and Huawei.

These programmes are aligned with global labour market trends, aiming to build a workforce equipped for emerging industries. Such efforts also serve Kazakhstan’s goal of moving towards a knowledge-based economy and away from reliance on natural resources, a transition many countries in the region are also pursuing.

Kazakhstan is advancing education in AI, blockchain and digital technologies through partnerships with global tech leaders. Google’s GenAI courses will train 7,000 students from 15 universities, while NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Institute (DLI) University Ambassador Program enhances faculty expertise in AI and computing.

Huawei has established 40 ICT Academies, training 1,000 students and engaging 6,000 in competitions. In blockchain education, Binance’s Crypto School has trained over 1,000 students, and Tether is launching courses with competitive prizes, solidifying Kazakhstan’s leadership in digital finance education. Additionally, 4,000 Coursera courses have been translated into Kazakh, and 152 localised into Kazakh and Russian, expanding access to top-tier learning nationwide.

Kazakhstan’s role as an educational hub may also contribute to regional stability. The country’s partnerships within Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States region support educational collaboration that promotes shared growth and addresses local needs.

Kazakhstan’s involvement in the Central Asian Higher Education Area and the Alliance of Central Asian Universities exemplifies how academic networks can foster dialogue and cooperation across borders.

Sustainability

Kazakhstan’s approach to educational development includes a focus on sustainability and long-term planning, aiming to create an environment that attracts and retains international partnerships.

A key part of this approach is the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to fund and develop university infrastructure. By blending public and private investment, Kazakhstan is able to strengthen its educational offerings while managing costs and sharing risks.

Efforts to create green campus initiatives are another dimension of Kazakhstan’s long-term vision. These initiatives aim to develop environmentally responsible academic spaces and support sustainable education.

Narxoz University has implemented a range of eco-friendly practices, including green building designs, waste reduction programmes and renewable energy adoption, setting a standard for environmental responsibility in academia.

Meanwhile, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University emphasises sustainable agricultural practices, conservation efforts and green technologies, aligning with its agricultural focus to promote sustainable land use and resource management.

Nazarbayev University further contributes to this vision through cutting-edge research in renewable energy and environmental science, as well as energy-efficient campus operations.

Global citizenship

Significant efforts are also directed toward fostering responsible global citizenship. The Kazakh-German University has taken a leading role in green skills development by launching innovative masters programmes, such as integrated water resources management, strategic management of renewable energy and energy efficiency and sustainable business development management.

Through a range of educational programmes and research projects, often developed in collaboration with local NGOs and international partners like Lehigh University, Almaty Management University actively promotes social responsibility and environmental awareness among its students. These efforts underscore the commitment of Kazakh higher education institutions to cultivating a new generation of socially conscious and sustainability-focused leaders.

Moreover, the establishment of the Council for Strategic Partnerships represents a key milestone in strengthening Kazakhstan’s international academic collaborations. This council will institutionalise continuous knowledge exchange, embedding global partnerships into the strategic frameworks of Kazakh universities and driving sustainable, long-term academic transformation.

An emerging hub

While Kazakhstan’s transformation is still ongoing, the country’s investment in international partnerships, innovation and sustainability shows promise for national and regional benefits.

In a world where education is increasingly globalised, Kazakhstan’s goal to establish itself as a centre for academic exchange is both timely and relevant. It provides an example of the role emerging regions can play in shaping the future of global education.

For international institutions, investors and students, Kazakhstan offers a new hub for cross-border collaboration, where the exchange of ideas and expertise between East and West can drive forward solutions to shared global challenges.

Alberto Frigerio is a professor of international relations at Almaty Management University, Kazakhstan.

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the authors only and not their employer and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.