Kazakhstan Welcomes Eight International University Branches Opening This Year
Kazakhstan to Open Branches of Eight Foreign Universities This Year
Astana – Kazakhstan is set to open branches of eight foreign universities this year, announced Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek at a press briefing at the Central Communications Service on June 20.
The goal is to establish Kazakhstan as an academic hub in the Eurasian region by attracting prestigious international universities to the country. Nurbek revealed that the ministry has already established 23 academic partnerships in the past two years and plans to open three more prestigious international university campuses in Kazakhstan.
Foreign universities are allowed to invest in the construction or purchase of buildings and offer education in a foreign format, following special government regulations. For example, De Montfort University in Almaty is set to graduate its first specialists next year, awarding bachelor’s degrees based on its own format and academic admissions policy.
Additionally, the Coventry University campus in Astana, covering eight hectares, will open on Sept. 16. A campus of the Korean Woosong University will also open in Turkistan. Graduates from these institutions will receive foreign diplomas and can work in their respective countries. Kazakhstan also plans to open branches of foreign workshops to train technical and engineering specialists.
Currently, more than 80,000 Kazakh students are studying at foreign universities, with the majority (over 60,000) in Russia. The Bolashak Scholarship Program supports over 1,000 students studying in countries like the United Kingdom, European Union (EU) countries, and the United States. Kazakhstan’s school graduates are also pursuing higher education in Hong Kong and South Korea, with around 450 students in Hong Kong and 1,000 in South Korea.
With the opening of branches of foreign universities and campuses in Kazakhstan, the country is taking significant steps towards enhancing its higher education system and providing more opportunities for students to access quality international education.
