Nazarbayev University

Nazarbayev University (NU) and University of Leeds (UoL) Become Strategic Partners. NU and UoL signed a memorandum of understanding, becoming strategic partners. The document was signed by NU President, Professor Waqar Ahmad FAcSS PhD BA and the University of Leeds Provost, Professor Hai-Sui Yu. The broad-ranging strategic partnership covers collaborative research, conferences and symposia, professional development, student exchange, dual and joint degrees and collaborative doctorates. Currently, the partnership is focusing on the areas of humanities and social sciences, but there are also prospects of collaboration in environmental sciences, engineering, physical and biological sciences, and medicine. University of Leeds is also considering NU as their study abroad partner for students in languages (Russian) and area studies, such as Eurasian Studies. A comprehensive, research-intensive institution and a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, the University of Leeds is ranked #123 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and #82 in the QS World University Rankings. Earlier, representatives of University of Leeds visited the NU campus in Astana to discuss joint programs, faculty exchanges, and research opportunities, with School of Humanities and Social Sciences highlighted as a key area for partnership. In November, the UoL invited NU to join their group of 'strategic partners'. In December, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Professor Loretta O'Donnell attended the Conference of Strategic Partners held at the University of Leeds

Nazarbayev University Research Center for Entrepreneurship (NURCE), with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Trade Central Asia activity (TCA) organized the “EmpowerHER: Women Entrepreneurs Networking Forum”. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the publication "Strength in Constraint: 33 Narratives of Women Entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan." It shares the inspiring journeys of women entrepreneurs from various regions and industries across Kazakhstan. Through compelling stories, the book illustrates how these women established businesses in traditionally male-dominated fields such as logistics, agriculture, IT, manufacturing, healthcare, and others. Shumaila Yousafzai Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business

A Breakthrough in Parkinson's Research! We're thrilled to share the latest research from our talented scientist, Dr. Aizhan Akhmadi . She and her team have made significant strides in understanding the role of the DJ-1 protein, a key player in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's. The research, published in the renowned journal Nature Communications , is a groundbreaking achievement for Kazakhstan, conducted entirely by local researchers and students #ParkinsonsDisease #NatureCommunications #NazarbayevUniversity

There’s still time!⏳ We’ve extended the deadline for online grant applications for Master’s Programs and the Doctor of Medicine program🤩Check out the new deadlines below. 🗓️Online application: 2pm, January 23rd, 2025. 🗓️Test results submission: 11:59pm, February 3rd, 2025. 🔗 https://apply.nu.edu.kz

Happy Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan!⁣⁣

Dear people of Kazakhstan,⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ We sincerely congratulate you on the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan! ⁣⁣⠀ This momentous day symbolizes the strength and unity of our people, as well as aspiration for prosperity and well-being. Independence is our shared pride, a source of inspiration for new achievements, and a foundation of confidence in a brighter future.⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ Please accept our greetings featuring NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad FAcSS PhD BA, NU Provost Ilesanmi Adesida, virtual assistant Aibike Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence - Nazarbayev University, Director of the Cultural Center Professor Gultas Kurmanbai, Preparatory School teacher @Raquel Reinagel and School of Medicine student Ruth Abosede Murtala Nazarbayev University School of Medicine ⁣⁣⠀ May this day fill your hearts with pride for our nation, inspire new accomplishments, and strengthen our faith in the bright future of Kazakhstan!

ISSAI Unveils KAZ-LLM to the President of Kazakhstan⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ On December 11, 2024, ISSAI at Nazarbayev University presented the Kazakh Large Language Model (KAZ-LLM), a major leap for AI and language technology in Kazakhstan.⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ✅ What makes KAZ-LLM special?⁣⁣⠀ - Supports Kazakh, Russian, English, and Turkish⁣⁣⠀ - Trained on 150 billion tokens for high performance⁣⁣⠀ - Competes with global AI leaders in Kazakh, Russian, and English⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ✅ Built by Local Talent⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ Kazakhstani researchers were involved in every step — from data collection to model execution — boosting national expertise and ensuring sustainable AI growth.⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ In collaboration with key Kazakhstani institutions, the ISSAI team developed benchmarking tools and datasets for Kazakh, using the latest machine translation techniques.⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ This project showcases Kazakhstan’s rising potential in global AI! https://lnkd.in/dGzQubnw Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence - Nazarbayev University Atakan Varol Yerbol Absalyamov

On December 11, NU held its final Town Hall meeting of the year with university staff. During the event, the outcomes of the year were summarized, and the university's key achievements were highlighted. A special moment of the event was the honorary retirement of the university's Provost, Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida, who had worked at NU for over 8 years. The Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and the university’s leadership expressed their gratitude for his significant contribution to the development of the university's educational processes and research. In honor of Dr. Adesida, a commemorative plaque was installed at the Nanofabrication Laboratory of the Shared Services Office, a facility he founded where scientific research in his field of specialization continues to be conducted. Professor Waqar Ahmad FAcSS PhD BA Loretta O'Donnell Assel Uvaliyeva Kadisha Dairova Gonzalo Hortelano

Today, we had the privilege of hosting a formal town-hall meeting with the esteemed Minister of Science and Higher Education, Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, marking a significant moment in our university's journey. During the event, NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad FAcSS PhD BA presented NU’s ambitious three-year development plan, outlining our vision for innovation, growth, and excellence. We came together as a community to: ✅ recognize the remarkable contributions of our colleagues, whose hard work and dedication drive NU’s success. ✅ reflect on a year filled with achievements and shared experiences, ending it with joy, gratitude, and unity. We also bid a heartfelt farewell to our beloved Provost Dr. Ilesanmi Adesida, whose leadership and vision have left an indelible mark on NU. This event showcased the spirit of collaboration and forward-thinking that defines our university. As we look ahead, we remain committed to pushing boundaries and fostering a community of impact and inspiration. Here’s to a promising new year and continued success for NU! #NUCommunity #NUTownHall #EndOfYearCelebration

On December 6 and 7, NU hosts the IV YRA Forum “Science - Driven Economy”, which is held with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, the Corporate Fund “Social Development Fund” of Nazarbayev University, as well as in partnership with the Expert Club of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic Kazakhstan, the Embassy of Spain in Kazakhstan and the Council of Young Scientists at the National Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.