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Top Research University in Central Asia
Founded in 2010, Nazarbayev University (NU) is a Central Asian flagship academic institution with ambitions to achieve global recognition as a top-tier research university. Located in the heart of Eurasia, in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, it distinguishes itself through a fully merit-based admission system that seamlessly integrates professor-led teaching and research from a student's very first day as a freshman. NU is more than just a novelty; it's a higher education institution dedicated to equipping graduates with the skills they need to thrive in an era of globalization and technological advancement.
Vision & Mission
NU’s vision is to produce the scientists, academics, managers, and entrepreneurs essential for the growth and development of Kazakhstan and the global community.
NU's mission is to serve as a benchmark for higher education reform and cutting-edge research, while also playing a pivotal role in transforming Astana into a global hub for knowledge, innovation, and medical excellence. Furthermore, NU is dedicated to preparing its students for a future characterized by heightened volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Focus on Research
Nazarbayev University (NU) is dedicated to achieving research excellence that drives socioeconomic progress in Kazakhstan and the region. Our research spans STEM disciplines, life sciences, social sciences, and education, aligning with Kazakhstan's strategic priorities. We're committed to expanding research capabilities in collaboration with government, industry, and research partners to address global challenges. NU is rapidly developing doctoral and postdoctoral programs, fostering a vibrant postdoctoral community to catalyze a robust research culture. These researchers will inspire students and bolster faculty research, advancing NU's mission of knowledge dissemination and innovation.
Meritocracy
Nazarbayev University is a merit-based institution that welcomes talented individuals from all walks of life, be it students, faculty, or researchers. Merit-based approach has drawn the best and brightest minds from within the country and internationally, making NU a hub for talent and innovation. NU stands as a beacon of educational excellence and equal opportunity.
English as a Medium of Instruction
Nazarbayev University is a pioneering institution in Central Asia, offering education in English, which sets it apart as a unique academic hub in the region. With English as the medium of instruction, NU opens doors for students in Kazakhstan and Central Asia to access a world-class, globally recognized education without language barriers. This approach not only enriches the educational landscape of Kazakhstan but also strengthens the region's connection to the international academic community, making NU a pivotal center for cross-cultural exchange and global learning.
Strategic Partnerships
Nazarbayev University (NU) embarked on its journey by forging partnerships with renowned global institutions like Duke University's Fuqua Business School, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, the Colorado School of Mines, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. These strategic alliances played a pivotal role in shaping NU's governance, academic structures, program development, quality assurance, and student support systems during its formative years. As NU has evolved, we are poised to deepen these relationships, fostering enhanced opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students to engage in meaningful exchanges and collaborations.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
NU campus offers a nurturing environment for students' academic, professional, and social growth. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a modern library, lecture halls, research laboratories, sports centers, and residence halls, it provides a holistic educational experience. The campus also features dining options, convenient shops, and a range of support services tailored to student needs, ensuring a comfortable and enriching learning environment.
Vibrant Campus Life
NU goes beyond classroom education, fostering students' talents and interests through a diverse array of opportunities. With approximately 100 clubs and societies on campus, students can explore their passions. Our extensive campus facilities, including a 6,000-square-meter sports complex, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and dedicated music and art rooms, enrich academic life. NU's commitment extends to nurturing students as community leaders, emphasizing the development of both academic prowess and their potential to make a positive impact on their communities.
NU empowers its graduates with world-class degrees spanning disciplines such as earth sciences, digital sciences, public administration, educational leadership, engineering, medicine, and more. The university provides diverse academic programs through its eight schools, offering a comprehensive education across various fields.
The School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (SEDS) ensures a comprehensive educational experience for students pursuing various fields of engineering and digital sciences.
SEDS offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including Chemical and Materials Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Robotics, and Computer Sciences. Additionally, graduate students at SEDS have the opportunity to pursue Master's Degrees in Engineering Management, Biomedical Engineering, and Data Sciences.
Moreover, the school provides a doctoral program in Science, Engineering, and Technology, as well as specialized doctoral programs in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics Engineering. SEDS programs are designed with the prestigious ABET accreditation in mind, ensuring students receive a well-rounded and comprehensive education.
The School of Sciences and Humanities (SSH) The School of Sciences and Humanities (SSH) offers undergraduate students a world-class education with Bachelor of Science programs in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics, as well as Bachelor of Arts programs in Anthropology, Economics, History, Political Science & International Relations, Sociology, and World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Additionally, the school provides Master's Degrees in Biological Sciences and Technologies, Chemistry, Economics, Eurasian Studies, Applied Mathematics, Physics, and Political Science & International Relations, along with PhD programs in the Life Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Eurasian Studies.
SSH maintains a strategic partnership with the University of Wisconsin Madison, enhancing the educational experience. Within SSH, students enjoy the expertise of faculty members holding doctoral degrees from renowned global universities, further enriching their academic journey.
The School of Medicine (NUSOM) The Medical School is committed to achieving world-class status by fostering excellence in health education and biomedical research. The School offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs encompassing Medical Sciences, Nursing, Molecular Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Additionally, the School provides doctoral programs in Biomedical Sciences, Global Health, and a variety of residency programs.
The Medical School proudly offers Kazakhstan's first US-style MD curriculum, delivered in English, and developed in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Its goal is to nurture the next generation of medical leaders in healthcare, education, innovation and biomedical research. Furthermore, the School and its medical cluster (University Medical Center), the Center of Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana are the key elements of Nazarbayev University Medicine, the ecosystem to translate biomedical innovation and discoveries into better diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention. This initiative signifies our commitment to advancing the field of medicine and healthcare.
The School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG) is a growing institution that boasts a dedicated faculty, internationally recognized for its commitment to students and cutting-edge research. SMG offers undergraduate programs in Geoscience, Mining Engineering, and Petroleum Engineering and masters and doctorate degree programs in Mining and Petroleum with plans to expand the Geosciences. The SMG mission is clear: to shape tomorrow's industry leaders through world-class education and groundbreaking research with global implications. State-of-the-art laboratories enhance both teaching and research endeavors. SMG emphasizes partnerships with top-ranked institutions, illustrated by their affiliation with the Colorado School of Mines. Established in 2016, the School is dedicated to advancing earth science education and research, leveraging Kazakhstan's abundant resources for sustainable development.
The Graduate School of Business (NU GSB) is passionately committed to developing principled leaders through a vibrant learning community characterized by innovation, diversity, and unwavering academic rigor. NU GSB proudly collaborates with Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, bolstering its academic offerings and extending its global reach.
Offering Full-time MBA, Executive MBA, MSc Finance, and PhD in Business Administration Programs, as well as Executive Education, NU GSB exemplifies its commitment to excellence and the cultivation of business leaders. These programs are thoughtfully designed to equip students with the skills and business acumen necessary to introduce transformative management practices to their organizations.
The Graduate School of Education (NU GSE) aspires to become an influential, world-class graduate school of education, effecting change in educational thinking, policy and practice at all levels of education through scholarly research, quality teaching and persuasive argument.
NU GSE offers three degree programs: Master of Science in Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Multilingual Education, and Doctor of Philosophy in Education. Our programs are meticulously designed to prepare visionary leaders, catalysts for change, and influential policy makers equipped to shape the educational landscape of Kazakhstan and beyond.
The Graduate School of Public Policy (NUGSPP) is committed to improving the quality of life of people in Kazakhstan and Central Asia by training leaders to promote good governance through our focus on excellence in education, research, and executive development to address key policy and leadership challenges.
Established in 2012, NUGSPP has cultivated a strong partnership with the LKY School at the National University of Singapore. Our Master in Public Policy and Master in Public Administration programs are accredited by both NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration) and EAPAA (European Association of Public Administration Accreditation). Together with our PhD in Public Policy program, NUGSPP is the premier choice in Central Asia, providing exceptional opportunity for high quality public service education benefiting a diverse and vibrant student community.
The Center for Preparatory Studies offers two distinct academic programs designed to prepare students for studies in either a bachelor- or graduate-degree program.
Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program (NUFYP) provides an academic curriculum designed to equip undergraduate students for success at an English-medium research university—NU or another international institution. The program develops students’ academic English, mathematics, and personal leadership skills in preparation for study towards a bachelor degree in any field.
The Zero Year of Graduate Programs (NUZYP) provides non-credit courses that prepare students for graduate-level programs conducted in English. It focuses on the language skills necessary for successful graduate work, e.g., research writing, presentations, and discipline-specific vocabulary.
Research at NU is primarily conducted through its various schools, resulting in a robust research ecosystem. The university boasts an impressive network of more than 270 research and teaching laboratories, including 117 cutting-edge research facilities.
Furthermore, NU hosts two specialized research centers:
- Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI): This institute pioneers interdisciplinary research in machine intelligence, focusing on solving real-world challenges in industry and society.
- National Laboratory Astana (NLA): NLA specializes in applied research that addresses critical scientific areas of national importance. It comprises two centers: the Center for Life Sciences and the Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science.
- Energetic Cosmos Laboratory Project Group (ECL) : explores fundamental problems in physics and astrophysics, contributing to the technical know-how and innovation ecosystem of NU.
- Central Asian Research Center for Education Innovation and Transformation (CARCEIT): provides an international focus for high-quality research that informs education policy and practice and builds education networks and communities in Central Asia.
NU's PhD programs are research-intensive, nurturing a culture of inquiry and innovation. In 2017, the university established a postdoctoral program, which has been instrumental in attracting Kazakhstan diaspora researchers and creating a talent pipeline for future faculty positions. In the current year, assistant professorships have been extended to three national postdocs, further enriching our academic community.
13.7% of the university's articles published between 2018 and 2023 rank within the top 10% of the most cited publications worldwide , reflecting the high impact of our research.
To bolster research endeavors, NU offers a range of competitive internal grant programs for faculty and researchers. Additionally, the university systematically opens its research facilities and expertise to talented researchers across Kazakhstan, contributing to capacity building in the nation's scientific community.
NU actively encourages its researchers and faculty to compete for both national and international research grants, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration in pursuit of cutting-edge discoveries and innovations.
NU has collaboratively published 4,275 research papers with 2,905 institutions from 130 countries. Our focus on STEM research has led to contributions in emerging fields like robotics, energy demand modeling, lithium batteries, engineering, and human genomics. In medicine, our technologies have driven pioneering discoveries in heart and organ transplants. In the last five years, NU's research impact, measured by field-weighted citations, surged to 33% above the global average as of September 2023. This signifies our research's national and global impact, bolstering NU's international reputation.
Key Research Stats:
372 researchers
13.7% of publications in the top 10% most cited publications worldwide
>7500 research publications since establishment
270 research and teaching labs
>1100 publications involve students
Key Research Directions
- Socio-economic Transformation and Human Capital Development;
- Intelligent Systems and Human-Machine Interface;
- Health and Wellbeing;
- Advanced Materials and Emerging Technologies;
- Energy, Sustainability and Environment.
Research Centers
- Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI)
- National Laboratory Astana (NLA) comprising of:
- the Center for Life Sciences (CLS)
- the Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science (CEAMS)
- Energetic Cosmos Laboratory Project Group (ECL)
- Central Asian Research Center for Education Innovation and Transformation (CARCEIT)
Explore rankings data for Nazarbayev University
Key statistics.
- 52 : 48 Student Ratio of Females to Males (1)
- 38% Proportion of ISR Publication (1)
- 3% Percentage of International Students (1)
- 13.9 No. of students per staff (1)
- 5,847 Number of FTE Students (1)
Subjects taught at Nazarbayev University
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| 17 March 2024 The former head of Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University (NU), a flagship research university in the Central Asian republic which teaches in English and has many international professors among its staff, has warned that the university’s much lauded academic freedom and institutional autonomy are under threat.
Shigeo Katsu was the founding president of the university when it was set up in 2010 with funding from the Kazakh State but under special laws that allowed it to steer its own independent course. He stood down from the post in October last year, he says under political pressure, though he still sits on the university’s governing board.
In particular, in an interview with he highlighted the erosion of international oversight of the university coupled with the appointment of “government-aligned administrators” and the dilution of the university’s financial independence, as areas that are causing alarm within NU.
In addition, he believes this has “geopolitical dimensions”, referring to Kazakhstan’s strengthening ties with Russia, which has its sights on Kazakh universities.
Katsu, who is Japanese and a former World Bank official, said that when the university was set up under Kazakhstan’s former president Nursultan Nazarbayev it was a courageous move because Nazarbayev agreed to set up the university outside the mainstream, under the so-called Nazarbayev University Law approved in 2010.
“For the first time in post-Soviet days [in former Soviet countries], with the exception of the three Baltic countries that joined the EU, academic freedom and institutional autonomy was legally enshrined,” Katsu told .
An endowment fund, the Nazarbayev Fund (NF), was also created – a first for a university in Kazakhstan. And later in 2019 an international endowment fund was set up to attract international donors.
“It was pretty far-reaching,” said Katsu. It meant that, unlike other Kazakh universities, NU did not have to report to the Minister of Education.
During the 2022 violent unrest in Kazakhstan, which was sparked by an internal power struggle, the former chairman of the NU Board, Karim Masimov, a former prime minister “was scapegoated”, in Katsu’s words, and charged with treason. Masimov is now in prison.
With the change in the Kazakh government, the university bearing Nazarbayev’s name, along with other organisations set up by the former president, have come under attack. Katsu alleges that “paid bloggers” started to criticise the university and Katsu personally. He believes he was targeted because “it was inconvenient for them to have me with a clear, immaculate reputation”.
Such smear tactics, he noted, are “straight out of the Russian playbook”.
And people took note. “Suddenly the Kazakh parliament started to come up with a lot of queries,” said Katsu. Now, he is concerned about increasing state inference and a possible end to the university’s merit-based appointments if the state tries to assert more control.
Already political influence is evident in the restructuring of the university’s governing board, he maintained. The university has a two-tier governance system – a Board of Trustees and a Supreme Board above it. The Supreme Board was previously chaired by then president Nazarbayev, and it “signed off on overall strategies.”
“I would go and see him [Nazarbayev] maybe twice or three times a year, to report on what we were doing and get his overall sense, are we on track or not, but he never interfered in any of it,” according to Katsu.
Although he always had cordial relations with respective ministers, “the rank and file of the Ministries, the bureaucrats, were not so happy with NU because we had too much autonomy and they could not decide what we should teach. Other [Kazakh universities] are on a tight leash”, he said.
In June 2022 the university had 14 members of the Board of Trustees, seven were international. Of the current nine Board members, international members including himself, were reduced to a minority, while In December, a Kazakh national was appointed executive vice president. Katsu alleges that others were “parachuted in to sign agreements”.
Nazarbayev University this week confirmed in a statement to there are currently nine Board members, four of them international, including Katsu. The others from Kazakhstan include Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, and Bagdat Mussin, Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry. Others are from the presidential administration including Chairman of the Board of Trustees Aset Irgaliyev, a presidential aide on Economic Affairs.
Katsu expects further reductions in international members, who he noted tend to be the more outspoken trustees. “It is clear that [some] people they sent in (to be) on our board”, behave as if our university ought to be just another state university,” he said.
But he added that the authorities also have to be careful. “Kazakhstan still needs Western investors and Western support, so they don't want to openly change things too drastically. They will change more indirectly,” he said, noting that publicly government officials still say they support the university.
He points to the importance of the university’s international collaborations which could be undermined if it loses independence. For example, each academic department at NU partners with one abroad – the NU Graduate School of Business with Duke University in the US, the NU School of Medicine with the American University of Pittsburgh, and the NU Graduate School of Education with Cambridge University in the UK as well as Penn University in the US, among others.
“These institutions were not just lending their names to NU. The relationship was much deeper. They helped us attract international faculty members and develop the syllabus, and much more,” he said.
In October last year, the Nazarbayev University law was amended, in part due to references to the past president, which were being removed from a lot of public entities. And while there were no official alterations to NU’s academic freedom and autonomy clauses, Katsu believes it is only a matter of time before they change the status of the university’s charter.
While Katsu stepped down as NU president last October, which he said occurred “under pressure”, at the same time he was asked to stay on as an advisor to the current acting president as well as help in the search for his successor, a way of instilling trust in the search process.
Katsu said the search results were not taken up.
Last December, Nurbek said NU needed to be preserved and developed as the country’s “leading research university” and that there were no plans to change NU’s special status, which would mean abolishing or changing the special law that governs its operation, Kazakh reported.
“We cannot and will not abolish or change the law, I can tell you at once,” he was quoted as saying. He added, however, that “certainly, some adjustments will be made”.
Nazarbayev University’s management said in a statement to : “Mr Shigeo Katsu officially assumed the role of NU President in 2011 following his appointment by the University Supreme Board of Trustees. Subsequently, in 2023, he retired while maintaining his membership on the Board of Trustees. Given his continued affiliation, he possesses the avenue to voice his opinion directly within the Board’s framework eliminating the need for public appeals through the media.
“NU is committed and adheres to, among others, the principles of academic freedom, meritocracy, research ethics, and transparency. NU has and will continue to operate under the principles of autonomy, as NU’s autonomy is specifically secured by a separate law outlining its status as an autonomous organisation of education.”
Katsu also maintained that NU’s independence is “a thorn in the sides of our neighbour to the North”, meaning Russia. In 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine, the influence of Russia on Kazakhstan more generally “is tangible, it's much stronger than before”, he said.
Sirke Mäkinen, a lecturer at the University of Helsinki and an expert on Russia’s international university collaborations, told that “after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has to focus more and more on those regions and countries that it can still have some kind of influence on”.
She added that as all EU institutional collaboration with Russian partners were frozen, it turned to collaboration with the other parts of the world, including Central Asia.
With Kazakhstan “it’s not only about education as such, but it’s also about trying to get these countries under Russian influence”, she said, noting that Russia does not want Kazakhstan to “reach out to the liberal democracies.”
Katsu believes it goes further and that Russia increasingly has a say on university appointments in Kazakhstan. “They put a lot of pressure,” Katsu said.
But he also acknowledges that NU does not want to have “all the eggs in the Russian basket” and wants to maintain good relations with European countries and the US.
According to Mäkinen: “NU still remains the flagship university from the point of view of the Kazakh government, so I don’t know that they would want to get rid of it or anything like that. It might be that they are just rethinking about allocation of funding, for example.”
Other Kazakh universities have long been envious of the generous funding received by NU, compared to their own funds, she pointed out.
Saltanat Janenova, a lecturer on public policy at the University of Bristol, UK and a former assistant professor of Nazarbayev University, told : “One-third of the entire budget of the state for higher education, till 2023 went to Nazarbayev University and it is still receiving huge funding, so the public, including parliamentarians and public figures, started to raise concerns” after the collapse of the Nazarbayev regime.
“Previously they could not express concern because of the political environment in the country but now as there is a change of government and the presidential leadership, there is increased public pressure and demands for more accountability of NU,” she said, pointing out that the university still receives 100% of its funding from the state budget.
Large payments made by NU to international partner universities likewise are not transparent, she said. “The contracts with international universities have not been scrutinised by independent audit. And the financial reports have never been published for open access,” she noted.
“In the beginning, the rationale was that partnering with international universities would help NU to get international legitimacy and to develop capacity. But over time, over 12 years later, gradually NU has developed its own capacity. Many Kazakhstan scholars have joined the University who have been educated abroad,” she added.
“Katsu has talked about different measures for (achieving) financial sustainability, but they're not working effectively, the university is not sustainable. The alternative financing models do not produce visible results,” she said, adding that “autonomy has been abused” for the benefit of certain interests.
She believes the current government’s plan is to gradually reduce NU’s funding “to give the university time to find ways to develop sources of income”, she said and argued that one source would be fee-paying students.
Katsu believes a key reason that NU attracted government attention was its wealthy endowment funds and commercial operations set up to ensure the university’s financial sustainability.
Others note that current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has launched a global effort to reclaim Kazakhstan’s stolen wealth, much of it squirrelled abroad and is on an avowed mission to root out the crony capitalism of the Nazarbayev era. Foundations set up by Nazarbayev including the Nazarbayev Foundation which benefits NU, have often been described as “opaque”, allegedly issuing no annual reports.
NU is an obvious target because of its financial holdings, as well as its strong links to Nazarbayev. This has led to a series of financial disputes over its endowment funds and other investments, of which the university was supposed to be the beneficiary.
The foundations, however, have said in legal documents that they have no affiliation with Nazarbayev or members of his family, and the university and Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS), which are primary and secondary schools, are the sole beneficiaries of the funds.
Two endowment funds were established, the Nazarbayev Fund (NF) from the beginning of NU’s existence and a US-based endowment fund set up in 2019 for international investments and which was supported by donations as well as some transfers from the NF.
NU also set up an investment fund to invest in technology and businesses, with the aim of having a long-term income source independent of government, in line with the model of many prominent US universities.
“Somewhat unusually for a university, we invested…in a commercial operation, a bank, which we were asked [by the then government] to take over in 2019,” Katsu explained. And then a second bank, ATF, a year later.
NU was asked to do this, in part as it was seen as a non-corrupt institution, and because of Katsu’s own reputation and integrity.
Before heading to NU, in a 30-year career at the World Bank, he had held various positions including as the bank’s vice-president for Europe and Central Asia, which at the time included “everything east of Germany”, as well as being responsible for liaison with the EU.
He has also been an advisor to international and bilateral development institutions, including the Asian Development Bank.
Ownership of the first bank which was facing insolvency at the time, now named Jusan Bank, was transferred to NU’s US-based endowment fund. In 2022 the fund was valued at US$1.6 billion. Katsu was also chairman of Jusan Bank, ultimately owned by the NU fund.
“We invested in, and turned around banks that were going bankrupt. We consolidated these banks, digitalised them, and succeeded in making them profitable,” Katsu said.
“In 2022, because of the political situation, certain elements in government wanted to grab the bank,” according to Katsu, who alleges that because he opposed some of these deals which were to go through the bank, he was removed as chairman of the bank.
The US-based endowment fund’s assets, including Jusan Bank were handed to a Kazakh oligarch, after it merged with the oligarch-owned ATF bank, according to media reports at the time, in circumstances that are still murky, and that have been subject to legal challenges. The legal disputes led to a settlement via arbitration between the oligarch, the Kazakh Government and the holding company of the bank.
This settlement resulted in assets worth US$1.6 billion being transferred to the oligarch for a nominal sum. According to a in July last year by Bloomberg, it was conditional on the money ending up with NU and the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) that were both intended beneficiaries of the US-based endowment fund.
“In spring 2022 a person representing US shareholders cut a deal with the owner of the second bank, the smaller bank, ATF bank, through arbitration,” Katsu explained. “It was such a lopsided, really bad deal, especially for the university and NIS as the intended beneficiaries. I opposed this deal, so of course I became very ‘inconvenient’.”
In the end, the amount for NU and NIS was only around 5% of proceeds after others such as shareholders and governments were paid. “Whereas we were thinking about almost half,” he said.
Katsu acknowledges that being head of the bank while also being head of the university was unusual but argues that as a former World Bank official he had experience and contacts at a time when the Kazakh financial system was “fragile and weak and quite corrupt,” and NU was seen as being able to create a corruption free institution.
Having a bank reporting to NU, he acknowledged, was “a bit of an innovation, but the idea of investing commercially and trying to get returns through dividends so we can build up funding for the university, and independent funding streams separate from depending on government scholarships, that is not new as a concept.”
In the end: “We suffered the loss of the bank and on top of it, we were counting on dividends from the bank to start flowing to the University and schools,” he says. But “sadly, it ended up in the hands of others.” And crucially this has left NU needing to continue to depend on the government for support, jeopardising its independence.
“Increasingly, if we end up being included in the normal state university system, it means we will lose autonomy as well as academic freedom. The next thing [will be that] our funding will be restricted, the university will be told what to do, maybe even what to do research on,” he maintains.
In a statement, Nazarbayev University said: “Shigeo Katsu’s views are his personal views only and cannot and do not represent, in any way, the views of the University, nor do they align with the University’s views. His views as to the current state of the University are uninformed, wrong, and highly misleading.”
Referring to Katsu’s stance in general, rather than specifically what he told , NU said it is taking legal advice and will take all necessary legal measures to protect its reputation from the “perpetuation” of “false and baseless statements”.
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Faculty advisors are members of departments to which students belong according to their selected path/major. Undergraduate students are assigned to faculty advisors in the beginning of their second year as second advisors and play the roles of mentors for students. Questions related to major, graduation, and career can be addressed to faculty advisors on individual sessions or via email. - Individual Approach The advisor should seek to establish a personal, genuine, and open relationship with advisees. This relationship should foster mutual respect and good communication so that advisees are comfortable seeking assistance and confident in the advising provided. 1
- Availability to Advising Provide ongoing advising to students assigned to him/her. This means establishing specific office hours to be available for advising students face-to-face, as well as phone call and email, if needed. It is especially crucial that a student’s advisor be available during pre-registration and registration times. 2
- Ensure Confidentiality Understand the University Core Curriculum and program requirements for graduation and/or transfer, and maintain the confidential nature of the advisor/advisee relationship. 3
- Good Support Learn and use the associated technology that supports advising and registration (MyRegistrar, Online Advising module). Be familiar with the academic calendar, the registration process, and academic policies to be able to provide the student with specific and accurate information. 4
- Unique Experience Assist your advisees with selection of courses each semester to ensure that they are meeting graduation requirements and are making satisfactory academic progress (including internships, academic mobility, research and other options that are specific to the major). 5
- Effective Services Provide referrals to any advisee needing particular University support services (AAO, DSS, CAC, HWC, Bursar’s Office, etc.) 6
- Q: How do I find my faculty advisor? A: Visit https://registrar.nu.edu.kz/ . After you log in the system, go to Personal Schedule. Your advisor's name is written under Academic Info. Refer to information given in Adviser 1.
- Q: How can I contact my faculty advisor? A: Students can contact their faculty advisors via email or by visit during Office Hours. When sending an email message, make sure to use an NU corporate email.
- Q: Can I contact my previous academic advisor or contact AAO? A: Yes, academic advisors can help you with the transfer process and other general requests. However, major specific topics should be addressed to faculty advisors.
Faculty Advising Handbook 2023-2024 - Interesting for you
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Graduates of the Education program from Nazarbayev University will be expected to act as key players in education reform and policy development in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev University Multiple locations Astana , Kazakhstan Top 6% worldwide Studyportals University Meta Ranking 4.1 Read 31 reviews The Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education Ph.D. program combines intensive coursework, a module at one of the partner universities (University of Cambridge or University of Pennsylvania), and in-depth exploration of advanced research methodology to develop scholars and independent researchers in the field of Education. It is a full-time four-year program. - Central to the NUGSE Ph.D. experience is the completion of a substantial piece of independent research, in the form of a Ph.D. dissertation.
Why PhD in Education?- An innovative program that meets the international standards in terms of rigor, quality and relevance
- It draws upon international best practices but responsive to the unique needs of Kazakhstan and the region
- Supported by strong learning resources at NU, GSE, UCam and UPenn
- Collaboration and joint supervision with faculty from UCam and Upenn
- Opportunity to work, learn, develop and earn as TAs and Ras
- The program prepares graduates to independently teach and conduct research at the highest academic international standards in universities, or take on roles in government or international organizations
Programme Structure- The Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education Ph.D. program combines intensive coursework, a module at one of the partner universities (University of Cambridge or University of Pennsylvania), and in-depth exploration of advanced research methodology to develop scholars and independent researchers in the field of Education. It is a full-time four-year program.
- Graduates of the NUGSE Ph.D. program will be expected to act as key players in education reform and policy development in Kazakhstan.
Key informationStart dates & application deadlines- Apply before 2025-04-18 00:00:00 , National The deadline applies if you have the same nationality as the university. ">
- Apply before 2025-02-28 00:00:00 , International The deadline is applicable to students from outside the European Economic Area who want to study within the EEA, or to students who want to study outside the EEA but are not nationals of that country. ">
Interested in an IELTS preparation course? Get started here DisciplinesAcademic requirements, english requirements, student insurance. Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following: - Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
- Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
- Home contents and baggage
We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home. Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time. Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Nazarbayev University and/or in Kazakhstan, please visit Student Insurance Portal . Other requirementsGeneral requirements. - An undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
- A Master’s degree or equivalent.
- A competitive CGPA in applicant’s Master’s (or equivalent) degree.
- High level of English proficiency
- 2 years of work experience in a relevant field.
- At the discretion of the Admissions Committee applicants with less than 2 years of work experience may also be considered.
- High motivation and strong interest in the Program as outlined in a personal statement;
- Relevant research interest and knowledge of research subject as demonstrated in a written research proposal;
- Three letters of recommendation.
Tuition FeeLiving costs for astana. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries. In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us. Scholarships InformationBelow you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Education. Available ScholarshipsYou are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider. Read more about eligibility - missing or incomplete ?"> Missing or incomplete content
- wrong or outdated ?"> Wrong or outdated content
Other interesting programmes for youOur partners. Go to your profile page to get personalised recommendations! | | |
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An applicant's Personal Statement demonstrates the applicant's capacity to thinking and self-expression, and allows getting to know the applicant not only as a prospective student, but as an individual. The Personal Statement should justify the choice of Nazarbayev University, as well as: - reflect reason for transfer and the goals that the ...
List of the applicants' documents for online registration. Application form. Electronic copy of passport or national ID, or birth certificate for applicants under the age of 16. Electronic copy of nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school, technical, vocational or post-secondary school or bachelor's degree ...
Graduates of the University are enrolled based on the evidence of the final transcript confirming the degree completion followed by diploma submission within a month; high level of motivation and a strong interest in the Program outlined in the personal statement; 2 (two) confidential letters of recommendation;
- the applicant is a graduate of Nazarbayev University. 5. Work experience (if applicable) 6. Valid GMAT or GRE Test Report Strong reading, analytical and mathematical skills as demonstrated by GRE/GMAT test reports/certificates. 7. High motivation and strong interest in the Program as outlined in a personal statement; 8.
Personal statement (300-500 words); 10. Two confidential letters of recommendation written within the last 12 months (to be provided by referees electronically or in hard copy after receiving an email request); ... 53, Nazarbayev University, Admissions Department. Standardized test reports shall be sent by the official test administrator ...
Following Schools of Nazarbayev University offer PhD programs: ... Personal statement outlining the candidate's prior educational career, statement of his/her interest in the Program, his/her long-term career goals, and how the program would help him/her to achieve these goals (250-500 words); ...
Founded in 2010, Nazarbayev University (NU) is a Central Asian flagship academic institution with ambitions to achieve global recognition as a top-tier research university. Located in the heart of Eurasia, in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, it distinguishes itself through a fully merit-based admission system that seamlessly integrates professor ...
Nazarbayev University Repository. ... Assigned to each School and Research Center is a personal Librarian that acts as a liaison between the community and the Library. Reference Librarians offer workshops, classroom instruction, and LibGuides to promote information literacy, technology, database training, citations, plagiarism, and much more ...
The Residency program from Nazarbayev University is a program designed to train doctors of medicine by focusing the program on basic and clinical research that enhances patient care expertise and surgical practice. ... high level of motivation and a strong interest in the Program outlined in the personal statement; 2 (two) confidential letters ...
Test content; Foundation. How to apply; Entry examinations and requirements; Important dates; Selection process; Enrollment; Enrollment on a fee-paying basis
About. The Master of Science in Computer Science Program at Nazarbayev University is a two-year program (120 ECTS credits) designed to provide students with advanced mastery of the core CS disciplines along with exposure to emerging areas (such as mobile and pervasive computing, multi-factor authentication, privacy and security, persistent data ...
Non-resident of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Country *. IIN *. First or Given Name *. Last or Family Name *. Date of birth *. Please indicate the valid email address and make sure to keep it active as all correspondence will go to the email address provided below. Email Address *.
Personal Statement in English; Copies or/and valid official test reports of IELTS/TOEFL and/or SAT/ACT, SAT Subject (if required). The results of standardized tests (IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, ACT) must be sent directly to the University through test Administrators; STEP 3: Pay the application fee (application fee is non-refundable).
53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana city, Republic of Kazakhstan, 010000 Nazarbayev University
Watch out for cliches like "making a difference," "broadening my horizons," or "the best thing that ever happened to me." 3. Stay focused. Try to avoid getting off-track or including tangents in your personal statement. Stay focused by writing a first draft and then re-reading what you've written.
In a statement, Nazarbayev University said: "Shigeo Katsu's views are his personal views only and cannot and do not represent, in any way, the views of the University, nor do they align with the University's views. His views as to the current state of the University are uninformed, wrong, and highly misleading."
Faculty advisors are members of departments to which students belong according to their selected path/major. Undergraduate students are assigned to faculty advisors in the beginning of their second year as second advisors and play the roles of mentors for students. Questions related to major, graduation, and career can be addressed to faculty ...
This is the first university in Kazakhstan which is guided by the principles of autonomy and academic freedom. The University's autonomous status was granted by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 19 January 2011 "On the status of "NU", "Nazarbayev Intellectual schools" and "Nazarbayev Fund". On September 25, 2009, Aslan ...
About. Graduates of the Education program from Nazarbayev University will be expected to act as key players in education reform and policy development in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev University. Astana , Kazakhstan. Top 6% worldwide. Studyportals University Meta Ranking. 4.1 Read 32 reviews.
A statue of Nazarbayev in military uniform was unveiled at the National Defense University (an institution that itself which bears his name). ... Personal life. Nursultan Nazarbayev identifies as a ... Aisultan made several public statements on social media that Nazarbayev was his biological father and that his life was constantly threatened. ...
The Free Guide to Writing the Personal Statement. Kick things off with the two greatest brainstorming exercises ever, learn about options for structuring a personal statement + example outlines, check out some amazing example personal statements, and get on your way to writing your own killer personal statement for university applications.
Prior to his appointment at Nazarbayev University, Professor Adesida served as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Student Sports League Finals in 8 Disciplines Begins at NU. NU's Foundation Year Program Receives Reaccreditation from BALEAP.
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