The US Duke University has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation to establish a dedicated scholarship for citizens of Kazakhstan, paving the way for access to world-class business education at Duke’s highly regarded Fuqua School of Business.
The newly created Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Scholarship is the first of its kind launched by Duke in Kazakhstan and the wider Central Asian region, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to one Kazakh student admitted to Fuqua’s full-time graduate programs, which include the MBA, Accelerated MBA, Master of Quantitative Management: Business Analytics (MQM), and Master of Management Studies: Foundations of Business (MMS).
Funded solely through Fuqua, the scholarship covers full tuition. Interested candidates must apply through the school’s standard admissions process, with applications opening in July 2025. The inaugural scholarship recipient will begin studies in 2026.
Zere Seraly, Director of the Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation, emphasized the long-term vision of the partnership. “This isn’t just about sponsoring one student - it’s about investing in future generations,” she said. “The scholarship is structured as an endowment, allowing it to grow over time and support more students in the years ahead.”
Seraly added that the goal is to cultivate a community of globally trained Kazakh professionals who are committed to contributing to their country. “It’s not just about earning degrees abroad; it’s about the impact these graduates will bring home.”
Berik Kaniyev, a 2005 graduate of Fuqua and co-founder of the scholarship, reflected on his personal journey. “I once saw this level of education as out of reach - until I lived it,” he said. “My wife and I created this scholarship to ensure that talent and drive matter more than finances. We hope this opens the door for others to achieve their potential and serve Kazakhstan with purpose.”
The Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation is a private family organization that supports educational, cultural, and sports initiatives across Kazakhstan. The foundation has played a key role in launching several major projects, including the National School of Physics and Math (Fizmat) endowment fund, Quantum Schools, and the Qazaq Tili cultural platform.
“Education has always been at the heart of our mission,” Seraly noted. “Our aim is to build a full ecosystem of opportunities - not just isolated programs.”
Founded in 1969, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is consistently ranked among the top business schools globally by the Financial Times, Forbes, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Known for its academic excellence and international perspective, Fuqua boasts a powerful alumni network of over 28,000 graduates, including renowned leaders such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
