Kazakhstan is taking bold steps to position itself as a regional leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by launching a series of nationwide, free educational programs targeting citizens of all ages.
The ambitious initiative, led by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry in partnership with Astana Hub, aims to foster digital literacy, close the tech skills gap, and build a strong AI ecosystem across the country, The Caspian Post reports per Kazakh media.
Starting in October, the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies will open in Astana, offering a free, cutting-edge learning environment for youth aged 12 to 18. Located at the Alem.ai International Center, the program will provide training in 11 in-demand fields, including generative AI, animation, game development, 3D modeling, and robotics. The center plans to train up to 5,000 students annually and expand its reach to other cities and remote regions over the next three to five years.
Another cornerstone of the national strategy is the Tech Orda program, which has provided free IT education to nearly 10,000 people since 2021. Delivered through 72 partner private IT schools, the six-month to one-year courses focus on programming, big data, and cybersecurity. The initiative boasts an impressive 88 per cent job placement rate among graduates.
In higher-level AI education, Tomorrow School-Kazakhstan’s first peer-to-peer AI school-offers a two-year, tuition-free program with no traditional teachers. Instead, students learn by completing over 50 hands-on projects and mastering up to 20 programming languages. With a 24/7 open campus, guest lectures by industry experts, active student clubs, and free accommodation for those from rural areas, the school offers a unique, immersive experience. Women currently make up 30 per cent of the student body.
The government has also focused on expanding access for women through the IT-Áiel program, launched in collaboration with TechnoWomen. Now in its third year, the initiative has already trained 5,500 women in digital skills nationwide.
For self-learners and digital enthusiasts, Astana Hub’s AI Movement platform offers three free online courses accessible via its mobile app. This fall, aspiring tech innovators can test their skills at Decentrathon 4.0, Kazakhstan’s largest AI-focused hackathon, which will bring together more than 2,500 participants in September and award cash prizes for top solutions.
Those looking to build AI startups but lacking a team or idea can join the AI Preneurs program, which connects innovators to collaboratively launch new ventures in artificial intelligence.
Kazakhstan’s youth are also being encouraged to explore AI early. In May, the country held its inaugural AI Olympiad for high school students in grades 9 through 12. From 683 competitors, 40 advanced to the national finals at Astana IT University, with 12 finalists invited to training camps in preparation for the upcoming International AI Olympiad in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the public sector is undergoing its own digital transformation through the AI Qyzmet initiative-the first of its kind in Central Eurasia. The program, designed to integrate AI tools into public service delivery, has already trained over 16,000 civil servants through short-form video modules and aims to reach 30,000 annually.
