Kazakhstan Expands Global Academic Reach with 40 University Partnerships and 33 Foreign Campuses

Kazakhstan is rapidly strengthening its position as a regional hub for higher education.

Speaking at the second International Forum of Strategic Partners, themed “Kazakhstan - A Territory of Academic Knowledge,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that the country has established partnerships with the world’s top 40 universities and opened 33 foreign university branch campuses, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

President Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan’s growing demographic and geographic potential creates major opportunities to export higher education and attract international students. He noted that many new campuses offer courses in English, Russian, and Chinese, while also requiring all students to study Kazakh language and history to deepen cultural understanding.

“Multilingualism in education is the key to openness and competitiveness - for people, institutions, and entire nations,” President Tokayev said. “We are taking a conscious step toward integration into the global academic space.”

Currently, around 31,000 foreign students are studying in Kazakhstan - a record figure for the nation. President Tokayev outlined an ambitious goal to raise this number to 100,000 by 2029, supported by a simplified visa regime and student-friendly policies.

The president also announced the launch of an employment program to retain top graduates and highlighted efforts to link education with real industry needs. “The opening of foreign university branches aligns fully with our mission to advance engineering and IT education,” he said, noting that three Luban Workshops are already operating in Kazakhstan to train applied engineering specialists.

Special focus, he added, will be given to preparing skilled professionals for the nuclear energy sector, ensuring education, science, and the economy develop hand in hand.

Earlier, President Tokayev revealed that Kazakhstan has launched a pilot project to integrate ChatGPT-powered tools into the education system - marking another step in the country’s drive toward innovation and academic excellence.