Kazakhstan is expanding international education opportunities for its scholars through a new partnership with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom.

The Center for International Programs of Kazakhstan and the University of Sussex have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in education and research and creating additional opportunities for participants of Kazakhstan’s Bolashak and Scientific Internships programs, Qazinform News Agency reports.

The memorandum was signed by Abai Rakhmet, Chairman of the Board of the Center for International Programs, and Simon Thompson, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs at the University of Sussex.

Under the agreement, scholarship recipients will have access to preferential study conditions, including potential discounts on educational program fees, according to the Center for International Programs.

During the meeting, Rakhmet outlined the Center’s main areas of work and highlighted recent changes and new initiatives under the Bolashak and Scientific Internships programs. He also presented the key objectives of the new partnership.

“The signing of the memorandum with the University of Sussex opens new opportunities for education and research internships for Kazakh scholars, particularly in such key fields as development studies, political science, sociology, international relations and other social sciences and humanities. We highly value the University of Sussex’ willingness to partner with us and are confident that our cooperation will help enhance the competitiveness of Kazakh professionals and further develop the country’s human capital,” Rakhmet said.

Thompson, in turn, presented the university’s academic programs, research capabilities and achievements.

The University of Sussex is a UK public research university and is included on Kazakhstan’s list of foreign organizations recommended for participation in the Bolashak and Scientific Internships programs.

The university has an international community representing more than 150 countries and focuses on research, interdisciplinary cooperation, innovation and international partnerships.

The new memorandum is part of Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to expand educational and research opportunities for scholarship recipients through partnerships with leading universities abroad.

The Center for International Programs is also seeking to secure additional benefits for participants, including preferential financial conditions for education and research internships.