Astana, 2025.
The II Forum “Kazakhstan – Territory of Academic Knowledge” was held in the capital of Kazakhstan with the participation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, becoming a key platform for discussing strategic directions in the development of science and higher education.

As part of the Forum, a meeting of the Council of Strategic Partners took place, bringing together leaders of leading foreign universities, representatives of international accreditation and ranking agencies, as well as rectors of domestic universities.

The plenary session was moderated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek.

In his speech, the Minister emphasized that thanks to the strategic vision of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the country is confidently moving toward becoming a regional hub of knowledge and innovation.

“In accordance with the instructions of the Head of State, large-scale work is being carried out to strengthen international academic cooperation, develop science, and build a modern system of higher education that meets global standards,” — noted Sayasat Nurbek.

Today, Kazakhstan hosts branches of 40 leading foreign universities, including nine from Russia, six from China (among them three Luban Workshops), seven from the United States, eight from the United Kingdom, as well as universities from France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Turkey, and the Republic of Korea. Many of these institutions have opened their branches abroad for the first time — and chose Kazakhstan for this purpose.

The Minister noted that the Council of Strategic Partners, established last year, has become an effective mechanism for institutional cooperation, and that the current Forum continues this systematic work while expanding the scope of international collaboration.

During the Forum, panel sessions were held with the participation of foreign partners, representatives of Kazakhstani universities, and research organizations. The discussions focused on pressing topics such as artificial intelligence in education, transnational education, commercialization of science, and technology transfer. The sessions resulted in proposals for further joint projects and deeper integration of science and industry.

Summing up the meeting, Sayasat Nurbek emphasized that international cooperation in education and science opens new opportunities for sustainable growth and technological progress, and the ongoing work lays the foundation for future generations.

“Our ‘trees’ are educational initiatives, scientific projects, and new opportunities for young people. They will grow into powerful trees of knowledge and progress — and under their shade, new generations will sit, create, and build,” — said the Minister.

The Forum “Kazakhstan – Territory of Academic Knowledge” has become an important platform for building long-term academic partnerships, sharing experience, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s role as an international hub for academic cooperation.