Today, SDU University Rector Alimzhan Igenbayev took part as a speaker at the 8th Astana Finance Days (AFD) forum, organized by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

The forum is hosted by the AIFC — the #1 financial centre in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as a dynamic hub for innovation and business growth.

This year, with the support of the Freedom Shapagat Corporate Foundation and upon the initiative of the AIFC, SDU University introduced minor programs in the fields of social sciences, law, and finance. These include:

• International Commercial Dispute Resolution – providing students with practical knowledge in arbitration, mediation, and negotiation.
• Regulation of Kazakhstan’s Financial Market – introducing students to the legal and institutional frameworks of financial market regulation.
• Derivative Securities – Options – familiarizing students with financial instruments such as forwards, futures, options, and swaps.
• Asset Management – equipping students with skills to build, evaluate, and manage portfolios of traditional and alternative assets.

Within this context, Rector Igenbayev shared SDU University’s experience in launching minor programs and emphasized that today’s job market requires professionals who can think across disciplines and are not limited to a single specialization. Therefore, the introduction of minors at SDU is considered a strategically important step.

“For SDU, minors are not electives, but an integral part of the academic trajectory. We believe this initiative not only opens new opportunities for our students but also contributes to the development of Kazakhstan’s human capital,” – said Alimzhan Igenbayev.

It is worth noting that Astana Finance Days serves as a unified exhibition platform, bringing together companies from the capital markets and digital innovation sectors. The event provides an opportunity to showcase solutions, strengthen market positioning, and establish direct connections with strategic partners.