About us

Suleyman Demirel University (SDU) was established in 1996 with the participation of the First President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, and the 9th President of Turkey, Suleyman Demirel. The strategic plan of the university envisions its transformation into a leading institution of higher education with a global reputation, recognized not only in Kazakhstan but also throughout Central Asia.

Initially located in a small building in the Orbita microdistrict of Almaty, SDU later moved to Kaskelen, where it founded a modern campus spanning 46,000 sq. m. and a dormitory with an area of 20,000 sq. m., meeting all modern requirements. Today, SDU has a staff of 428 professors and over 8,000 students.

The university comprises a Multidisciplinary Center, as well as 4 faculties:

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Faculty of Law and Social Sciences
Faculty of Education and Humanities
SDU Business School

Vision
Our vision is to become the leading international education provider in Central Asia, recognized for our teaching and learning technologies, innovative ideas, passion for discovery, and in-demand graduates.

Мission

At SDU, we aim to create the best educational environment for students to become world-class professionals. We value the holistic education and development of qualified professionals, innovators, and experts who strive to improve the lives of people, the economy, and the nation.

As one of the first universities to teach in English, SDU offers 56 educational programs, including 28 undergraduate programs, 21 master’s programs, and 7 doctoral programs. The university has a trilingual education system where 82% of its educational programs are taught in English and 18% in Kazakh.
Training is conducted according to the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which is the European system of transfer and accumulation of credits.
SDU’s teaching staff are professionals in their field who graduated from prestigious educational institutions in the country and abroad. The university has a total of 428 teachers, of which 20% are candidates in science and 36% hold PhDs.
In 2020, 59 researchers participated in research projects, resulting in 33 and 19 scientific papers being published in journals indexed in the international databases Scopus and Web of Science, respectively. In addition, the university’s scientific department publishes four scientific journals.
The university’s scientific centers are noteworthy, as SDU has 1 research institute, 7 research centers, and 4 scientific laboratories that implement projects based on targeted and grant funding. Notably, these projects include research on the Kazakh language and the history of Kazakhstan, mathematics, and IT.
SDU is highly regarded by Kazakhstani rating agencies, and in 2020, the university was ranked 6th among the top 10 universities in the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs’ “ATAMEKEN” rating. Many specialties at SDU also ranked among the top 3 and top 5 in the country, according to the ratings of IAAR and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “ATAMEKEN”, highlighting the high quality of education provided by the university.
This year, SDU was ranked 350th in the QS EECA (Emerging Europe and Central Asia) ranking, demonstrating its commitment to achieving high performance and meeting national and international standards of education. To this end, the university regularly undergoes examination by an independent accreditation and rating agency.
The teaching staff and students of SDU actively seek partnerships with the business community, and the modern Technopark at SDU provides opportunities for the implementation of various business projects and ideas.
There are more than 2,000 users on the SDU Connect application, a platform for our alumni to exchange news and opinions on professional development, education, communication, and job searching.
One of the main strategic directions of the university is internationalization. In this regard, the university has attracted foreign top managers and involved foreign specialists in the teaching staff. Additionally, our mobility policy enables approximately one hundred students to exchange knowledge and experience abroad every year.
Currently, 156 foreign students, including those from China, Russia, Mongolia, and countries in Central Asia and Africa, study at the university. Cooperation agreements have been concluded with 70 universities in 26 countries, and joint projects on academic mobility and the exchange of experience are currently being implemented. In addition, our university is working on ERASMUS projects in the fields of pedagogy and engineering.

Rating name / Agency	Year	Place	Link to site
Round University Ranking	2020	731	Link
Round University Ranking	2021	696	Link
QS Emerging Europe & Central Asia University Ranking	2021	351-400	Link
THE Impact Ranking: Quality Education	2021	301-400	Link
Webometrics Ranking of World Universitie	2021	5950	Link
Times Higher Education Impact Ranking	2022	1001
QS Asia University Rankings	2023	Central Asia: 500
Ranking Web of Universities	2022	4998
Round University Ranking	2022	World rank: 892 Country rank: 3

Strategic Plan 2018-2023

In March 2010, Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian state toalign with the Bologna Declaration and to join the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of education and promoting international recognition of academic qualifications. Since then, the country has adopted the three-cycle system of education (Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD level) and is maintaining standards using different benchmark frameworks, including the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR). Many higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, SDU included, are now also actively implementing the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to facilitate international mobility by promoting recognition of academic qualifications attained in Kazakhstan.

The rules for organizing the educational process on credit technology of education can be found at this link.

Inclusion at Suleyman Demirel University

The promotion and implementation of the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusiveness (EDI) in higher education institutions (HEIs) allows students from different backgrounds and people with disabilities to receive quality education on an equal footing and realize their full potential. In Kazakhstan, the number of people with disabilities studying in higher education institutions increased from 600 in 2016 to 3,520 in 2020 (Official information resource of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2020), which shows that more people with special educational needs want to study in higher education institutions. Moreover, the educational policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan has shifted its focus from equality to an impartial treatment of all. The idea of providing equal opportunities to every student is the essence of inclusive education, which in turn is the cornerstone of the educational system.

The culture, policies and practices of EDI benefit universities in a variety of ways. Increasing inclusiveness and diversity among students and staff will strengthen the sense of belonging among all.

Suleyman Demirel University (SDU) aims to promote and encourage an environment that caters to the diverse needs of learners from different walks of life. By valuing and inspiring every student and employee regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, or disability, SDU strengthens social cohesion by celebrating individuality and creativity. In addition, by supporting inclusive leadership, SDU expands the idea of providing access schemes for people with special needs to transform institutions at all levels where everyone is treated with equal respect and dignity.