The national team of Kazakhstan, led by SDU University Associate Professor and PhD Samat Maksutov, achieved a historic milestone at the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO 2026). For the first time in the country’s history, Kazakhstan won five gold medals, setting a national record and achieving its best-ever result at the world’s most prestigious physics competition.

The Olympiad was held from July 4 to 12, 2026, in Bucaramanga, Colombia, bringing together 381 students from 85 countries. Competing against some of the world’s strongest teams, including China, South Korea, India, and Russia, every member of the Kazakh national team earned a gold medal.

The gold medalists are:

• Nurgul Yegenbergenova;
• Amirbek Azatbekov;
• Ilyas Kazymbek;
• Roman Cheremnov;
• Damir Kurman.

The International Physics Olympiad has been held annually since 1967, while Kazakhstan has participated regularly since 1997. This year’s achievement marks the country’s most successful performance in the history of the competition.

The national team was coached by SDU University Associate Professor, PhD Samat Maksutov, together with Alisher Yerkebayev, an international physics Olympiad medalist. Their role includes identifying the country’s most talented students and preparing them for international academic competitions through intensive training, requiring outstanding expertise in physics and a high level of English proficiency.

The medalists were officially welcomed at Almaty International Airport, where they were congratulated by Zhuldyz Suleimenova, Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Abzal Nukenov, Deputy Akim of Almaty; Timur Davlet, Director of the Daryn Republican Scientific and Practical Center; and Saken Aralbayev, Head of the Almaty City Education Department.

For SDU University, the international achievements of its faculty members reflect the University’s strong academic environment, research excellence, and commitment to preparing future generations of talented scientists.

The SDU University community sincerely congratulates Associate Professor, PhD Samat Maksutov on this remarkable achievement and wishes him continued success in research, education, and future accomplishments on the international stage.

Application requirements:

1. Applications may be submitted by tuition-paying students and recipients of the Freedom Grant, Akimat Grant, or Internal Grant.
2. Applicants must be citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
3. The cumulative GPA for the entire period of study must be above 2.5.
4. Students with grades of “F”, “FX”, “AW”, or “NP” are not eligible to apply.
5. The application must be submitted in accordance with the sample provided in the attached file below. Be sure to fill out the “Vacant state grant” Google form. Make sure that you have filled out the Google form correctly, as incorrect information may lead to the application being rejected.;
6. Applications will be accepted until 5:30 PM on July 20, 2026.

Please note:
Applications that do not meet the specified requirements will not be considered.

For additional information, please contact: ssc@sdu.edu.kz

SDU University is strengthening its international cooperation with Birkbeck, University of London, one of the United Kingdom’s leading higher education institutions.

This initiative provides SDU students with an opportunity to earn a British degree from a globally recognized university. Birkbeck, University of London is renowned for its academic excellence, strong research capacity, and international learning environment.

The program offers students several key advantages, including:

• the opportunity to obtain a British degree;
• internationally recognized qualifications;
• enhanced competitiveness in the global job market;
• career opportunities within the UK education sector;
• valuable experience in an international academic environment.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the annual tuition fee for international students at Birkbeck, University of London is £18,500.

In addition, students with outstanding academic performance may be eligible for a £6,000 academic scholarship. Scholarship applications can be submitted when applying for admission to the university.

The program is available to fourth-year students enrolled in SDU University’s Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages educational program. Applications must be submitted by July 24, 2026.

For further information, please contact abbas.bodaubekov@sdu.edu.kz.

This initiative provides SDU University students with a unique opportunity to pursue internationally recognized education, broaden their academic horizons, and strengthen their competitiveness in the global professional arena.

Dear students and applicants,

The KAZENERGY Association announces the opening of applications for its educational grant competition for the 2026–2027 academic year. The grants are intended to cover tuition fees for students enrolled in higher and postgraduate education institutions.

The grants are funded by the Association’s Contractors – NCOC N.V. and KPO B.V.

About the Program

Over the 11 years of the program’s implementation, more than 16,000 applications have been received from university and college students. More than 5,800 students have been awarded financial support, with 60.2% of the recipients representing socially vulnerable groups.

Application period:

• Opens: July 25, 2026
• Deadline: August 31, 2026

Eligibility and Required Documents

Detailed information on the competition requirements and the list of required documents is available on the official website of the KAZENERGY Association.

Contact Information

For further inquiries, please contact:

• Tel.: +7 (7172) 79-49-75
• E-mail: candidate@kazenergy.com

From June 29 to July 10, 2026, the SDU Extension Center successfully hosted the DEM ALL (Korean Edition) – Summer Edition 2026 Summer Language School.

The program brought together school students and adult learners, offering them an opportunity to improve their Korean language skills while gaining a deeper understanding of Korean culture. A total of 33 participants joined the program and studied in three groups according to their language proficiency levels.

Throughout the two-week program, participants enhanced their Korean language skills through interactive lessons and practical activities. They also explored various aspects of Korean culture, took part in creative and sports events, discovered the world of K-pop, built new friendships, and created lasting memories.

The SDU Extension Center extends its sincere appreciation to the 20 volunteers of the PAS Team, project leaders Won Dae Hee, Lee Yongseok, and Kim Dongeon, as well as the nine SDU University student ambassadors whose dedication and support contributed to the successful implementation of the program.

The SDU Extension Center remains committed to expanding international educational initiatives and language programs and welcomes new opportunities for collaboration.

For partnership and collaboration inquiries: +7 775 595 22 15.

A ceremonial event dedicated to the Day of Mass Media Workers was held at the Cardiff University Kazakhstan campus in Astana. During the ceremony, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, presented departmental awards to media professionals for their contribution to the development of science, higher education, and the state language.

Among the award recipients was Bagdat Sultankyzy, a second-year master’s student in the Media Studies and Journalism program at SDU University and a journalist at the Ana tili newspaper. She was awarded the “For Contribution to the Development of the Native Language” departmental medal of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In his remarks, Minister Sayasat Nurbek highlighted the essential role of journalists in promoting science and education, showcasing the achievements of young researchers, and expanding the use of the state language.

Receiving the award, Bagdat Sultankyzy described it as a great honor and responsibility, emphasizing that it inspires her to continue contributing to the development of the Kazakh language and to the promotion of education and science.

Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree at SDU University, where her research focuses on the representation of socially significant issues in contemporary Kazakh media, as well as the analysis of media framing and discourse.

The SDU University community congratulates Bagdat Sultankyzy on this distinguished recognition and wishes her continued success in her academic and professional endeavors.

SDU Extension Center has successfully completed the 80-hour professional development course, “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Practical Application of AI Tools in Teaching General Education Subjects,” designed to strengthen the digital competencies of higher education instructors.

Held in a hybrid format from June 8 to June 19, 2026, the program brought together 40 university lecturers from across Kazakhstan. Throughout the course, participants explored the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education and gained practical experience in applying AI tools to instructional design, lesson planning, and enhancing teaching and learning effectiveness.

The program was delivered by Elnura Nabigazinova, Master of Computer Science, Senior Lecturer at SDU University, Director of SDU Technopark, and Research Associate at the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition. Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, participants developed practical skills for integrating AI technologies into their teaching practices.

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, 34 participants were awarded certificates recognized for the attestation of higher education faculty members.

As part of its commitment to advancing lifelong learning and professional excellence, SDU Extension Center continues to offer customized professional development programs tailored to the needs of universities, educational institutions, and organizations. The Center welcomes partnerships in corporate training and collaborative educational initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and continuous professional growth.

SDU University is proud to announce an improvement in its performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2026, strengthening its position among higher education institutions worldwide.

This year, the university achieved an overall score of 58.5 out of 100 and was ranked in the 801–1000 band globally. This marks a significant improvement compared to 2025, when SDU University was placed in the 1001–1500 range.

The THE Impact Rankings assess universities based on their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2026, SDU University was evaluated across 10 Sustainable Development Goals.

The university’s key results are as follows:

• SDG 1 – No Poverty: 601–800
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: 1001+
• SDG 4 – Quality Education: 601–800
• SDG 5 – Gender Equality: 401–600
• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: 601–800
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: 601–800
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: 401–600
• SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: 601–800
• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: 401–600
• SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: 401–600

This achievement reflects SDU University’s commitment to enhancing educational quality, promoting social responsibility, supporting research activities, and systematically integrating sustainable development principles into all aspects of the university’s operations.

The Science Department of SDU University has successfully completed the Academic Publishing Bootcamp 2026, an intensive 72-hour program designed to support researchers and PhD students in strengthening their academic writing and publication competencies.

The Bootcamp brought together a diverse group of researchers committed to advancing their scholarly work and preparing manuscripts for publication in reputable academic journals. Throughout the program, participants engaged in focused writing sessions, received individualized feedback from experienced mentors and trackers, attended expert-led workshops, and participated in constructive academic discussions.

The initiative provided a collaborative and supportive environment where participants were able to refine their research papers, exchange knowledge and experiences, and enhance their understanding of the academic publishing process.

Over the course of three intensive days, the Bootcamp fostered professional development, academic collaboration, and research excellence, empowering participants to take significant steps toward achieving their publication goals.

SDU University extends its sincere gratitude to all speakers, mentors, trackers, and participants whose dedication and active engagement contributed to the success of Academic Publishing Bootcamp 2026.

About the Academic Publishing Bootcamp

The Academic Publishing Bootcamp is an annual initiative organized by the SDU University Science Department to support researchers in developing high-quality academic manuscripts and navigating the publication process in international scholarly journals.

As part of the Academic Integrity League initiative, the Science Department of SDU University organized a round table discussion titled “The Role of Research Ethics Committees in Scientific Research: Policy, Practice, and Responsibility.”

The event brought together representatives of research ethics committees, researchers, and members of the academic community to discuss current issues related to ethical standards in research and to exchange professional experiences.

During the discussion, participants shared institutional practices for organizing the work of research ethics committees and explored contemporary approaches to ethical oversight in scientific research. Particular attention was given to fostering a culture of responsible research, strengthening research integrity, and addressing current challenges and opportunities in maintaining high ethical standards.

The round table served as a platform for open and meaningful dialogue, promoting inter-institutional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the dissemination of best practices in research ethics.

At the conclusion of the event, participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration in advancing the principles of research integrity and ethical responsibility.

SDU University extends its sincere appreciation to all colleagues and experts who contributed to the discussion by sharing their valuable experience and professional insights.