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.

On June 16, 2026, the 5th Annual IT Law Forum, organized by SDU University, was successfully held at Almaty Hub. Co-organized by Almaty Hub and Narxoz University, the forum brought together leading experts in law, technology, and artificial intelligence, as well as representatives of government agencies, the business community, and academia.

The event was held within the framework of the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence declared by the Head of State. It focused on key issues related to the development of digital law in Kazakhstan, the legal regulation of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, personal data protection, digital entrepreneurship, and the advancement of the LegalTech ecosystem.

The forum opened with a keynote address by Mazhilis Deputy of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ekaterina Smyshlyayeva, titled “The Law of the Future: AI, the Digital Code, and Kazakhstan’s New Digital Architecture.” In her speech, she shared her vision for strengthening the legal foundations of the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

The forum featured discussions across four key thematic areas:
• legal regulation of artificial intelligence and digital policy;
• cybersecurity and data protection;
• legal support for digital business;
• LegalTech and the automation of legal practice.

Speakers included representatives of government institutions, international law firms, the IT industry, and leading technology organizations, who shared their expertise and insights on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

As part of the event, the LegalTech Expo showcased innovative technological solutions for the legal industry. Participants explored new products and services in electronic document management, AI-powered legal services, and information security.

One of the forum’s highlights was the presentation of the Kazakhstan’s Legal AI Benchmark study. For the first time, the research provided a comprehensive comparison of artificial intelligence models’ performance in working with Kazakhstan’s legislation, identifying new opportunities for the digital transformation of the legal sector.

In addition, the LegalTech Showcase competition provided a platform for startups and technology companies to present their innovative projects and receive evaluations from industry experts.

The 5th Annual IT Law Forum once again reaffirmed its status as a respected international platform that fosters professional dialogue at the intersection of law and technology, promotes research and innovation, advances digital law, and contributes to the development of Kazakhstan’s LegalTech ecosystem.

SDU Library organized a Storytelling event to promote reading among children and encourage a culture of reading.

During the event, children were introduced to The Little Prince, a masterpiece of world literature, through an engaging and interactive presentation tailored to their age group. Participants became acquainted with the book’s main characters and discussed important values such as kindness, friendship, and responsibility.

As part of the program, a quiz based on the book was held, allowing children to actively participate and demonstrate their knowledge and creativity.

In addition, a buffet was arranged for the participants, and an entertainment program featuring animators was organized. This helped create a joyful atmosphere and increased the children’s engagement throughout the event.

A total of 55 children took part in the event. At the end of the program, all participants received certificates of appreciation and commemorative gifts.

The event contributed to fostering children’s interest in reading, broadening their horizons, and developing their creative and communication skills.

SDU University hosted the International Emerging Scholars Conference 2026, an international academic event that brought together students, young researchers, and early-career scholars from diverse fields. The conference provided participants with an opportunity to present their research findings and engage in discussions on contemporary academic issues.

This year’s conference focused on the theme “Research Ethics in the Contemporary Academic Environment,” reflecting the growing importance of ethical principles in modern research. Participants presented original research across a wide range of disciplines, exchanged ideas with leading experts, and explored the values and standards that underpin responsible academic practice.

The conference served as an important platform for the professional development of emerging scholars. Participants enhanced their research presentation skills, received constructive feedback from experienced academics, and strengthened connections within the international research community.

International Emerging Scholars Conference 2026 fostered meaningful academic dialogue and knowledge exchange while promoting the principles of research integrity, academic responsibility, and ethical scholarship.

SDU University extends its sincere appreciation to all participants, speakers, reviewers, and organizers whose contributions helped make the conference a meaningful and inspiring academic event.

On May 26, 2026, SDU University hosted the Annual Forum of the Academic Integrity League (AIL) titled “Building Trust in Higher Education,” dedicated to the 8th anniversary of the organization. The event was moderated by Andrey Bogdanchikov, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Digitalization at SDU University.

The Academic Integrity League (Akademiialyq Adaldyq Ligasy) is a leading association of higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, committed to fostering transparency, fairness, ethics, and mutual trust within the national higher education system.

During the panel session, leading experts and university executives delivered insightful presentations addressing current digital and institutional challenges in higher education.

Participants were presented with the results of the League’s post-monitoring analytics, key directions for the further development of its ecosystem, as well as the outcomes of the project office’s work on developing quality assurance and academic integrity standards for schools and colleges.

In addition, experts discussed pressing issues related to maintaining academic integrity in the era of rapidly evolving artificial intelligence, the use of digital university analytics tools to prevent academic misconduct, graduate responsibility, the development of sustainable institutional culture, and the importance of academic ethics in medical education.

The forum program also included an official award ceremony honoring the League’s experts, followed by a campus tour of SDU University.

The second half of the day was dedicated to the official General Assembly meeting of the League. A total of 12 applications were reviewed, including presentations from six universities seeking membership in the League. In accordance with internal regulations, the remaining six applications were postponed until the next meeting.

During the meeting, the official Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence within the Academic Integrity League were also formally approved.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the election of the Chair of the League’s General Assembly for the 2026–2027 academic year. Two leading Kazakhstani universities — the International Information Technology University (IITU) and M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University (Kozybayev University) — competed for this position.

Following the voting results, Kozybayev University was elected as the new Chair of the Academic Integrity League by majority vote.

The SDU University community sincerely congratulates Kozybayev University on this honorable and responsible appointment. We are confident that the new Chair’s institutional expertise and commitment to academic values will provide strong momentum for further strengthening academic integrity standards across Kazakhstan’s higher education system.