To support talented young people and provide them with access to quality higher education, SDU University is offering four-year educational grants for undergraduate programmes to the winners of the FAIO 2026 International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad.

In honour of the University’s 30th anniversary, 30 grants and tuition discounts have been allocated to talented students pursuing higher education. The total value of the four-year educational grants for undergraduate programmes amounts to USD 528,120.

Held at SDU University from October 26 to 29, 2026, the FAIO International Olympiad brings together young talents from different countries. Participants demonstrate their knowledge of artificial intelligence, logical thinking and ability to solve technological challenges.

For SDU University, education goes beyond academic instruction. It is an important mission aimed at unlocking the potential of talented young people, supporting their initiatives and creating opportunities for their future professional development.

The grants and tuition discounts offered as part of the University’s 30th anniversary reflect this mission. The initiative will enable students who are eager to learn, open to new ideas and ready to contribute to technological progress to pursue quality higher education.

“We consider investing in talented young people an investment in the future. The University’s 30th anniversary is not only an opportunity to continue the educational traditions developed over the years, but also an important milestone in creating new opportunities for future generations. By supporting international initiatives such as FAIO, we aim to help talented young people fulfil their potential and contribute to the advancement of science and technology,” said Arman Zhumazhanov, Rector of SDU University.

By supporting young people pursuing education in artificial intelligence, information technology and innovation, SDU University seeks to strengthen Kazakhstan’s intellectual potential and contribute to international cooperation in education.

SDU University — Education that opens doors to the world!

Five SDU University researchers have been selected as winners of the 2026–2028 grant funding competitions organized by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Recipients of grants under the “Zhas Galym” project:

– Binara Imankulova;
– Yerkin Shaimerdenov;
– Gaziza Otarbayeva;
– Kanat Baikenov.

Winner of the Grant Funding Competition for Young Scientists under Scientific and/or Scientific and Technical Projects:

– Bayan Bekbolat.

This achievement reflects the relevance of their research initiatives and the strong scientific potential of SDU University. The funded projects will be implemented during 2026–2028 and are expected to contribute to the development of research and the production of new scientific knowledge.

We sincerely congratulate our researchers and wish them every success in implementing their projects and achieving significant research outcomes!

SDU University Extension Center and Teach For Qazaqstan jointly held an information session on professional opportunities in education.

Participants learned about the teacher retraining programme, Teach For Qazaqstan, teaching in rural schools, and opportunities for professional development.

Speakers:

• Meruyert Bizhanova — PhD candidate at the University of Oxford;
• Balausa Zholdaskhanova — alumna of the second Teach For Qazaqstan cohort and the SDU Extension × Teach For Qazaqstan programme.

Event moderators:

Aidyn Adilbekova — Head of the Retraining Division;
Nurzhaina Kungradbayeva — Manager of the Retraining Division.

SDU Extension Center has successfully completed its 80-hour professional development course, “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Practical Application of AI Tools in Teaching”.

A total of 101 educators participated in the course, and 84 successfully completed the program and received certificates. The course aimed to develop educators’ practical skills in effectively applying artificial intelligence tools in the educational process.

Registration for the second cohort is now open.
The second cohort will take place from November 2 to 20, 2026. Educators are invited to develop their AI skills and strengthen their professional competencies.

For more information and registration, please contact us at 8 776 702 31 34.

The international conference Sustainable Central Asia: Silk Roads of Education, Arts, and AI was held at the Almaty Museum of Arts on October 26–27. SDU University was represented by Gulnaz Toguzbayeva, Director of the Strategic Development Department, who participated as a speaker.

The conference was organized by CIMEA-NARIC Italia and CIMEA Central Asia in cooperation with UNESCO and the British Council. It brought together more than 70 representatives of government bodies, universities, international organizations and expert communities from eight countries.

During the Quality and Trust in Education session, Gulnaz Toguzbayeva delivered a presentation titled Data and Quality Management at SDU University. She presented the university’s approach to data and quality management and explained how information is used to support decision-making and improve educational and administrative processes.

Representatives of UNESCO, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA UK) and Satbayev University also took part in the session, discussing quality assurance, international cooperation and trust in education systems.

SDU University’s participation provided an opportunity to share its experience with the international professional community and strengthen dialogue with education experts and institutions.

A delegation from SDU University, led by Rector Arman Zhumazhanov, participated in the Europe–China Education-Industry Collaboration Forum in Chengdu, China. The forum was held as part of the 19th Europe–China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair, a platform for dialogue among Chinese and European representatives from business, academia and policymaking.

The forum was hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and Sichuan Laima Education, with the support of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education, P.R. China. It brought together representatives of universities, vocational education institutions and industry to discuss how education can respond to the changing needs of the economy.

Rector Arman Zhumazhanov addressed the forum and presented SDU University’s vision of education as an open ecosystem connecting academia, employers and international partners. He also highlighted the growing role of Central Asian universities in Eurasian academic cooperation.

During the forum, SDU University signed memoranda of understanding with two Chinese institutions. The agreements will provide a foundation for the joint development of academic programmes.

SDU University’s participation in the forum reflects its commitment to international dialogue and to developing partnerships that create new opportunities for students and faculty.

The Zangar Zanger Olympiad was held at MNU University on October 22. The team representing the SDU University School of Social Sciences, Business and Law took first place and received a certificate worth KZT 300,000.

Team members:

• Nurayim Aibolatkyzy
• Elif-Nur Khasen
• Laziza Ergasheva
• Aiym Alpysbek
• Assyl Askar

The team was coached by Abai Nazhimov.

We congratulate our students and their coach on this achievement and wish them continued success!

SDU University welcomed representatives of PARASAT Business Club and the ASMED healthcare organization, led by Raushan Zhaksybay. During the meeting, the parties discussed joint initiatives and signed a memorandum of cooperation between SDU University and ASMED.

The partnership will include the development of a HealthTech incubation program for students, specialized training programs for future healthcare leaders, and the implementation of IT projects for ASMED through SDU Technopark.

The guests highly praised the skills and projects of SITAM School students. A startup presented by a second-year student attracted particular interest from the delegation.

Researchers at SDU University’s School of Social Sciences, Business, and Law continue to contribute to international scholarship. Their recent publications explore international relations, higher education management, and public health.

Ainur Abdrazakova, Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow, published a book chapter titled HEMHI Through the Kazakhstan Lens: Governance, Quality, Internationalisation, and Institutional Sustainability in an international volume focused on higher education management.

Islam Supyaldiyarov co-authored Between overlap and encroachment: power transition without confrontation and China–Russia structured rivalry in Central Asia, published in Frontiers in Political Science, a journal indexed in Scopus. The study examines the changing balance of Chinese and Russian influence in Central Asia.

Nurzhan Mukashev co-authored Public health diplomacy in Central Asia: a scoping review, published in Frontiers in Public Health. The review explores public health diplomacy in Central Asia.

We are proud of our researchers, whose work advances scholarship and strengthens SDU University’s presence in the international academic community.

On 13–14 October 2026, the SDU University Extension Center, in collaboration with ELIPRO, hosted SDU Pre-Conference 2026, a two-day professional development event held within the framework of the 12th International Conference “Building Cultural Bridges” (ICBCB 2026) and the 4th Annual ELIPRO Conference.

The programme focused on strengthening professional competencies in academic research, scholarly writing, and publishing in international academic journals. Practical sessions helped participants explore research methodologies, present findings from quantitative studies, and improve their academic manuscript preparation and publication skills.

Five international experts contributed to the event:

• Dr. Mona Nishizaki — ELIPRO Coordinator, Executive Director of its Scientific Committee, and tenure-track researcher at the University of Genoa.
  Session: Content Analysis as a Research Method.
• Dr. Peter Kemp — Computing educator and researcher at King’s College London.
  Session: A Brief History of Computing Education: From Electronic Brains to a National Curriculum.
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Pattharaporn Thongnim — Faculty member at Burapha University, Thailand, specialising in statistical modelling and AI in education.
  Session: Turning Numbers into Knowledge: Writing Methods and Results in Quantitative ELT Studies.
• Professor Sender Dovchin — Senior Principal Research Fellow and Dean International at Curtin University, Australia.
  Session: Writing and Publishing for Academic Journals.
• Professor Sarah Hopkyns — Assistant Professor at the University of St Andrews and University College London, specialising in multilingualism and Global Englishes.
  Session: Publishing and Belonging: Contributing to Journals and Their Communities.

Over the two days, participants strengthened their academic writing skills, explored international research practices, and expanded their professional networks.

Participants who successfully completed the full programme received 36-hour certificates issued by SDU University and ELIPRO. The programme included practical sessions, academic literature analysis, independent research, training in RStudio, and methods for analysing and interpreting PISA results for research purposes.

The SDU University Extension Center remains committed to supporting professional development, advancing research competencies, and fostering international collaboration within the academic community.

If you have any questions or are interested in organising similar educational seminars and conferences, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to collaborating with you!

Email: extension.school@sdu.edu.kz
Tel.: +7 706 702 31 34