The SQQ x SDU University team, consisting of ten students from the School of Information Technologies and Applied Mathematics at SDU University, took part in the final stage of “SHAIQAS 2026,” Kazakhstan’s first national military engineering championship.

The championship was organized by the Defence Tech Center with the support of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The final stage took place on August 14–15 at the Amandyk military training ground in Shchuchinsk, Akmola Region.

Among 17 Finalists Selected from 100 Teams

Following the qualification stages, 17 teams out of 100 advanced to the final. The SQQ x SDU University team was among the finalists representing SDU University.

The students are enrolled in the Information Systems programme. During the final stage, the team participated across all four championship categories: Air Systems, Ground Systems, Cybersecurity and Tactics.

The practical challenges gave participants an opportunity to test their engineering and technological solutions in conditions designed to closely replicate real-world scenarios.

SDU and SQQ Development Draws Particular Attention

One of the developments that attracted particular attention during the championship was a universal fire evacuation unmanned vehicle, developed with the support of SDU University and SQQ.

The vehicle attracted interest from representatives of technology companies, journalists and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The development was also specifically highlighted by the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who noted the balance between its functionality and development cost.

According to his assessment, solutions of this kind can contribute to strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s domestic military technologies in the global market.

The development cost of the prototype was approximately KZT 20 million. The project was implemented with the support of SDU University and SQQ, giving the students an opportunity to present and test their engineering solution as part of the championship’s practical trials.

Valuable Practical Experience for Students

“SHAIQAS 2026” brought together military and civilian participants within a single programme covering air and ground systems, cybersecurity and tactical training. Participants presented their solutions and tested them through practical challenges at a specialized military training ground.

The SQQ x SDU University team did not place among the winners. However, advancing to the final as one of 17 teams selected from 100 participants represented an important result and provided valuable practical experience for the students.

Following the championship, the SDU University students received certificates of participation from the Defence Tech Center jointly with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Participation in “SHAIQAS 2026” gave SDU University students an opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice, present their own engineering development to a professional audience and gain hands-on experience with technological solutions in conditions close to real-world scenarios.