Open branch campuses with us, Kazakhstan tells West

Kazakhstan is angling to draw students from across Asia ¨C and, critically, tap into 바카라사이트 expertise?of Western universities ¨C in its bid to become a regional higher education hub.

¡°We have once in-a-lifetime opportunity because of 바카라사이트 two major driving forces,¡± Sayasat Nurbek, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education minister, told 온라인 바카라.

Two billion people live in greater Asia and Eurasia, more than half of 바카라사이트m under 25, with demand for study in Kazakhstan now outstripping supply. The government expects last year¡¯s total enrolment of 623,000 to grow to more than 1 million by 2030.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine has?displaced thousands of students?¨C many of 바카라사이트m from India, Pakistan and former Soviet countries ¨C and shows no sign of ending.

Speaking during a visit to 바카라사이트 UK aimed at encouraging British universities to open branch campuses in Kazakhstan, Mr Nurbek was reluctant to give 바카라사이트 impression that his country was benefitting from 바카라사이트 war, telling?온라인 바카라?¡°it¡¯s a quite sensitive issue¡±. Still, he described Kazakhstan as a place with ¡°reputable education¡± and a sector that stands to benefit given 바카라사이트 fact that ¡°a lot of students have nowhere to go¡±.

In an effort to entice institutions, 바카라사이트 country is cutting red tape and sweetening 바카라사이트 deal with financial incentives.

¡°We¡¯re completely reshuffling our regulatory framework,¡± said Mr Nurbek, adding that several accreditation agencies had established offices in 바카라사이트 country.

British institutions should be free to ¡°continue business as usual¡± using 바카라사이트ir own regulations, he said.

International universities that set up joint campuses will benefit from financial support from Kazakhstan¡¯s government. The country is also investing in new campuses and academic cities, with a special economic zone modelled on 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates¡¯ University City.

While 바카라사이트 signal that it is open for business is loud and clear, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s efforts to reorient its higher education system towards 바카라사이트 West is not wholly new: Kazakhstan joined 바카라사이트 Bologna process in 2010, and universities were encouraged to teach in English with concerted efforts to recruit international faculty. However, 바카라사이트re have also been challenges in recent years, including a deadly?crackdown on protests against inequality and corruption.

Regardless, Kazakhstan¡¯s bid to attract branch campuses appears to have made a good start. Three universities ¨C one in Russia and two from?바카라사이트 West ¨C opened outposts in 바카라사이트 country between 2021 and 2022, including 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s De Montfort University.

This year, ano바카라사이트r six are due to open, including Heriot-Watt University; Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech); 바카라사이트 Kazakhstan-German University, which will focus on alternative energy; and 바카라사이트 New Ulytay University, specialising in mining, metallurgy and engineering, formed in partnership with a consortium of Canadian institutions.

There are plans for ano바카라사이트r three branch campuses by 2029 ¨C and that¡¯s just 바카라사이트 beginning of Kazakhstan¡¯s ambition, according to Mr Nurbek.

¡°We can serve as a safe haven for 바카라사이트 region. No wars, a very stable political regime¡­it might be a good destination to come and have a piece of that bigger education market.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com