Nazarbayev University

Nazarbayev University
Kazakh: Назарбаев Университетi
Russian: Назарбаев Университет
Motto To lead. To innovate.
Established 2009
Type Public
Endowment

Estimated US$370 million (2011)[1]

US$2 billion construction[2]
Chairman Aslan Sarinzhipov
President Shigeo Katsu
Provost Simon Richard Jones
Students 1920 (total)
Location Astana, Kazakhstan
Website nu.edu.kz

Nazarbayev University is an autonomous research university located in Astana, the national capital of Kazakhstan. Founded as a result of the personal initiative of the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, it is an English-medium institution, with an international faculty and staff. The acceptance rate for undergraduate programs is 1:8.5. All undergraduate students attend the university free of charge, and students in good standing receive a stipend, while the faculty-to-student class ratio is 1:9.

Nazarbayev University is legally linked to both the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools and the Nazarbayev Endowment Fund, all of which are dedicated to promoting educational reform in Kazakhstan.

Administration

The Supreme Board of Trustees is the managing authority of the University, Intellectual Schools and the Fund, and is headed by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The Board of Trustees is in charge of general management of the university’s activities.

The Deans of the different constituent Schools of the University include:

Academics

The university currently consists of six schools: the School of Engineering, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Science and Technology, the Graduate School of Business, the Graduate School of Education, and the Graduate School of Public Policy. The School of Medicine is expected to open in 2015, and a School of Mining is currently being considered. Nazarbayev University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, ranging from bachelor’s degrees to the Ph.D.

As of 2012, undergraduate majors available to students included anthropology, biology/biomedicine, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computational science, economics, electrical and electronic engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physics, political science/international relations, robotics and mechatronics, sociology, world history/philosophy/religion, and world languages, literature and culture.

Most students at Nazarbayev University are initially admitted to the Centre for Preparatory Studies, a one-year programme operated by University College, London. At the end of this programme, they then apply to undergraduate programmes in the University itself. In addition, some students are admitted directly to the undergraduate programmes at the University, while others transfer to the University from other universities.

The school's language of instruction is English.[3]

In 2015, Nazarbayev University will launch the Geological Cluster of Schools in partnership with the Colorado School of Mines. The cluster include the School of mines, Institute of Sciences of Earth and Center of geological research. This cluster is also part of the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy.[4]

Partnerships

Nazarbayev University has established partnerships with a number of internationally recognised and respected institutions. Each school in the university has one or more partner institution, with which it works on issues of curriculum and programme design, student admissions, faculty recruitment, and quality assurance.

Partnership with «Samruk-Kazyna» JSC

Chairman of the Board of «Samruk-Kazyna» JSC Umirzak Shukeyev and rector of the Nazarbayev University Shigeo Katsu signed memorandum of cooperation in September, 2014.[5] In order to implement this Memorandum the sides will develop a five-year roadmap.[5]

The memorandum aims at further developing mutually beneficial cooperation between Nazarbayev University and «Samruk-Kazyna» JSC in research, education and innovation field.[5] In particular, the parties intend to cooperate in the development of intellectual innovation cluster of Nazarbayev University; implement educational programs for executives of «Samruk-Kazyna», including subsidiaries and affiliates (ExecutiveEducationCenter); jointly develop information and communication technologies and the NU’s Graduate School of Business.[5]

The Memorandum also implies the creation of the corporate research center of «Samruk-Kazyna» under the Science Park "Astana Business Campus", which will operate in the chemical industry, production of raw materials for the metal industry, renewable (green) energy, «green» building, energy efficiency and performance.[5]

Partnerships with International Schools

Research

In addition to research conducted by the faculty, staff and students of the University, Nazarbayev University is also home to:


Technological Park

Kazakhstan's Minister of Education and Science Aslan Sarinzhipov unveiled the Technological Park (Technopark) at the territory of the Nazarbayev University in Astana in mid July, 2014.[6] The Technopark was designed along with the University's partners from South Korea and United Kingdom.[6] It is a multipurpose facility designed for carrying out research biotechnology, robotics, IT, renewable energy and mechanics.[6]

Labs

Laboratory of Medicinal and Molecular Electrochemistry

Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics Systems Laboratory (ARMS Lab)

Astana LAboratory for Robotic and Intelligent Systems (ALARIS)

References

  1. ↑ http://zcomm.org/zmagazine/the-world-bank-brings-nazarbayev-university-to-kazakhstan-by-allen-ruff/
  2. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-schweber/innocents-abroad-the-univ_b_3880797.html
  3. ↑ "Quick Facts & Statistics". Nazarbayev University. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.bnews.kz/en/news/post/188410/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "«Samruk-Kazyna» JSC and Nazarbayev University sign memorandum of cooperation". www.sk.kz.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Nazarbayev University unveils technological park". Tengrinews.

External links

Coordinates: 51°05′24″N 71°23′58″E / 51.09000°N 71.39944°E