On September 3, Cardiff University (Wales) officially opened Cardiff University Kazakhstan in Astana, its first overseas branch campus and the only campus of the prestigious Russell Group of UK research universities in Central Asia.
The event became a milestone in the development of educational partnership between Kazakhstan and the UK.
At the opening ceremony, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek stated: “Kazakhstan is developing as a regional academic hub. This year, more than 31,000 foreign students came to our country. At the initiative of the head of state, a large-scale strategy is being implemented in the field of higher education and science. One of its areas is the opening of branches of leading foreign research universities in our country. Over the past three and a half years, about 40 foreign universities have come to Kazakhstan, five of them have decided to open their campuses.”
Starting in late September, Cardiff University Kazakhstan will admit students to four-year undergraduate programs in computer science, business management, civil engineering, and exploration geology.
Teaching will be conducted in English by Cardiff University and Cardiff University Kazakhstan staff. The campus will operate under the direct governance of Cardiff University to ensure academic standards are maintained.
The opening ceremony was also attended by the newly appointed British Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Mrs Sally Axworthy, who said: “It is a great honor to be participating in the grand opening of Cardiff University here in Astana as one of my first engagements as British Ambassador to Kazakhstan. The opening marks a new chapter in UK-Kazakhstan educational collaboration, bringing more world-class British academic excellence to Kazakh students and strengthening further the ties between our countries.”
