Start of a new academic year for students of double-degree programs

It has become a good tradition for the Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek and representatives of the University of Arizona to participate in the opening ceremony of a new academic year for double-degree program students. This year, we have already recruited the third cohort of students in joint programs. The students are especially pleased with the high attention from the MSHE of the RK, which they reported at the meeting. Sayasat Nurbek told the students about the strategy for the development of higher education in Kazakhstan, partnership models with foreign universities and technology TNCs, Coursera courses, academic honesty, student responsibility, and the need for self-discipline. He recommended several motivational books to the audience and then shared some personal advice from his experience on studying abroad.

"Professors from the USA have come to your country. Take advantage of the opportunity to gain maximum knowledge from them. Expand your horizons. Communicate, participate in projects, discover! The Ministry, in turn, will help you," said the department head as he addressed the youth.

Students did not miss the opportunity to ask the Minister questions. Those questions were related to the opening of foreign university branches in the RK, cyber universities, online learning, building an educational model for future teachers in inclusive education, etc. Amir Agzamov, a third-year student of the double-degree program in biotechnology, said that during the summer holidays he managed to complete the “NUS Amgen Scholars Program 2024” internship program at the National University of Singapore. This experience inspired him to conduct his own scientific research. Moreover, the students noted that they are inspired by a personal example of the minister, his professional path. They are also emboldened by all the large-scale scientific and academic projects that are currently being implemented in the country, which open up hundreds of new opportunities for them!