As part of the national “Кітап оқитын ұлт” (“A Nation That Reads”) marathon, the OQYRMAN book club held another meeting. The guest of the event was Irina Pashkina, lead actress at the N. Pogodin Russian Drama Theatre and a teacher of stage speech and acting. She conducted a master class for students on reading, speech, and the art of communication. The participants discussed why not only what we say matters, but also how we say it. Diction, intonation, expressiveness, and voice are not merely professional terms, but essential tools for effective communication. The discussion also touched on books and how reading helps develop speech, critical thinking, and the ability to express thoughts clearly and eloquently. These are precisely the kinds of events that make the book club special. A book becomes more than just a text - it becomes an opportunity to meet, talk, listen to one another, and discover something new within ourselves. OQYRMAN has many more exciting meetings ahead with interesting and talented people, including university faculty and staff, representatives of the cultural and arts community, and well-known figures from our city.

Four employees of Kozybayev University - A.B. Zhapabayeva, K.Zh. Aliyeva, V.V. Uazirova, and A.M. Umarova - representing the Kozybayev Labs research laboratories, completed a comprehensive 10-day theoretical and practical training course on operating gas and liquid chromatographs manufactured by Agilent Technologies. The training was provided by ProLabSupport LLP in Astana. The program included theoretical instruction and hands-on training in gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Participants studied the operating principles of the equipment and learned to configure analytical parameters, perform calibration, process results using OpenLAB CDS software, and carry out instrument diagnostics and maintenance. The knowledge and practical skills acquired will help improve the quality of laboratory research and ensure the effective use of the university’s advanced analytical equipment.

On October 7, the General Assembly of the League of Academic Integrity members was held online under the chairmanship of Kozybayev University. The meeting was opened by Yerbol Issakayev, Chairman of the Executive Board – Rector of Kozybayev University and Chair of the League’s General Assembly. He emphasized the League’s significant role in fostering a culture of academic integrity, enhancing the quality of higher education, and promoting shared values within Kazakhstan’s academic community. Nurgul Nurlan, Head of the League of Academic Integrity Project Office, also delivered welcoming remarks. One of the key agenda items was the presentation of the League of Academic Integrity Roadmap for the 2026–2027 academic year. The document предусматривает a range of initiatives, including the interuniversity creative competition “The Recipe for Integrity,” an online session on research integrity, the winter school “Academic Integrity Ambassadors,” a workshop on analyzing cases of academic integrity violations, a panel discussion on artificial intelligence and ethics, and the final forum, “Academic Integrity as a Strategic Resource of the Modern University.” The participants supported the implementation of these initiatives, which aim to strengthen interuniversity cooperation, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and develop effective mechanisms for promoting the principles of academic integrity. The meeting also considered applications from higher education institutions seeking to join the League. The General Assembly served as an important platform for professional dialogue, experience sharing, and uniting the efforts of higher education institutions to promote the principles of integrity, responsibility, and transparency. Kozybayev University expresses its gratitude to all participants for their insightful presentations, constructive discussions, and commitment to the shared values of academic integrity.

В Kozybayev University прошла встреча с нашей студенткой, чемпионкой мира по боксу и двукратной бронзовой призёркой Азиатских игр Натальей Богдановой. Участниками мероприятия стали студенты Педагогического факультета — будущие учителя физической культуры и спорта, а также представители студенческого актива. Встреча прошла в формате открытого диалога: студенты смогли задать волнующие их вопросы о том, что обычно остаётся за кадром больших спортивных трансляций. Наталья поделилась личным опытом: рассказала, как справляется с волнением перед выходом на ринг, как переживает сложные моменты и поражения, где находит мотивацию для ежедневных тренировок и как успевает совмещать карьеру в профессиональном спорте с учёбой. В мероприятии также принял участие личный тренер Натальи — выпускник Kozybayev University, заслуженный тренер Республики Казахстан по боксу Дастан Кабденов. Разговор зашёл о роли наставников, семьи и команды, без поддержки которых невозможно достижение высоких результатов. Kozybayev University последовательно поддерживает талантливую молодёжь, показывающую высокие результаты в спорте, науке, учёбе, творчестве и общественной деятельности. Напомним, что после победы на чемпионате мира университет предоставил Наталье грант на обучение. В ходе нынешней встречи нашей чемпионке вручили новый грант — на обучение в магистратуре. Сегодня перед Натальей Богдановой стоят новые амбициозные задачи: в апреле 2027 года в Астане ей предстоит вступить в борьбу за олимпийскую лицензию, а главная цель спортсменки — участие в Олимпийских играх в Лос-Анджелесе 2028 года. Вся университетская семья гордится достижениями Натальи и желает ей уверенности, сил и новых ярких побед — как на ринге, так и в учёбе!

In Astana, Chairman of the Executive Board – Rector of Kozybayev University Yerbol Issakayev and Member of the Board for Academic Affairs Aigul Nurpeisova took part in the 8th meeting of the Rectors’ Club: Central Asia+ titled “Universities After AI: New Leadership, the Human Dimension, and the Future of Universities in Central Asia+.”Artificial intelligence is transforming not only academic technologies but also universities themselves - their models, missions, educational programs, research, governance, and engagement with industry.The discussions focused on two interconnected topics. The first was how the university itself is changing - its structures and programs, research activities, and interaction with industry. The second was what is important to preserve and develop in people as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of performing intellectual tasks. These include the ability to think independently, make decisions, create, and take responsibility. Universities will need not only to adapt to these changes but also to actively contribute to shaping a new educational reality.“The future of universities will be determined not only by technology but also by the decisions we make today,” the participants noted.The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Astana AI Declaration on Universities After AI, which sets out guidelines for the responsible, human-centered, and collaborative transformation of higher education.

Kozybayev University celebrated the Day of Higher Education Workers, the International Day of Older Persons and Teacher’s Day. The honoured guests of the event were those who had worked at the university for many years and made an invaluable contribution to educating and training young professionals. Before the official ceremony, the respected veterans were invited to take a tour of the university and enjoy tea together. For their many years of dedicated and exemplary service, a number of university staff members and educators received awards from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Akim of North Kazakhstan Region and the Akim of Petropavlovsk, as well as certificates of merit and letters of appreciation from the Chairman of the Executive Board – Rector of Kozybayev University. The badge “For Contribution to the Development of the Native Language” («Ана тілін дамытуға қосқан үлес үшін төсбелгісі») was presented to Myrzantay Zhakyp, Professor of the Department of Journalism and Social Sciences. The honorary diploma of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Excellence in Higher and Postgraduate Education” was awarded to Kainizhamal Iklasova, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Technologies, and Altyn Shayakhmetova, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. Vladislav Semenyuk, Senior Lecturer at the Military Department, received the honorary diploma of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Excellence in Science”. Nurbubu Tursyngali, a lecturer at the Foundation Faculty, received the honorary diploma of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Тіл жанашыры”. “Behind every achievement in higher education stands the daily work of teachers, researchers, university leaders and staff. I would like to express my special gratitude to the veterans of higher education. For many years, you have worked conscientiously, passed on your knowledge and experience, and created and strengthened university traditions. Your contribution is an important part of the achievements of M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University. Thanks to the strong foundation you laid, the university is developing confidently today. We can see the concrete results of this work. In 2026, 2,955 students enrolled at the university. The last time such a high admission figure was recorded was in 2004. The total student population has reached approximately 8,000 — for the first time since 2011,” noted Rector Yerbol Issakayev. The heart of our university community is, of course, our respected professors and educators. Teachers are role models and examples of wisdom and fairness. They bear enormous responsibility for the lives and future of our children. “Higher education has always relied, and continues to rely, on continuity between generations — on the wisdom and experience of the older generation and the energy and aspirations of younger colleagues. I wish our veterans good health and many years of life! And I wish the entire staff of North Kazakhstan University new achievements, talented students and many reasons to be proud of our university!” congratulated Galym Baytuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kozybayev University. Anatoly Bashmakov, a member of the Board of Directors and our respected elder, also spoke warmly about the educators, researchers, university leaders and staff who stood at the origins of the university’s development. The university’s talented students then presented musical performances for all participants of the event. Dear veterans and colleagues! We congratulate you on these wonderful October celebrations! We wish you success in your noble work, prosperity, and talented and determined students! May the warmth of your hearts, which you so generously share, return to you in the form of health, happiness and energy for new noble achievements!

Yernaz Yermekov, Associate Professor at the Department of Food Safety and Assistant to the Rector of Kozybayev University for Science and Innovation, has begun an international research internship at the University of Arizona (USA). From October 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, Yernaz Yermekov will work at the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry as a Research Scholar under the Bolashak programme. The project is supervised by Professor Jeffrey Pyun. The research topic is “Development of Innovative Sulfur-Based Polymers and Their Industrial Applications.” The research focuses on studying new sulfur-containing polymer materials and their potential applications in industry. This area is of particular interest to Kozybayev University. Yernaz Yermekov’s research is related to agricultural raw material processing, starch, biodegradable materials, food safety and zero-waste technologies. The expertise gained at the University of Arizona will help expand this area of research and support the development of new research projects at the university. The University of Arizona has been a strategic partner of Kozybayev University since 2022. Today, the cooperation includes joint educational programmes, academic mobility and research projects. Yernaz Yermekov’s internship is another practical outcome of this partnership and an opportunity to develop new expertise in polymer chemistry, materials science and their industrial applications.

The international C5+1 AI Conference: Digital Innovation for Economic Growth was held in Astana, bringing together leading experts, government representatives, technology companies and members of the academic community from Central Asia and the United States. As part of the key panel session “University and Research Collaboration across the Digital Ecosystem,” Gulnar Kim, Head of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies and Associate Professor at Kozybayev University, participated as a speaker. The discussion focused on developing international research partnerships, access to research resources, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, and training specialists for the digital economy. Gulnar Kim placed particular emphasis on the strategic partnership between Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona. This cooperation opens up new opportunities for Kozybayev University students and researchers, including joint research and development, academic exchanges, access to advanced educational practices and research infrastructure, as well as participation in international projects in AI and digital technologies. An important aspect of the partnership is the transition from sharing expertise to jointly developing new solutions and projects that address real-world challenges in research, education and technological development. For Kozybayev University, cooperation with the University of Arizona is an opportunity to expand its international network and create an environment in which students and researchers gain access to the global research agenda and new opportunities for academic and scientific development.

At the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum, held in Astana on October 1–3, four Kazakhstani universities signed a consortium agreement with Qazaq AI Research University (QAIRU) to launch the national AI+X model. Kozybayev University has become QAIRU’s partner in the “AI + Agriculture” track. The AI+X model is aimed at implementing the task set by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: training specialists who combine fundamental knowledge in artificial intelligence with professional expertise in a specific industry. In 2026, the model is being launched in four areas: AI + Education, AI + Mechanical Engineering, AI + Agriculture, and AI + Transport Technologies. QAIRU provides AI competencies, partner universities deliver industry-specific training, and industry partners contribute real-world production challenges. For Kozybayev University, the focus is agriculture - one of the key sectors of North Kazakhstan. The university already has expertise in agricultural science, biotechnology, genomics and digital technologies and cooperates with agricultural enterprises. “Participation in AI+X gives us an opportunity to bring together what has already been developed at the university: agricultural science, biotechnology, genomics, digital technologies and professional training. Today, it is important not only to provide students with professional knowledge, but also to teach them to understand how new technologies can enhance their profession. A new-generation agricultural specialist should understand plants, soil and animals while also being able to work with data, digital tools and artificial intelligence,” said Yerbol Issakayev, Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector of Kozybayev University. The cooperation will include the development of educational programmes, including a master’s programme in AI + Agriculture, as well as interdisciplinary research and applied projects. Students will receive fundamental AI training — from mathematics and algorithms to machine learning and deep learning - while at Kozybayev University they will develop expertise in the agricultural sector. Industry partner Skyworker, which develops unmanned aerial systems, including those for agricultural technologies, is also expected to join the initiative. This will allow education and research to be connected to practical tasks such as field monitoring, data processing, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and other digital solutions for agriculture. “We chose Kozybayev University for a reason. It has strong expertise in agriculture, experience in training specialists for the sector, a professional academic team and established connections with agricultural businesses. It is important that students can receive strong fundamental AI training while working on real challenges facing their region, without having to leave it,” emphasized Sapar Toksanov, Rector of QAIRU. AI applications in agriculture can cover a wide range of tasks - from soil and crop analysis and yield forecasting to breeding, livestock farming and the efficient use of resources. The key is to ensure that technologies do not remain in laboratories but reach actual production. This is the practical value of the new model: university knowledge, AI competencies and business needs are brought together around the challenges of a specific region. For North Kazakhstan, this creates an opportunity to train specialists directly for its economy while developing solutions that are in demand among agricultural enterprises. In the future, QAIRU plans to expand the AI+X model to other universities across Kazakhstan. This will create a national network in which each university builds on its strongest industry expertise, while AI serves as a tool for its development. For Kozybayev University, this is a new format of cooperation at the intersection of education, research and industry. For the region, it is an opportunity to retain and train modern specialists locally. For the country, it marks a shift from training individual AI specialists to developing professionals who can apply artificial intelligence where the real economy is created.