SDU University: A Vibrant Academic Environment and a Drive for Leadership

SDU University is one of Kazakhstan’s first and most resilient internationally oriented universities, which established a tradition of high-quality multilingual education from the very moment of its establishment in 1996.

Today the university brings together students and researchers from ten countries and runs 10 double degree programs with leading European and Asian universities, actively uses “Research-based learning” model with one of the latest university campuses in the region.

Arman ZHUMAZHANOV, an expert with substantial managerial experience from Nazarbayev University and with a degree in higher education management (Indiana University Bloomington, the USA) has been heading the university since this August. The rector sets ambitious goals on university’s global transformation and does not reduce the pace of its development.

Arman Zhumazhanov in his interview to the readers of “Modern Education” magazine and Bilim.expert platform talks about the strategy of strengthening the SDU positions on a global scale, how artificial intelligence changes modern universities and shares his views on future labour market and gave precious advice to applicants and their parents – how to choose a job that does not replace neural networks and extract maximum opportunities from the studies at international universities.

– Arman Alibekovich, you head the university with precious managerial experience from the top university and an academic degree of one of the key centres for training experts in the field of higher education and business in the USA. What key priorities and strategic goals have you set for strengthening SDU’s international standing?

– In 2026, SDU marks its 30th anniversary. Throughout these years the university has been developing an international model of education, and today my task is to take it to a new level of global competitiveness.

My experience at Nazarbayev University and my studies at Indiana University taught me that a strong university is built not on individual projects but on an ecosystem: strong faculty, data-driven decisions, and a culture centered on student success. That is the kind of ecosystem we are building at SDU now.

Government policy aimed at improving the quality of higher education, developing science, and integrating Kazakhstan’s universities into the international academic space plays an important role in this development. With the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, SDU continues to expand international cooperation, improve its educational programs, and strengthen its position globally.

Today our strategic priorities are built around several directions. The first is raising the quality of education by developing English-taught programs, international accreditation, and academic mobility. The second is strengthening scientific research and integrating it with industry, so that the university becomes a platform where solutions for the real economy are born. The third is expanding international partnerships with leading universities and companies worldwide. 

We pay particular attention to digital transformation. Artificial intelligence is changing not only the labor market but the university itself — how we teach, assess knowledge, and make decisions. Our goal, therefore, is for every SDU graduate, regardless of specialty, to be able to work with AI competently and responsibly. In parallel, we are developing cybersecurity, fintech, data science, and digital technologies, while maintaining strong positions in pedagogy, law, business, and the humanities.

For me, international competitiveness is not limited to positions in global rankings, although SDU is already included in QS Asia, QS Central Asia, THE Impact Rankings, and other international rankings. It is far more important to build a university where students receive a world-class education, faculty conduct in-demand research, and graduates succeed both in Kazakhstan and beyond.

– The “research-based learning” model used for international bachelor’s degree at SDU University is given in detail on Bilim.expert platform. Please, tell us how the university plans to integrate students’ scientific research projects with the needs of the real sector of the economy and of multinational companies? Are there already real examples of such cooperation?

– We are convinced that research should begin not after graduation but during one’s studies. That is why at SDU the Research-based Learning model is built around real challenges from business, government organizations, and international partners.

A good example is our cooperation with Freedom Holding Corp: our students take part in AI hackathons, solving real problems of Freedom Travel, Freedom Broker, and Arbuz.kz. The best projects continue to develop as applied research involving students, faculty, and researchers.

If I had to single out the area that most vividly reflects the university’s research philosophy, it would be the Center for Regional and Local Development (RealDev). The Center studies the socio-economic development of the regions of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, local self-government, decentralization, and the development of evidence-based solutions.

RealDev is currently implementing several significant projects. One of them is being carried out by the commission from the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and is devoted to assessing the impact of chess education on cognitive development, academic performance, and problem-solving skills among primary school pupils across the country. The second is a government-funded research project on decentralization, local governance, and regional development in Kazakhstan.

At the same time, we regard artificial intelligence as one of the most promising areas for the development of science. Recently, the university held a successful defense of a doctoral dissertation on creating a lightweight hybrid AI model for recognizing Kazakhstan’s banknotes. The study combines computer vision and machine learning methods and can be used in assistive technologies for people with visual impairments.

Another important example is the work of the Digital Finance and Crypto Assets center, which successfully completed a research project, supported by the National Bank of Kazakhstan, on countering financial fraud, financial pyramids, online fraud, and phone scams.

Today SDU’s research ecosystem unites 14 research centers working in artificial intelligence, STEM education, sustainable development, law, healthcare, and regional development. In 2023–2025 alone, the university’s researchers published 293 articles in Scopus and 202 publications in Web of Science. 

It is precisely this model – in which education, science, and the real needs of the economy work as a single system – that allows us to train specialists capable of creating solutions in demand not only in academia but also in business, the public sector, and society.

– What unique double degree programs and joint academic initiatives does SDU offer today? Which foreign partner universities does it cooperate with most closely?

– Today SDU runs 10 Double Degree programs that allow students to gain international academic experience and receive diplomas from partner universities.

Among our key partners are Birkbeck, University of London (United Kingdom), Ghent University (Belgium), Sejong University (South Korea), Hochschule Wismar and Hof University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (the Czech Republic), as well as a number of Kazakhstan’s universities.

Cooperation is especially active in mathematics, computer science, international business, law, management, and software engineering.

In addition to double degrees, students can choose from 25 Minor programs, which allow them to shape an individual educational pathway. These include Blockchain Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Science and AI, STEM Leadership, Diplomacy and International Relations, and other contemporary fields.

What matters to us is not the number of memoranda signed but the depth of partnership. Today SDU has more than 80 partner universities abroad, and our task is to ensure that behind every agreement there are real joint programs, faculty exchanges, and research.

These are exactly the kinds of projects we are launching now. Together with the New Jersey Institute of Technology (USA), we are opening joint programs with no analogues yet on the Kazakhstan’s market. And with Chinese partners we are developing programs unique to Kazakhstan – we will tell you about them very soon.

– What share of SDU’s education is multilingual, and how actively are foreign professors engaged in teaching lecture courses and supervising research?

– For us, internationality begins not only with the language of instruction but with the academic environment. Today 62% of SDU’s educational programs are delivered in English, 30% in Kazakh, and 8% in Russian, which allows students to study in a truly multilingual environment.

Over the past five years, the university has significantly strengthened its academic capacity. The total number of staff has grown from 541 to 688, and the core of the team consists of faculty and researchers: SDU now employs 441 academic staff members, about 64% of all personnel.

We pay particular attention to the quality of our faculty. Over five years, the number of faculty members with PhD has grown by more than 50% – from 69 to 105 – and the number of staff who earned their degrees at foreign universities has risen to 95.

This means that more and more of our faculty bring international academic experience and modern research approaches into the learning process.

We regularly invite foreign professors to give lectures, conduct joint research, and supervise master’s and doctoral theses. In addition, the international academic environment is shaped by double degree programs, academic mobility, joint research projects, and international conferences hosted at SDU.

Another distinctive feature of the university is its relatively young and dynamic academic team. The average age of faculty is currently 37, which makes it possible to combine international experience, research activity, and a readiness to quickly adopt modern educational technologies.

It is important to us that students gain not just knowledge in English but study in an environment where international standards become a natural part of university life.

– The SDU campus in Kaskelen is known for its well-developed infrastructure. The university enrolls students from different countries and regions with different cultural backgrounds. How is the ecosystem organized to ensure their comfort and safety? And what makes it possible to bring such a diverse community together and create that unique “SDU atmosphere”?

– Surely, one of SDU’s strengths is its campus. It is a full-fledged educational ecosystem covering 15 hectares, where almost 70,000 square meters bring together academic buildings, modern laboratories, dormitories, a library, sports facilities, and spaces for student life.

We have students from Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Europe, Africa, and other regions of the world. That is why it is important for us to create an environment where everyone feels part of a single community.

SDU Life plays a major role – a sports and cultural center of 4,370 sq. m. that brings together student clubs, student government, volunteer projects, cultural events, and sports teams. It houses coworking spaces, spaces for club activities, rest and dining areas, as well as two gyms and outdoor courts for tennis, basketball, football, and volleyball. It is here that the very SDU atmosphere takes shape, as students of different majors and cultures interact with one another every day.

Another center of attraction is the university library, with an area of 2,012 sq. m. and 624 seats. Its collection comprises more than 289,000 publications in Kazakh, Russian, and foreign languages. Students have access to leading international research databases – Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and HeinOnline – and SDU’s institutional repository contains more than 2,200 research publications and dissertations, making research part of everyday academic life.

We also pay special attention to inclusivity and safety. The campus is equipped with ramps, elevators, specialized restrooms, and adapted workstations in the library so that every student feels comfortable regardless of their individual needs.

In my view, the SDU atmosphere arises from a combination of academic rigor, a rich student life, and a culture of mutual respect. This is what allows us to unite people with different cultural experiences into one strong university community.

– What grant and scholarship programs, in-house tuition discounts, and other forms of support are available to talented international and Kazakhstan’s students, including those planning study-abroad semesters at partner universities?

– Supporting talented students is one of our key priorities. We strive to make high-quality international education accessible to both Kazakhstan’s and international applicants.

Most of our students study on state grants, but the university also offers its own support mechanisms.

Among them is SPT, one of the largest university olympiads in Kazakhstan, which for 13 years in a row has helped talented applicants gain an opportunity to study at SDU. In the latest season, 12,451 people took part.

For international applicants, there is the ISPT international olympiad. As part of developing international recruitment, the university conducts career-guidance outreach not only in Kazakhstan but also abroad. In recent years we have worked with applicants from China, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania, and 650 international applicants took part in the ISPT olympiad.

Within the country, too, we work systematically with prospective students. Over the past academic year, career-guidance events were held in 17 cities of Kazakhstan, and fairs in Astana, Shymkent, Aktobe, Aktau, and Taraz allowed us to meet more than 10,000 applicants. 3,887 schoolchildren from 170 educational organizations visited the university as part of the Campus Tour program, and open days attracted almost 4,000 participants.

During their studies, students gain access to additional development opportunities, including free Coursera Plus licenses and academic mobility and exchange programs with partner universities abroad. For participants in international programs, funding terms depend on the specific university and exchange format: in some cases, expenses are covered by the host side or by international grant programs, and the university supports students at every stage of preparation.

Our goal is for talented young people, regardless of their country of residence, to be able to access SDU’s international opportunities and realize their potential in a global academic environment.

– Are international internships mandatory, and how are costs covered for placements at foreign companies or universities?

– International experience is an important part of SDU students’ preparation. We create opportunities both for studies at partner universities abroad and for placements in an international professional environment, because we believe that precisely this combination of academic knowledge and practical experience shapes competitive specialists.

It is important to understand that these are two different formats. Academic mobility means studying at a partner university via an exchange program, completing coursework and earning academic credits. An internship, by contrast, is work on real professional tasks at a company or organization, where the student gains practical experience in their field.

At SDU, internships are mandatory for master’s and doctoral students. If studies are funded by a state educational grant, the state finances the internship. For doctoral students, a mandatory element of training is a research internship abroad with a foreign scientific adviser, for which 1.5 million tenge is allocated for travel, accommodation, and per diem.

For bachelor’s students, one of the most successful formats has been the dual education programs EDU Career and Beta Career. They make it possible to combine studies with work in one’s field: by performing real tasks at companies and educational organizations, students simultaneously earn part of their academic credits.

The experience of the EDU Career program is particularly telling. Students of the School of Education and Humanities complete teaching practice not only in Kazakhstan but also in Ghana, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. A mixed funding model applies here: the student covers part of the costs, such as airfare and personal expenses, while the host side provides accommodation, health insurance, and scholarship support.

As for academic mobility, SDU currently cooperates with more than 80 partner universities abroad and sends more than 50 students overseas each year. Funding follows various models: some students participate at their own expense, while the best receive support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education as well as from international programs such as Erasmus+, DAAD, the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), and others.

In addition, the university holds a job fair every year, where Kazakhstan’s and international employers offer senior students internship opportunities. Payment terms and expense compensation are determined by each company individually, which allows students to choose the most suitable options for professional development.

– How in demand are SDU graduates among major domestic and international companies? What employment statistics are recorded in the first year after graduation?

– Graduate employability is one of the main indicators of university’s effectiveness, and it is by this criterion that we see that the education model we have chosen works.

Today SDU’s graduate employment rate reaches 95%, and according to the ranking by the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, employment rates for a number of educational programs range from 93% to 100%.

Our graduates are building successful careers in various fields – IT, finance, business, public administration, education, and others. They work at leading Kazakhstan’s and international companies, including Halyk Bank, Kaspi.kz, Freedom Holding Corp, Deloitte, KPMG, EY, PwC, Air Astana, and other organizations.

This result is largely due to the fact that we build education in close connection with the labor market. It is important to us that students do not limit themselves to theoretical knowledge but gain practical experience during their studies, take part in real projects, and understand the requirements of the modern professional environment.

That is why SDU pays great attention to career initiatives, internships, engagement with employers, and practice-oriented learning. This allows students to build professional competencies before receiving their diploma and significantly eases their transition from university to professional life.

At the same time, we measure a graduate’s success not only by the mere fact of employment. It is important to us that an SDU education provides a foundation for further professional growth, the development of one’s own career, and advancement to leadership positions.

Ultimately, the result of our work is graduates who are in demand in the labor market, able to adapt to change, and who become leaders in their professional fields.

– What would you recommend to prospective students of 2027 and their parents so that they prepare as effectively as possible for admission to SDU and make full use of everything an international university offers?

– I would start with simple arithmetic: an applicant of 2027 will enter the labor market in 2031. Artificial intelligence is changing professions faster than ever before, and today no one can say for certain which specialties will be the most in demand in five years. So, my main advice to applicants and their parents is to choose not only a specialty but an environment that will teach them to think critically, keep learning, work in an international team, and solve problems for which there are no ready-made answers yet.

To parents I would say:

you no longer have to go abroad to get an international education. 

At SDU, students study in English together with peers from different countries, can earn a second diploma from a European or Asian university, and work on real company projects while still studying. That is why I would not advise choosing a profession for your child based on rankings of the most prestigious specialties of 2026. It is far more important to support their curiosity, independence, and desire to try new things.

To international applicants I would specifically stress that Kazakhstan is the crossroads of China, Russia, Europe, and Central Asia. Young people come to us from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China, Mongolia, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Jamaica, Uruguay, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Sweden, Indonesia, and Russia. To study here is to see from the inside one of the world’s most dynamic regions, where new economic and transport links of Eurasia are being formed. This is an advantage that can become part of your professional capital for an entire career.

Thirty years ago, SDU was created as a university open to the world. Today our task is to make the world open to our graduates.

And to future students I would advise coming to the university not only with good scores but with a question that genuinely interests them. At SDU, learning is not confined to the classroom: students take part in research, work on real projects, try their hand at hackathons, complete internships, and get opportunities for international exchange.

You can start preparing for admission right now: take part in the SPT olympiad (international applicants, in ISPT), which gives you a chance to apply for a university grant; prepare for the IELTS in advance or, if your English level is not yet sufficient, complete the Foundation Program. And I would definitely recommend visiting the Kaskelen campus and coming to a Campus Tour or an Open Day. It is better to see a university once and feel its atmosphere than to hear about it many times.

And most importantly: do not try to guess which profession will be the most prestigious in five years. Choose an education that will help you adapt to change, find opportunities on your own, and create something new.

In 2031, an employer will care not only about which university a young professional graduated from but also about what they can do, what tasks they can solve, and what contribution they can make. We are building SDU precisely so that each of our graduates has a confident answer to the question: “What have you already done?”

ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR SDU

Double Degree Programs

SDU offers 10 double degree programs jointly with leading universities around the world:

– Birkbeck, University of London;

– Sejong University;

– Ghent University;

– Hochschule Wismar, University of Applied Sciences: Technology, Business and Design;

– University of Chemistry and Technology Prague;

– Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University;

– Hof University of Applied Sciences;

– Karaganda Buketov University.

BSc Computer Science with Hof University of Applied Sciences is at the stage of inclusion in the register of educational programs. 

Languages of Instruction

English (62%), Kazakh (30%), Russian (8%).

Duration of Study

Bachelor’s – 4 years. 

Master’s – 1–2 years.

Doctoral studies – 3 years.

Admission Requirements

English proficiency at the B1 (Intermediate) level or an IELTS certificate. For applicants who do not have the required level of English or an IELTS certificate, language preparation is provided at the Language School.

Tuition Fees and Grant Opportunities

Tuition fees range from 1,290,000 to 2,490,000 tenge per year, depending on the educational program.

Applicants may also apply for internal educational grants: SPT for citizens of Kazakhstan and ISPT for international applicants.

Admission Preparation

SDU provides language and academic preparation for applicants. The SDU Extension Center offers language courses, including English and IELTS preparation.

For more comprehensive preparation, there is also a Foundation Program designed to develop English and academic skills before entering a bachelor’s program.

CONTACTS

Phone: +7 (727) 307 95 65, (702) 000 11 33

Email: info@sdu.edu.kz

Official website: sdu.edu.kz

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ABSTRACT

For SDU University’s 30th anniversary, Rector Arman Zhumazhanov takes stock of the university’s development as a major international hub. The interview focuses on double degree programs, the integration of student research into the real sector of the economy and the financial sector, digital transformation with an emphasis on AI, and the conditions that enable 95% of SDU graduates to find a job within their first year.