During his visit to the North Kazakhstan Region, the Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Maulen Ashimbayev, met with the region’s youth to discuss the opportunities opened by the new Constitution. Students of Kozybayev University took part in the meeting. “The new Constitution provides young people with a space of opportunities. It is based on the principles of justice, the rule of law, and equal opportunities, under which every young person will be able to realize themselves through knowledge, hard work, and initiative. The draft of the Basic Law enshrines the priorities of education, science, culture, and innovation, as well as guarantees of freedom of creativity and protection of intellectual property. This means that supporting talented, educated, and proactive youth becomes a strategic priority for the country’s development. At the same time, it is important that young people deeply understand their own responsibility, realize the scale of the current historical changes, and actively participate in the public life of the country,” noted Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev. During the meeting, a second-year student of Kozybayev University and President of the Student Government, Asanali Zhanatuly, shared his opinion on the draft of the new Constitution. According to him, the life of modern youth is closely connected with social networks. Therefore, special attention in the draft Constitution is paid to the protection of citizens’ personal data, which is an important and timely step. He also noted that the constitutional amendments identify human capital, education, science, and innovation as priority areas for the country’s development. In his opinion, educated and responsible youth can make a key contribution to the sustainable development of the country. Another student, Dariga Smailova, head of the regional branch of the youth organization Assembly Zhastary in the North Kazakhstan Region, also shared her view on the draft Constitution: “For young people, it is especially important that the document emphasizes the role of an active and responsible citizen. The development of the country is impossible without respect for the law, public order, and the personal responsibility of each individual,” she said. Dariga Smailova also emphasized that the younger generation is increasingly participating in social and environmental initiatives aimed at fostering a culture of careful and responsible attitude toward nature. In her opinion, such values as responsibility, unity, and care for the future of the country fully resonate with the principles set out in the draft of the new Constitution.

For a week, classes at our university were conducted by Robin Leterrier, PhD candidate and researcher at the French Institute of Geopolitics of Paris VIII University (Saint-Denis, France). The topic of his research is “Geopolitics of Agrarian Transformations in the Northern Regions of Kazakhstan: Economic, Political and Symbolic Aspects.” Therefore, in addition to teaching practical French to students of the Department of Germanic and Romance Philology, Robin Leterrier also delivered lectures to future geographers. He has extensive professional experience in various countries, including France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, and others. His research interests include food systems, strategies in the agro-industrial complex, geopolitical drivers of technological regional modernization, transformations in rural areas, the influence of discourses on food sovereignty, and cultural geography. During a meeting with the leadership of Kozybayev University, possible areas for further cooperation were discussed. “We consistently develop the internationalization of our university. We already have strong collaboration with many foreign universities. We hope to continue our partnership with you as well. For our students, learning languages with native speakers is excellent practice. We will continue working in this direction in the future,” said Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector Yerbol Issakayev. Currently, about 140 students at the university study French within the academic program “Two Foreign Languages.”

Today, the university hosted the opening of new student spaces in the 1,200-bed dormitory. Colleagues from the University of Arizona, university faculty members, and students took part in the ceremony. The facilities were opened with the support of North Kazakhstan entrepreneur Damir Erik. A co-working center designed in a national style has become an interesting space for creativity and study. Here students play chess, read books, do their homework, and socialize. In addition, they now have the opportunity to relax and play their favorite video games in a new PlayStation room. Students will also be able to acquire useful skills in cutting, sewing, and working with textile prints in a sewing workshop and two classrooms: one for fabric sublimation printing and another for fashion design. Training for students is free of charge. “We constantly strive to improve our campus for students. Today we opened several atmospheric spaces so that students can live here comfortably and feel at home. After all, youth is our future. On March 15, together with the whole country, we will take part in the referendum on constitutional reform. The adoption of the updated Constitution is not just a formal change to the fundamental law but an important strategic step that sets the direction for the state’s development for many years ahead. These transformations are especially significant for young people,” noted Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector Yerbol Issakayev. A cozy and aromatic place for warm meetings and delicious lunches has become the new student coffee shop, which has already gained popularity among dormitory residents. “Students come here to play musical instruments, chess, and board games. We work until 11 p.m., and there are always people here. We ourselves get a boost of energy and positivity from the youth. Students have many initiatives and ideas. Just yesterday they approached us with a proposal to hold a musical guitar battle. We supported the idea and said we would help and provide prizes for the winners. Recently, we also held a Sony PlayStation FIFA tournament. We want to make this place a center of attraction that ensures meaningful leisure for students,” shared Damir Erik. In addition to the obvious benefits for students, the new spaces have also created 11 jobs. Today, with the support of our partners - Bank CenterCredit - we also opened a renovated gym in the swimming pool complex. Our partners provided sponsorship funds for the renovation of the premises, the purchase of 15 fitness machines, and additional sports equipment. Classes for students and training sessions for city residents will be held here. In general, in addition to swimming and aqua aerobics, the swimming pool also offers subscriptions and one-time classes in fitness, therapeutic exercise, yoga, jumping fitness, health gymnastics, and cross-fit. Students also attend various sports sections. We believe in our North Kazakhstan athletes who defend the honor of the country, the region, and the university. Now they can train in our gym as well. One of those who can confidently be called the “pride of the country” is the famous world boxing champion Natalia Bogdanova. It was a great honor for us to present Natalia with a grant to study at Kozybayev University. Last year alone, we awarded 7 grants to our students who achieved significant results on the international stage. Renowned coach of the North Kazakhstan polyathlon team, senior lecturer, active athlete, and a true role model for our students, Alexander Naumov thanked the university management for supporting student sports: “Over the past years, more than 30 masters of sport have been trained at the university in the presidential all-around competition alone, including 3 masters of sport of international class and 1 world champion. We see how our university is developing today. Our sports infrastructure is growing, and I am confident that we will train dozens more masters of sport here!” We thank all our partners for their cooperation and assistance in opening new spaces for students. It is for them that we work and improve our campus every day.

From early morning today, a festive atmosphere filled the university! Right in the foyers of the buildings, activists from student organizations greeted all women and girls with applause, warm congratulations, and small gifts. In the first academic building, a bright photo zone, musical accompaniment, and a traditional concert program dedicated to International Women’s Day were organized. No one was left without compliments and a good mood! The wonderful women of the university were also congratulated by Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector Yerbol Issakayev. He noted that women are the heart and soul of our university: “You are the heart and soul of our university. Your knowledge, dedication, hard work, incredible patience, and wisdom make our work not only effective but also meaningful. You know how to find solutions in the most difficult situations, support others in challenging moments, inspire by your example, and bring joy to those around you. Your energy, your smiles, and your warmth create the special atmosphere that makes our team a true family.” Tradit“For Contribution to the Development of the Native Language” of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan was awarded to Mendykız Esmatova, Professor of the Department of Kazakh Language and Literature, and Gul-gul Tulesheva, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Journalism and Social Sciences. In addition, 11 people received certificates and letters of appreciation from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Faculty members, employees, and students were also awarded letters of appreciation and certificates from the Chairman of the Executive Board – Rector. Special awards were also presented to our guests and partners - the wonderful representatives of the delegation from the University of Arizona. We were delighted to celebrate this special day together with them! On this day, the concert performances were filled with warmth, attention, and admiration, while smiles brightened the entire auditorium. Dear women! May spring bring you happiness, may your dreams come true, and may love and harmony always surround you. Happy March 8!

Kozybayev University hosted vibrant and engaging Open House Days for school students from Petropavlovsk. Over the course of two days, more than 730 students from grades 10–11 visited our university. Prospective applicants had the opportunity to experience the atmosphere of student life, learn about educational programs, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Guests learned about academic mobility programs, studying with leading professors from Kazakhstan and abroad, as well as the opportunity to obtain a dual degree from Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona. Today, the university is enrolling students in five dual-degree educational programs in the following fields: biotechnology, IT, inclusion in education, business, and management. Representatives of the University of Arizona also took part in the career guidance meeting and spoke to the students about the prospects of studying in these programs. Throughout the day, faculties and departments, student organizations, and creative associations of the university held their presentations. School students asked many questions - they were interested in passing scores, grants, the vibrant extracurricular student life, and accommodation conditions in the dormitories. For many, this introduction became the first step toward their future profession: those who had already made their choice left their contact details at the Admissions and Recruitment Office. We are happy to see the excitement in students’ eyes when they discover new opportunities and realize that their future may begin right here. Kozybayev University is a place where ideas turn into knowledge and dreams become reality. Perhaps these two days became the beginning of a long and inspiring journey for someone.

Congratulations on the inclusion of the peer-reviewed scientific journal “Bulletin of Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University” in the List of Scientific Publications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This has become a significant scientific achievement for the university. Our journal has been included in the List of scientific publications of the third level (List 3) recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education for publishing the main results of scientific research in the field of Information and Communication Technologies. This recognition confirms the high scientific level of the journal’s publications and highlights the contribution of authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial board to the development of the Bulletin of M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University. Inclusion in the List opens additional opportunities for scientists and researchers to present and disseminate the results of their studies in the field of information and communication technologies within the scientific community of Kazakhstan and abroad. Systematic work will continue in all areas of the journal to further improve the quality of scientific publications and expand international academic communication with the involvement of researchers from Turkey, Russia, Malaysia, Canada, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and the United States. We express our gratitude to the university leadership, the staff of the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Alexander Valentinovich Demyanenko, the Executive Secretary for the field Valentina Petrovna Kulikova, the journal’s editorial team, the publishing and printing department, as well as all authors, reviewers, and partners for their trust and fruitful cooperation.

The 35th Ambassadors’ Ball was held in Phoenix (USA), where Kazakhstan was represented as the guest of honor. The annual diplomatic charity ball brings together representatives of the diplomatic corps, business community, academia, and public organizations. The event is aimed at strengthening international ties as well as supporting educational and cultural initiatives. This year, the platform gained special significance in the context of the development of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the University of Arizona. Participation in the event confirmed the high level and steady progress of bilateral cooperation in higher education and science. The event was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States, Magzhan Ilyassov. In his speech, he emphasized the special role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening interstate relations, noting that humanitarian and educational cooperation forms a solid foundation for long-term and mutually beneficial partnership. President of the University of Arizona Suresh Garimella publicly confirmed the high status of the joint project being implemented in Kazakhstan. According to him, the university’s micro-campus in Petropavlovsk has become not only a successful educational initiative but also an example of deep international integration. He noted that the university is proud to be the first foreign institution with which Kazakhstan has built a strategic partnership of this scale, and that today this cooperation has reached the level of mature, multidisciplinary collaboration. Behind these achievements stands systematic work aimed at establishing a modern academic and research center in the northern region of Kazakhstan. Currently, 360 students are studying under dual-degree programs. The campus attracts not only Kazakhstani youth but also students from the United States, China, Mongolia, and Russia. In the near future, the launch of a new educational program in Business Administration is planned, as well as the graduation of the first cohort of students, which will mark an important milestone in the development of the project. The partnership has gone beyond academic exchange and has become a platform for large-scale scientific research. Joint projects cover strategically important areas such as agriculture and water resource management, genomics and breeding, and deep processing of raw materials with the creation of high value-added products. One notable example is the joint project on sulfur polymerization. In addition, the cooperation includes research in the fields of inclusive education, sustainable tourism, and ecology. An important milestone was the training of the first 29 Kazakhstani students at the university’s main campus in Tucson (USA) within the framework of dual-degree programs. Faculty members also undergo professional development in the United States through international programs such as the Bolashak scholarship and the Fulbright Program, which contributes to strengthening academic ties and the transfer of advanced educational practices. The micro-campus project in Petropavlovsk is a clear example of the consistent implementation of the instructions of the Head of State on the internationalization of higher education. It demonstrates how the strategic course toward international integration is being transformed into practical results—from training a new generation of specialists to launching joint scientific developments capable of significantly influencing the country’s economic and technological development.

A delegation from the University of Arizona - the strategic partner of Kozybayev University - has arrived at the university for a working visit. The delegation includes Ricky Salazar, Senior Director of Educational Partnerships; Minh Zhou, Assistant Director of Educational Partnerships; and Sarah Young, Lecturer at the College of Information Science. The cooperation between the two universities has been ongoing for three years and has reached a qualitatively new level. As part of the implementation of the Head of State’s поручение (instruction), the first dual-degree programs in the country were launched. The project is being implemented with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and local executive authorities. Currently, five dual-degree and eleven joint educational programs are operating between the universities. More than 1,200 students from various regions of Kazakhstan and abroad are enrolled in these programs. During the current visit, the parties are discussing further expansion of academic cooperation, the launch of new research initiatives, the development of faculty mobility, and new opportunities for students. Over two weeks of work in Petropavlovsk, representatives of the University of Arizona will: review the university’s laboratory facilities and research potential to identify promising areas for joint research; refine the mechanisms for implementing the dual-degree program in Business and Management; conduct classes for students on cultural studies, ethics in the digital society, Data Science technologies, communication, discourse, and new media; deliver a lecture for faculty members on cybersecurity issues in higher education; discuss the development of research internships, including under the Bolashak program; participate in an open meeting at the SKO Hub focused on digital responsibility, cybersecurity, and ethics in educational technologies; visit districts of the North Kazakhstan Region together with the university’s career guidance specialists and meet with school students as part of Open Days; give interviews to regional media outlets about the prospects for further development of the partnership. The development of cooperation with the University of Arizona contributes to improving the quality of specialist training, strengthening research capacity, and fostering a modern, internationally oriented educational environment in the North Kazakhstan Region.

Kozybayev University and Soilephone have signed a cooperation agreement. As part of this partnership, the university will develop an AI-based legal consultant for convicted individuals. The goal of the project is to ensure equal, secure, and controlled access to up-to-date legal information for inmates in correctional institutions. Previously, Soilephone specialists designed and implemented a secure communication platform - video payphones. The ban on mobile devices in the penitentiary system increases social isolation. Video payphones are intended to address this issue by reducing tension and safeguarding inmates’ rights. Thanks to the joint development with Kozybayev University, convicted individuals will also gain additional access - via video payphones - to legal information and explanations of legislative norms in an adapted and accessible format. This initiative is expected to reduce legal illiteracy and minimize conflict situations related to misunderstanding of rights and responsibilities. The AI Consultant will: 1. Provide reference information on: criminal law; penal enforcement law; civil law; administrative law. It will also offer application templates (without providing legal representation). 2. Explain procedures related to: filing complaints and petitions; parole; transfer to different detention conditions; obtaining visits and receiving parcels. “This is a socially significant project, which is why it attracted our interest. I hope it will help people. This year, we have submitted around seven projects for commercialization, including joint initiatives with regional enterprises. They have realized that with our support, they can enhance their production capacity and implement scientific ideas,” said Chairman of the Executive Board – Rector Yerbol Issakayev. During the project implementation, a regulatory framework analysis will be conducted, the system architecture will be designed, an MVP will be developed, and a pilot project will be launched in one of the correctional institutions.