FROM NORTH KAZAKHSTAN TO ARIZONA: STRENGTHENING SCIENTIFIC TIES BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek and the Kozybayev University team visited the University of Arizona, USA. The official visit became part of the Ministry's strategic course aimed at expanding international cooperation, integrating domestic higher education into the global academic space and promoting scientific initiatives that meet the priorities of our country's sustainable development.

Cooperation between Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona started in 2022, when, on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the first foreign branch of the American University was opened at the M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University. This step became an important stage for the national higher education system and opened up new horizons for integration into the international academic community.

The delegation was attended by representatives of Kozybayev University, headed by Chairman of the Board – Rector Yerbol Isakayev, as well as Deputy Chairman of the Center for International Programs JSC Abai Rakhmet. The main vector of the visit was focused on the development of double degree programs, the transfer of educational and research technologies, as well as the establishment of new formats for academic exchange and scientific internships.

The program began with an official meeting and working consultations with the leadership of the University of Arizona. The delegation was met by Jenny Lee, Vice President for International Relations, Ricky Salazar, Senior Director for Central and South Asian Affairs, and leading university professors.

Special attention was paid to the discussion of joint projects of the Center for Agro—Competence at Kozybayev University, an interdisciplinary platform combining genomic research in crop production, animal husbandry, water resources management and modern agricultural technologies. The Center works at the intersection of science, education and practice, and is also focused on the implementation of projects for the breeding of resistant wheat varieties, the conservation of biodiversity, the transfer of advanced technologies and the training of a new generation of agricultural researchers. The key partners of the Center are the Arizona Institute of Genomics (AGI) and KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia). It is planned to send 2-3 biotechnological students studying under the dual degree program for a short-term internship at KAUST for a period of two months for in-depth training in the areas of genomic breeding and bioinformatics.

The central event of the visit was the signing ceremony of a bilateral cooperation agreement between Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona, aimed at expanding joint educational programs in the fields of medicine and business. The solemn signing took place with the participation of Sayasat Nurbek and became a confirmation of the high level of bilateral cooperation.

The Minister was also presented with four reports on the development of research centers in the priority areas of Kozybayev University: water resources management, veterinary medicine, agricultural consortium of regions and sustainable agrobiotechnology.

Special attention was paid to the scientific presentation of the project on the development and application of sulfur polymers, which was conducted by an internationally recognized scientist, Professor Jeffrey Pyun, together with his research group. The delegates were shown an innovative technology for producing highly efficient materials based on recycled sulfur, a byproduct of the petrochemical and mining industries. Kazakhstan has significant opportunities to implement similar initiatives, given the presence of a developed industrial base and large volumes of sulfur-containing waste. The use of these resources within the framework of environmentally friendly technologies opens up prospects for the creation of sustainable industries that fully meet the objectives of the national program "Taza Kazakhstan".

The visit also included an introduction to the scientific infrastructure of the University of Arizona, including the Institute of Genomics and the Agricultural Research Center. Specific areas of cooperation and training of Kazakhstani specialists through training, scientific internships and advanced training were discussed.