Twenty-nine students enrolled in double-degree programs jointly offered with the University of Arizona have successfully completed a semester of study in the United States and returned home.
Today, they met with the university administration, students, and faculty members, as well as city school students and employers. The students shared their impressions of studying in America, spoke about their daily routine on campus, the challenges they faced, and the opportunities that studying in an international environment opened up for them.
“The University of Arizona is ranked among the top 50 universities in the United States and 102nd in the world. The campus itself is a vast area that makes up a significant part of the city of Tucson. We spent 50 hours traveling and covered 18,500 kilometers. It was an unforgettable journey that left us with many positive emotions and enriched us with new knowledge. We not only studied and conducted research, but also relaxed and traveled,” shared fourth-year student Amir Agzamov.
Kozybayev University became the first university in Kazakhstan to begin implementing the directive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2022 to open branches of leading foreign universities in the country.
Over this time, the collaboration project with the University of Arizona has proven its effectiveness. Today, around 1,200 students from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as from the USA, Russia, China, and other countries, are studying in 5 double-degree and 11 joint educational programs. Double-degree students study entirely in English on grants (for Kazakhstani students). One of the requirements is a semester spent at the main campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson. All expenses related to the educational process were covered by Kozybayev University. The university paid for tuition, accommodation in on-campus dormitories, medical insurance, round-trip airfare, as well as visa and consular fees. This financial support allowed students to fully focus on their studies, research and project activities, and to successfully adapt to the academic and cultural environment. The students were divided into two groups depending on their academic program: 20 students studied in the IT field (“Information Systems in Management”), while the others pursued the “Biotechnology” program.
Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector Yerbol Issakaev congratulated the students on the successful completion of the semester:
“Studying at the main campus of the University of Arizona is, in essence, a test of maturity—academic, personal, and organizational. And our first students passed this test with distinction. They found themselves in a different academic environment, with a faster pace, greater independence, higher standards of academic integrity, and a stronger emphasis on communication and teamwork. They saw firsthand how modern university services are organized, how research infrastructure functions, and how professional culture is formed. They returned with experience that provides a real advantage both in their studies and in their future careers. Study Arizona is not ‘just a trip.’ It is the next level of quality requirements in education. Dear students, you are living proof that our programs deliver real international experience and real competencies. Your example sets a new standard for the university: to study at the level of global standards, expand horizons, and return stronger—to strengthen the university, the region, and the country.”
Twenty-nine students enrolled in double-degree programs jointly offered with the University of Arizona have successfully completed a semester of study in the United States and returned home.
Today, they met with the university administration, students, and faculty members, as well as city school students and employers. The students shared their impressions of studying in America, spoke about their daily routine on campus, the challenges they faced, and the opportunities that studying in an international environment opened up for them.
“The University of Arizona is ranked among the top 50 universities in the United States and 102nd in the world. The campus itself is a vast area that makes up a significant part of the city of Tucson. We spent 50 hours traveling and covered 18,500 kilometers. It was an unforgettable journey that left us with many positive emotions and enriched us with new knowledge. We not only studied and conducted research, but also relaxed and traveled,” shared fourth-year student Amir Agzamov.
Kozybayev University became the first university in Kazakhstan to begin implementing the directive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2022 to open branches of leading foreign universities in the country.
Over this time, the collaboration project with the University of Arizona has proven its effectiveness. Today, around 1,200 students from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as from the USA, Russia, China, and other countries, are studying in 5 double-degree and 11 joint educational programs. Double-degree students study entirely in English on grants (for Kazakhstani students). One of the requirements is a semester spent at the main campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson. All expenses related to the educational process were covered by Kozybayev University. The university paid for tuition, accommodation in on-campus dormitories, medical insurance, round-trip airfare, as well as visa and consular fees. This financial support allowed students to fully focus on their studies, research and project activities, and to successfully adapt to the academic and cultural environment. The students were divided into two groups depending on their academic program: 20 students studied in the IT field (“Information Systems in Management”), while the others pursued the “Biotechnology” program.
Chairman of the Board – Rector Yerbol Isakaev congratulated the students on the successful completion of the semester:
“Studying at the main campus of the University of Arizona is, in essence, a test of maturity—academic, personal, and organizational. And our first students passed this test with distinction. They found themselves in a different academic environment, with a faster pace, greater independence, higher standards of academic integrity, and a stronger emphasis on communication and teamwork. They saw firsthand how modern university services are organized, how research infrastructure functions, and how professional culture is formed. They returned with experience that provides a real advantage both in their studies and in their future careers. Study Arizona is not ‘just a trip.’ It is the next level of quality requirements in education. Dear students, you are living proof that our programs deliver real international experience and real competencies. Your example sets a new standard for the university: to study at the level of global standards, expand horizons, and return stronger—to strengthen the university, the region, and the country.”
