On April 27, 2025, a strategic meeting dedicated to educational and scientific cooperation between universities of the United Kingdom and Kazakhstan took place at the Rixos Borovoe Hotel. The meeting was held within the framework of the project for the development of a dual degree educational program in “Cybersecurity.” The event was organized by Astana IT University with the support of key partners from industry and academia.
Event Program
The meeting began with a ceremonial welcome. The project leader, Leila Salykova, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of developing partnership ties between universities, industry, and research centers. Welcome speeches were also delivered by:
– Saule Amanzholova – Director of the Department of Intelligent Systems and Cybersecurity at Astana IT University;
– Gerald Feldman – Associate Professor and Academic Lead for Transnational Education at the College of Computing, Birmingham City University (CEBE);
– Leila Rzayeva – Director of the CyberTech Research Center;
– Balzhan Azibek – Senior Lecturer and Technical Secretary of the Academic Committee at Astana IT University.
The warm welcome and professional atmosphere laid a solid foundation for further discussions aimed at developing joint educational and scientific initiatives.
Future Cooperation Directions
The participants were presented with the key areas for future cooperation:
– Development of Academic Programs: Modern approaches to education in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence were discussed, taking into account market needs and technology development trends.
– Concept of Dual Degree Programs: Effective mechanisms for the implementation of joint programs with partner universities were proposed, enabling students to obtain diplomas from two universities simultaneously.
– Training and Internship Formats: Models for integrating “2+1” and “1+2” educational tracks, conducting joint courses, academic exchanges, and organizing international internships were reviewed.
Scientific Cooperation
Special attention during the meeting was given to scientific cooperation issues:
– Participation in Grant Projects: Prospects for submitting joint applications for national and international grants were discussed.
– Development of Industrial Master’s and PhD Programs: Initiatives for creating educational pathways focused on the real needs of the industry were proposed.
– Establishment of Joint Laboratories and Research Centers: Plans for setting up infrastructure for conducting joint research and innovation developments were outlined.
Following the discussion, an action plan with clear deadlines, control points, and distribution of responsibilities among project participants was agreed upon.
Participants
The meeting was attended by:
– Project and scientific department heads from Astana IT University and Birmingham City University;
– Representatives of the Department of Intelligent Systems and Cybersecurity of Astana IT University: Saule Amanzholova, Laura Aldasheva, Samat Mukhanov, and Balzhan Azibek;
– Representatives of leading IT and cybersecurity companies: JSC “State Technical Service,” Acronis, ADT Security, MSSP.Global, TSARKA, and the international project team Project SEKAI (China, Norway, USA).
The broad participation of academic and industry experts ensured a comprehensive discussion of the prospects for educational and scientific cooperation.
Conclusion of the Meeting
After the business part of the event, participants went on a tour of Borovoe, after which the delegation returned to Astana.
Astana IT University sincerely thanks all participants for their active involvement, constructive dialogue, and commitment to developing joint initiatives. The university reaffirms its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in education and science.
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