One of the most important events – the annual Strategic Partners’ Meeting of Nazarbayev University (hereinafter - NU) took place on June 4-5, 2018.

The meeting was attended by strategic partner universities’ representatives from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), Fuqua Business School, Duke University (USA), University of Pittsburgh (USA), University of Cambridge (United Kingdom), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (Singapore), University of Pennsylvania (USA), University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (USA), the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (USA), and Colorado School of Mines (USA).

The topic of the meeting was dictated by the challenges and opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: “Reinventing the University of the 21st Century: “Challenges and Responses to the Technological Disruptions. Implications for our Partnership: the Way Forward”.

The meeting was opened by the opening speech of Shigeo Katsu, President of the Nazarbayev University, in which he greeted the partners of the university, and expressed gratitude for the long-term fruitful cooperation and stressed the need for joint work in leveling up partnership with NU and further building of an international world-class research university that will become a point of attraction in Eurasia.

The first day of Partners’ Meeting covered such topics as: Future Graduates: “How much Industry 4.0 will affect the classical education system, what will be the impact of technologies on the learning processes, what kind of training is needed from the universities”, as well as “Preparing and Retraining University Staff for Embracing the Change”.

On the second day, Eduardo Araral, Vice Dean for Research and Associate Professor of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore gave a seminar on topic “Research Strategies at partner institutions. How can Partners support NU?” Also, representatives from University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the Oak Ridge Associated Universities together with the Dean of the School of Science and Technology of Nazarbayev University gave a seminar on “Innovation units, local incubation and entrepreneurial collaborations”.

The event was very interactive and generated lively discussion. As we prepare for the future the need to keep up with the pace of the changing world and economy and to use new technology as a tool to produce graduates of the future was stressed out.

Furthermore, the partners took part in the IV graduation ceremony for students with the participation of the Head of State N.A. Nazarbayev.

On June 7-8, 2018, the VII Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum (EHELF) dedicated to innovating higher education in the age of disruption took place at Nazarbayev University.

EHELF is an annual forum that seeks to bring leaders in the field of education together to debate, and participate in lively discussion on issues faced by higher education leaders around the world.

Among the participants of EHELF were Gulshara Abdykalikova, State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan; and scientists and top managers from 11 countries. They discussed social and technological changes affecting higher education and its development in rapidly changing conditions. In addition, there were representatives from DUKE University, NU strategic partner, as well as from a number of other foreign universities, including: Tsinghua University (China), Renmin University (China), Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Hong Kong University (Hong Kong ), University Politehnica of Bucharest (Romania), American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), Ural Federal University (Russia), Zayed University (UAE), University of New York in Buffalo (USA), Higher School of Economics University of New South Wales (Australia), etc.

Mrs Gulshara Abdykalikova, and Mr Shigeo Katsu (President of Nazarbayev University) welcomed the EHELF participants in their opening speeches.

Participants of the EHELF discussed issues related to: the modernization of higher education within breakthrough technologies; influence of breakthrough technologies on Nazarbayev University schools; the role of higher education institutions in developing skills and achieving long-term goals; the influence of advanced technologies on exact sciences; the influence of advanced technologies on social sciences; the impact of advanced technology on Central Asia; and best practices implemented by universities.

Within the framework of the EHELF, there were sessions on Nazarbayev University experience translation, where representatives of various departments and NU schools shared their experiences with the faculty, administrative personnel of universities, and representatives of Kazakhstan's rating agencies on the main aspects of the development of academic programs, selection of academic staff, and other issues.

During the EHELF Forum, there was also an exhibition of the Innovation Cluster of the Astana Business Campus (" Innovate. Create. Disrupt.") which demonstrated the experience of Nazarbayev University in the development of an innovative eco-system, implemented on the basis of Nazarbayev University’s Technopark.

On June 7-8, 2018 Nazarbayev University hosted a visit of the delegation from Renmin University of China headed by the Vice President Professor Wu Xiaoqiu.

Professor Wu Xiaoqiu gave a speech at the VII annual Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum’s (EHELF) session on “Best practices implemented by Universities” and met with Nazarbayev University leadership. As a result of the meeting, the parties signed an agreement on student exchange, which will allow students to spend academic semester at partner institution on a reciprocal basis.

Since 2015 two universities exchanged a number of high-level visits and signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Two years in a row a joint cultural summer program is held for 30 students (15 from each university). This year again the group will visit Beijing, Suzhou (China) and Astana (Kazakhstan) from July 15 to August 5. The joint summer experience is beneficial to the students, equips them with intercultural skills and exposes to the socio-economic setting of China and Kazakhstan.

Renmin University of China (established in 1937) is a comprehensive research-oriented university focusing on humanities and social sciences. It also offers a range of courses in the natural sciences, information technology and environmental sciences. Renmin University of China is an important base for training high-caliber professionals in the social sciences and humanities and houses a number of influential research centers and think tanks.