On June 10, 2023, NU (NU) hosted its highly anticipated 9th Graduation Ceremony, marking a significant milestone in the academic journey of its graduates. The grand event took place at the university’s Main Hall, attracting over 2,000 attendees, including the graduating students themselves, proud family members, esteemed faculty, representatives from government agencies, and business leaders. Since the university’s inaugural graduation in 2015, over 8,000 individuals completed their studies to date.
The ceremony commenced with the reading of a heartfelt congratulatory letter from the President of of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. President Tokayev praised NU as one of the nation’s premier institutions of higher education, renowned for nurturing highly qualified professionals.
“As one of Kazakhstan’s most esteemed higher education institutions, NU has made significant contributions to our society. Its graduates are sought after by employers due to the university’s exceptional combination of education and research, which produces the most talented professionals who contribute to our country’s development,” expressed President Tokayev in his letter, extending his warm wishes for a prosperous future to the graduating class.
The graduation ceremony embraced a solemn atmosphere, adhering to the time-honored traditions of prestigious universities. Graduates and professors donned academic robes and caps, symbolizing their mastery of knowledge. The university choir added a touch of grandeur to the event, enthralling the audience with harmonious renditions of popular Kazakh and international melodies.
During his farewell address, Shigeo Katsu, the founding President of NU and a visionary leader who has skillfully guided the institution since its inception, delivered an inspiring speech. This particular ceremony held special significance as it marked Shigeo Katsu’s final address as the university’s president, evoking a sense of nostalgia in the audience. President Katsu expressed gratitude to each staff member, professor, and student for their unwavering trust and commitment to academic excellence.
“I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of my colleagues, former and current alike, and current and past students, for having given me your trust and accepting the challenge of building NU from scratch; and I also thank our Founder for having challenged us to build a world-class university and providing us with an enabling framework. I am sure you all agree, that it has been quite a thrilling but great ride. So thank you all. Yet, our work is not done – far from it, we have only scratched the surface of what we can become, and what can be achieved when we all stick together. I want to thank Provost Adesida for having accepted to step in as Acting President until we identify a qualified successor following a rigorous international search, and call on everyone to work and act as one to support Ade,” expressed President Katsu.
President Katsu imparted wisdom to the Class of 2023, addressing the challenges and responsibilities they face in today’s world. He emphasized the importance of making balanced decisions and adopting forward-thinking approaches to tackle climate crisis. Furthermore, he reminded the Class of 2023 of the eight attributes that define a NU graduate. These include possessing an in-depth and sophisticated understanding of their domain of study; being intellectually agile, curious, creative and open-minded; being thoughtful decision-makers who know how to involve others, and being entrepreneurial; self-propelling and able to create new opportunities; being fluent and nuanced communicators across languages and cultures; being cultured and tolerant citizens of the world; demonstrating high personal integrity and being prepared to take a leading role in the development of their country.
President Katsu emphasized that these attributes resonate with the values and philosophy promoted by the renowned Kazakh public figure and poet Abai, who advocated for a “Wholesome Person”, someone who possess an inquisitive mind, good spirit and kind heart.
Concluding his address, President Katsu delivered his customary note, encapsulating his message to each graduating cohort: “Class of 2023, with the message that I am addressing to every graduating cohort since our first Class of 2015: It is the ABCDE + HR. Here we go: A = Be Ambitious in your dreams. But having ambitions is not enough, you must. B = Believe in your dreams, and C = Commit to your dreams. But that is not enough; you have to D = Do something about them, that is pursue your dreams and realize them. In doing so, have fun and E = Enjoy every minute of your pursuit. And importantly, always be H = Humble and keep a sense of Humility; and always, always R = Respect others as you would like to be respected by them.”
The NU School of Sciences and Humanities and the NU School of Engineering and Digital Sciences produced the most graduates. These are sociologists, political scientists, economists, biologists, chemists, mathematicians, physicists, astrophysicists, engineers, architects, roboticists, data analytics, software engineers, and computer scientists – some of the most in-demand professionals in Kazakhstan.
NU has one Center for Preparatory Studies and seven schools, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The breakdown of students graduating by school in 2023 is as follows:
School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (SEDS) – 549 graduates
School of Sciences and Humanities (SSH) – 541 graduates
Graduate School of Business (GSB) – 58 graduates
Graduate School of Public Policy (GSPP) – 62 graduates
Graduate School of Education (GSE) – 85 graduates
School of Medicine (SOM) – 110 graduates
As the graduation ceremony concluded, NU celebrated the accomplishments of its graduates and the academic excellence it continues to foster. The ceremony served as a testament to the university’s commitment to shaping future leaders and contributing to Kazakhstan’s progress.
