Three undergraduate students from Nazarbayev University were selected to take part in a two-week program at one of Asia’s leading universities — Tsinghua University.
From October 6 to 20, two students from the School of Sciences and Humanities and one student from the School of Engineering and Digital Sciences participated in the AUA Asia Deep Dive Program themed “Exploring China: Sustainability, Innovation, and History.” The program was organized within the framework of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA), of which NU is a co-founder.
Throughout the program, students attended lectures, interactive seminars, and cultural activities led by distinguished scholars and experts. Academic sessions covered a wide range of topics including ecology, biopharmaceuticals, ocean engineering, urban studies, and technological innovation. In addition, participants explored China’s rich cultural heritage during visits to major cities such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Beijing.
Dias Pernekhan, a third-year student of the Electrical and Computer Engineering program, shared that he was deeply impressed by how Tsinghua University closely collaborates with government projects. “Their work on ocean-cleaning initiatives, wave-based power generation, and satellite control systems demonstrates a strong integration between research and real-world applications,” he noted.
Bagdan Ysakov, a third-year Sociology student, added: “We attended insightful lectures on the history of the South China Sea, water engineering, architecture, and more. Outside the classroom, we joined city tours, visited antique markets, museums, and cultural cafés.”
Lashyn Zeiin, a third-year student of Political Science and International Relations, shared her reflections: “We also made real friendships and are already planning to organize a joint student forum in the future. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent NU and plan to apply the knowledge gained to support student projects and foster new partnerships on our campus.”
The program concluded with participation in a Model UN conference, where NU students represented Kazakhstan in a simulation of the UN Security Council session on “Promoting Youth Engagement in Global Security.”
