Students and alumni of Nazarbayev University’s (NU) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) program continue to gain recognition from leading global aerospace organizations, securing prestigious opportunities with Airbus and Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom. The latest achievements highlight the growing international reputation of the program and the competitiveness of its graduates in one of the world’s most demanding engineering sectors.
Nurbanu Zhenissova successfully completed a highly competitive selection process to earn a fully funded internship at Airbus in Bristol, UK, where she will begin work in summer 2026. She becomes only the second student from Kazakhstan to receive this opportunity.
Nurbanu follows fellow MAE student Malika Amangeldyyeva, who made history in 2025 as the first student from NU and Kazakhstan to secure a year-long internship with Airbus Defence and Space in the United Kingdom. Based in Portsmouth, Malika worked in the company’s Transformation & Performance department, contributing to engineering process improvement and collaborating with teams supporting satellite integration and testing. Following the successful completion of her internship, she was offered a permanent position with Airbus.
The University’s success in developing internationally competitive aerospace talent extends beyond industry placements. NU alumna Aya Armanova is currently pursuing a PhD in collaboration with Rolls-Royce Defence and Cranfield University after completing a fully funded Master’s degree at Cranfield. Supported by UK Government funding, her doctoral research explores the application of agile methodologies to procurement contracts in supply chain management. Alongside her research, Aya has established a mentorship initiative to encourage more students to pursue advanced education and academic careers.
These achievements reflect the growing international recognition of NU’s Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering program and its ability to prepare students and graduates for careers at leading aerospace companies and research institutions. By securing opportunities with leading companies, NU students and alumni are contributing to cutting-edge engineering and research while representing Kazakhstan on the international stage.
