NU hosted Sustainability Week 2026, a series of events focused on environmental awareness, responsible consumption and sustainable development. NU students and staff, together with young people from Astana, took part in practical initiatives ranging from reusing unwanted items to learning how the city treats its wastewater.
One of the main events was an inter-university Eco Quiz, which brought together nine student teams from universities across Astana. Participants tested their knowledge of environmental issues and sustainable development while exchanging ideas with students from other universities.
NU’s campus also hosted a Darmarka, an initiative focused on sharing and reusing items. Students and staff brought clothes, shoes, books and other items they no longer needed. The remaining items were donated to LikeKomek for further use and social support.
Part of the programme took place beyond the university campus. Students, staff and volunteers visited the wastewater treatment facilities of Astana Su Arnasy, where they learned about the wastewater treatment process and saw how principles of environmental sustainability are applied in urban infrastructure. The visit brought together representatives of the NU Office of Sustainability, USM and UMC Facility, students from NU and other universities in Astana, as well as UNICEF volunteers.
Sustainability Week concluded with a final conference, where participants discussed the outcomes of the week and further environmental initiatives. An environmental film screening was also held for NU students and staff.
Sustainability Week 2026 highlighted that sustainable development is not only about large-scale solutions, but also about everyday practices — responsible consumption, the reuse of resources, environmental education and cooperation between university and city communities.
The Sustainability Week initiatives support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, and SDG 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production”.
