The First NU Workshop for Alumni was held on June 18th in Nur-Sultan and June 25th in Almaty. NU alumni had a chance to visit their alma mater, meet their groupmates, receive essential updates on University’s progress from NU leadership, and listen to speakers from Jusan bank, industry leaders, and management from NURIS Cluster.
President Shigeo Katsu, Provost Ilesanmi Adesida, Vice President for Student Affairs and International Cooperation Kadisha Dairova, and Vice President for Medicine Massimo Pignatelli recounted the essential updates on the University’s progress in strategic development, research, medicine, student services, and innovation. NU leadership also emphasized the high importance of engaging alumni, NU’s DNA holders, in the University’s activities towards its Strategy 2018-2030.
Shigeo Katsu introduced the guest speaker of the workshop – Nurdaulet Aidossov, Chairman of the Management Board of Jusan Bank. He briefly covered the mission of Jusan Bank in developing human capital in Kazakhstan. Advisor of the Transformation Office Anuar Amanzholov, Director of Business Accelerator Anarbek Utegulov, and Director of Business Incubator Assylzhan Upasheva spoke about innovations at NU. The first part of the workshop was followed by a Q&A session, where NU graduates could ask questions to the panel speakers.
In the second part of the day, NU alumni had an opportunity to choose between two different sessions. Provost Ilesanmi Adesida and Advisor Chairman of the Management Board of Jusan bank Kuat Dombai identified the “Fundraising principles: Why and How?” during the workshop. Yerbol Ismailov, CEO of the Consulting Company Eurasian Center for People Management and Zhandos Zeineshev, Director of the Interfax Kazakhstan Information Agency Press Center, presented the “Crisis communication models” and trained Alumni on how to build anti-crisis communications effectively, which is crucial skills for leaders in any organization.
After all the activities, it was organised a brainstorming session to generate new ideas on Alumni engagement.
“Even though many of NU graduated in different years, we always will be NU Alumni. It’s important to keep alumni informed of all the changes at their alma mater and to keep in touch with alumni and the university. That’s why NU CAC, Leadership, NU Alumni will organise more projects soon” told NU Alumni Union President Madi Khanafiya.
The workshop in both cities was open to NU graduates of all programs and Schools, and about 140 participants attended the workshop in Nur-Sultan and Almaty cities. “NU does not leave its students; it’s graduates. You can graduate from the university and its walls, but the university is not the walls. It is the spirit. Even at this meeting in Almaty, something from NU is in the air: ideas, thoughts, sparks, energy, and future,” shared NU GSPP alumnus Alpamys Assabayev.
