Nazarbayev University is honoured to host visits by distinguished guests: high-ranking political and public figures, heads of states, parliaments and international organizations. Since 2010, Nazarbayev University has hosted more than 50 distinguished guests. Among them Xi Jinping, Prince Albert II, John Kerry, David Cameron, Shinzo Abe, Narendra Modi, Christine Lagarde, Catherine Ashton, Suma Chakrabarti, and others.
Doreen Bogdan-MartinSecretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) October 3, 2025
Nazarbayev University (NU) has hosted Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for a lecture on the challenges and opportunities of the digital era. ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies and one of the oldest international organizations, tracing its origins back to 1865 when 20 European countries signed the International Telegraph Convention in Paris. During her remarks, the Secretary-General highlighted urgent global challenges, including the fact that one-third of the world’s population -2.6 billion people – remain offline. Connecting them by 2030 will require an estimated $2.8 trillion in infrastructure and capacity-building investments. She also stressed the importance of digital skills, local-language applications, and robust cybersecurity measures to ensure trust in digital tools. Following the lecture, participants from diverse fields — including artificial intelligence, public policy, engineering, and education — discussed the challenges and opportunities of AI in greater depth.
Christophe KampOSCE High Commissioner September 19, 2025
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Christophe Kamp delivered a guest lecture at NU on the topic: “Language, Identity, and Social Cohesion: The HCNM’s Perspective on Integration Policies.” In his lecture, Mr. Kamp emphasized the importance of inclusive approaches to managing diversity and protecting the rights of minorities as a foundation for lasting stability and peace. He also underscored Kazakhstan’s distinctive achievements in fostering interethnic harmony and safeguarding the linguistic and cultural rights of minority communities. Mr. Kamp praised the tangible outcomes of the country’s policies in this area and expressed hope for expanding cooperation and coordinating joint actions in the framework of upcoming reforms.
Adeyeye Enitan OgunwusiOoni of Ife, Spiritual Leader of the Yoruba People June 2, 2025
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi – one of Nigeria’s most respected traditional leaders and the spiritual head of the Yoruba people – has visited Nazarbayev University as part of his official visit to Kazakhstan and participation in the Astana International Forum. During his visit, the Ooni of Ife met with Nigerian students at NU. Currently, around 50 Nigerian students are enrolled at the university, including 16 PhD candidates and two faculty members. The meeting also brought together members of Kazakhstan’s broader Nigerian community, including English language teachers and representatives from the sports industry.
Alain BersetSecretary General of the Council of Europe May 29, 2025
On May 29, Nazarbayev University had the honor of welcoming Mr. Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former President of the Swiss Confederation. During his visit, Mr. Berset delivered a guest lecture titled “Disinformation – a Threat to European Democracy”. The presentation was followed by an engaging Q&A session, where students and faculty had the opportunity to ask thought-provoking questions and discuss the challenges posed by disinformation in today’s world.
Nataša Pirc MusarPresident of Slovenia March 31, 2025
On March 31, as part of her official visit to Kazakhstan, the President of Slovenia, Ms. Nataša Pirc Musar, visited Nazarbayev University, where she delivered a lecture on the topic “The Decline of Multilateralism – Myth or Reality?”. The event was attended by more than 200 students, faculty, and staff members of the university. In her speech, the President of Slovenia addressed crucial global issues, such as peacebuilding policies, water resources, human rights protection, environmental preservation, artificial intelligence, and gender equality. She emphasized that all of these topics require collective efforts on the international stage, highlighting the special importance of gender justice.
Anna Maria BerniniMinister of University and Research of Italy September 25, 2024
An Italian delegation led by Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini visited NU. During the visit, a meeting was held with the university leadership to discuss prospects for collaboration in higher education and research. The visit of the Italian delegation opens new horizons for cooperation, promising to enrich the experiences of students and faculty from both countries.
Bo LiDeputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) September 16, 2024
Bo Li, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), visited NU on Sept. 16 to hold a Q&A session with students titled “A Path Towards Prosperity for Caucasus and Central Asia.” During his talk, Li discussed critical economic issues facing the region, including structural reforms necessary to decrease youth unemployment, ways to combat the climate change, and the economic outlook for Kazakhstan.
Ludger SchuknechtVice President and Corporate Secretary at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank July 11, 2023
Ludger Schuknecht gave a lecture about the projects the bank implements in Kazakhstan and emphasized that Kazakhstan has every opportunity to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Also during the visit, Mr. Schuknecht and his delegation were informed about the current projects of ISSAI in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science.
Kristalina GeorgievaManaging Director of the International Monetary Fund
Ms. Georgieva had a talk on “Paving the Way to More Resilient, Inclusive, and Green Economies in Kazakhstan and the CCA.” She mentioned three major areas (inclusion, private sector development, and mitigating the effects of climate change) to be able to withstand the external shocks. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session.
Halimah YacobPresident of Singapore 23.05.2023
Ms. Halimah Yacob had a lecture on the topic “From the Lion City to the Great Steppe.” In her speech, she mentioned the close and mutually-beneficial 30-year-long cooperation between Kazakhstan and Singapore. At the end of the visit, Her Excellency received the title of Honorary Professor of NU.
Mohamad Maliki Bin OsmanMinister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs of Singapore 11.10.2022
Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman had a meeting with the Management of NU and short talk on the topic: “Challenges of a Small State and ongoing developments of Singapore” with NU Graduate School of Public Policy (NU GSPP) Dean, faculty members, and students, which was followed by a Q&A session.
