Last updated 2025
The goal of NU is to become a research university of international standing. The University is guided by the principles of autonomy and academic freedom. Admission and progression are entirely merit-based. All professors are research- active and they integrate research and teaching. Students have the opportunity to apply to join research projects even as freshmen.
Short information about NU
Research-integrated teaching at NU: Why it is important and why this is a distinctive feature of NU?
Research-integrated teaching (RIT) is a distinctive feature of NU, and includes these four components:
- all academic programs include up to date research articles and resources as part of the reading list,
- students in all undergraduate and graduate programs are required to complete a substantial research project,
- students, including undergraduates, can apply to work as research assistants on funded research projects which are led by Principal Investigators (PIs), and
- high-performing undergraduate and graduate students may co-author research papers with their professors and may be invited to present their research findings at local and international scholarly conferences.
All professors at NU are “research active”, meaning that they are continuously publishing the outcomes of their research projects in high impact journals, books, or book chapters. At NU, there is a focus on creating global research which also has local impact.
As a research-intensive university, professors are up to date with emerging ideas in their disciplines, and they ensure that relevant, up-to-date research is integrated into each program.
When students actively participate in research projects, they become deeply engaged in their learning, they can explore concepts in detail, and they are challenged to extend their critical thinking skills.
Skills developed in research projects are transferable to future professional roles. In research projects, students learn to collaborate to solve complex problems, to test their assumptions, to use evidence to make assertions. Research skills help students to connect theory to practice and to develop creative and systematic approaches to problem solving. These skills are highly regarded by employers, both in industry and in government.
When students undertake capstones and research projects, they have to learn to prioritize which research questions to answer. Within these projects, students gain hands-on learning and discover that they can contribute to the creation of new knowledge. This helps them gain knowledge and skills beyond the classroom, builds confidence and enhances their overall academic performance. Research projects might be engaged as stand-alone elements in their programs or embedded in senior elective project-based courses.
In order to successfully integrate research and the educational process, NU has established a research infrastructure that includes a state-of the-art Library, with over 100 subscriptions including journals and e-books and government databases.
For STEM researchers, there are 272 laboratories, covering 22,258 square meters. Laboratories incorporate diverse disciplines such as Medicine, Cell Physiology, Animal Physiology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Biosensors, Bioinstruments, Bionics, Microbiology, Histology and Immunohistochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Analysis, Polymer Chemistry, Hydromechanics, Electron Microscopy, Optical Materials, Laser Optics, Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Imaging, Battery Assembly, Solar Energy Research, High Energy Physics, Mathematics, Microchips, Robotics, Computer Science, Industrial Automation, Mining, Geosciences, Metrology, Water Treatment, Soil Mechanics, Climate Research and many others.
This NU infrastructure is continually improving and expanding in response to student needs and advances in technology. As a result, NU’s educational programs are constantly evolving to keep pace with current advances in the field.
Approximately 25% of research publications from NU include at least one student author. We anticipate that proportion to grow in the coming years as more students see the benefits of publishing in scholarly journals with their professors.
NU scholars are encouraged to publish in the top quartile (Q1) of the recognized list of scholarly journals in their field. In some cases, these peer-reviewed Q1 journals are also open access, which means they are available to the general public without a fee. Open access journal costs are not paid through subscriptions or site licenses, but through publishing fees, which are paid by the authors’ institutions. An increasing number of journal articles, conference proceedings and other scholarly publications authored by NU professors and students are available through open access. The NU Institutional Repository, accessed via the NU Library website, includes graduate student theses and some capstone and research projects.
Publishing research in top journals and scholarly outlets increases the reputation of Kazakhstan as a knowledge economy, as well as enhances the careers of authors, including student authors, increasing the reputation of NU. Published research papers also provide a tangible advantage for students who are interested in applying to local and international graduate programs.
Publishing research in top journals and scholarly outlets increases the reputation of Kazakhstan as a knowledge economy, as well as enhances the careers of authors, including student authors, increasing the reputation of NU. Published research papers also provide a tangible advantage for students who are interested in applying to local and international graduate programs.
Research-integrated teaching is a long-term investment in developing confident graduates, who are ready to contribute to increasing Kazakhstan’s knowledge economy and reputation on the world stage.
