The Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum (EHELF) will return to Astana in 2026 after a hiatus, bringing together leading voices in higher education from across the region and beyond. The forum will take place on June 5–6, 2026, and is organized by the Graduate School of Education at Nazarbayev University.
Held annually from 2011 to 2019, EHELF earned recognition as a leading international platform for dialogue among universities, policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives. EHELF-2026 aims to build on this legacy by advancing international collaboration, encouraging the exchange of ideas and best practices, and exploring practical approaches to the future of higher education in Eurasia.
This year’s forum will examine the evolving role of universities in a time of rapid technological change, economic uncertainty, climate challenges, and shifting geopolitical realities.
The program will focus on three key themes:
- “Universities for Sustainable and Just Futures”;
- “Universities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation”;
- “Leading Universities in a Changing World.
Featured speakers include professor Norbert Csizmadia, a researcher and expert in global economic strategy, geoeconomics, and geopolitics; doctor Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair, a renowned Malaysian scholar, econometrician, and data analytics specialist; professor Wayne Holmes, an international expert in artificial intelligence and Professor of Critical Studies of AI and Education at the Institute of Education, University College London; and Mrs. Seren Guven Gures, Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office, among others. The forum will also bring together leading scholars, university executives, and public figures from around the world.
The return of EHELF reflects NU’s ongoing commitment to strengthening global academic partnerships, supporting innovation in higher education, and fostering a more inclusive and future-oriented educational environment.
