NU and the South China Morning Post (SCMP), a Hong Kong-based English-language news organization with more than 122 years of publishing history, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 6, 2026. The MoU was signed ahead of SCMP’s flagship China Conference: Central Asia 2026 under the theme “Hub-to-Hub Gateways to the Digital Silk Road,” with a focus on capital flows, technological innovation, and Central Asia’s economic potential.
The partnership will create opportunities to connect NU’s academic expertise and research with SCMP’s international media reach, give students and faculty greater access to international content and knowledge, and strengthen academic and educational ties between Central Asia and Asia.
Commenting on the agreement, Tammy Tam, Publisher of the South China Morning Post, highlighted the strategic and historical significance of the collaboration: “We are deeply honored to forge this landmark partnership with Nazarbayev University, building upon a legacy of global connectivity first championed in Kazakhstan back in 2013 when Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the historic ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ initiative. This MoU represents a vital bridge between leading academic research and global media excellence. As a premier voice on China and Asia, the South China Morning Post is proud to collaborate with Kazakhstan’s flagship university to elevate cross-border storytelling, foster deeper cultural and educational exchange, and illuminate Eurasia’s critical role in shaping the future of global connectivity and building a talent pool for the region.”
For Nazarbayev University, the partnership creates an opportunity to bring its research and academic expertise to a wider international audience while gaining new perspectives on developments across Asia.
Professor Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University, noted, “For Nazarbayev University, partnering with a globally recognised media organisation such as South China Morning Post opens significant opportunities to bring our academic expertise and research to a much wider international audience. With its strong reach across one of the world’s most dynamic and influential regions, SCMP can help strengthen the visibility of NU, while our academic expertise can also provide SCMP with new perspectives and insights into Central Asia”.
The collaboration also offers students opportunities to engage with the work and perspectives of an international media organization.
