NU celebrates its 16th anniversary this year. In just over a decade and a half, the University has established itself as one of Central Asia’s leading academic and research institutions, bringing together world-class education, cutting-edge research, and innovation. Today, NU not only educates a new generation of leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs, but also makes a tangible contribution to Kazakhstan’s economic development, scientific advancement, and public policy.
Over the past year, the University has taken another significant step forward, further strengthening its international standing.
According to the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Nazarbayev University is now ranked among the world’s top 23% of universities. NU degrees have received official recognition in Türkiye and China, while several of the University’s schools have been ranked among the world’s top 200 in their respective subject areas. NU also remains the only university in Central Asia represented across multiple subject rankings in the Shanghai Ranking. In addition, 42 NU faculty members were recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited researchers.
The University’s research capacity continues to expand. The number of publications indexed in the Scopus database has surpassed 10,000. Notably, for the first time, one in four research publications included student co-authors, reflecting NU’s strong commitment to developing research competencies among young scholars.
NU has also continued to expand its international partnerships. During the past year, the University launched new joint academic programs with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and SOAS University of London. The Graduate School of Business achieved significant milestones by introducing a dual-degree program with HKUST Business School, alongside a new Executive Education program delivered in collaboration with HKUST.
The founders of startups emerging from the NU innovation ecosystem were received by the President of Kazakhstan during his visit to Washington, highlighting the University’s growing international reputation.
One of the year’s most significant milestones was the continued development of NU’s innovation ecosystem. Construction began on the University’s first Science Park, a 12,000-square-meter hub designed to foster collaboration between academia, business, and industry. Astana Business Campus joined the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), while startups originating from NU attracted more than USD 20 million in investment. Higgsfield, founded by NU alumni, became Kazakhstan’s first unicorn startup, and three student-led ventures were accepted into Stanford’s StartX accelerator.
Among the University’s most notable achievements was the continued success of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI). The Institute developed KazLLM, Kazakhstan’s first fully sovereign large language model. Its AI solutions—including Oylan, MangiSoz, TilSync, and Beynele—are already being deployed across the public sector, education, and industry, strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in artificial intelligence.
NU’s academic schools also recorded remarkable achievements. The Graduate School of Education launched the Regional Leadership in Education Programme and received the highest number of awards for excellence in teaching and research. The School of Sciences and Humanities became the first institution in Central Asia to host the prestigious ISAAC Congress, widely regarded as the “Oscars of Mathematics.”
The University also celebrated major accomplishments in medicine. In collaboration with University Medical Center, Kazakhstan’s 100th donor heart transplant was successfully performed. Meanwhile, the ALEM organ preservation technology was showcased at Expo 2025 in Japan.
Strong interest in studying at NU was reflected in this year’s admissions campaign. More than 14,500 prospective students and parents attended the University’s Open Day, while the number of applications exceeded 10,000 for the first time. At the same time, NU maintained an outstanding graduate employment rate of 98%.
Over the past 16 years, Nazarbayev University has evolved into a world-class research university that strengthens Kazakhstan’s intellectual capital, advances breakthrough technologies, and develops solutions with impact both nationally and globally. Today, NU continues to serve as a platform where education, research, and innovation work together to shape the country’s future, reaffirming its role as one of Kazakhstan’s key drivers of progress.
