Leading researcher and innovator Professor Atakan Varol appointed the Inaugural Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) at Nazarbayev University following a competitive international selection process.
To deliver our twin strategic commitments to be world class and nationally relevant, we are restructuring our academic schools and strengthening academic leadership across the University. Recent appointments include new Provost, Vice President Medicine, Vice Provost Research and Innovation, Vice Provost Academic Affairs and Vice President Human Resources and Government Relations. We are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Atakan Varol, an internationally respected leader in research and innovation in generative AI, as the inaugural Dean of the new School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence being established.
Professor Atakan Varol has been with NU for nearly 15 years. As a founding faculty member, he joined the university in 2011 as an Associate Professor of Robotics, served as Chair of the Robotics Department from 2014 to 2018, and was promoted to Professor in 2018. In 2019, he became the Founding Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI). Under his leadership, the institute achieved significant milestones, including the development of Kaz-LLM, Kazakhstan’s first large language model, marking an important step in the country’s artificial intelligence development.
Professor Varol holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Sabancı University, and MSc and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Before joining us, he was a faculty member at Vanderbilt.
NU President Waqar Ahmad noted: “Professor Varol has the academic gravitas, leadership credentials, and strength of networks required to turn SCAI into a globally competitive school focused on addressing national and regional challenges. He is a celebrated teacher, researcher, and innovator. Under his leadership, the ISSAI has developed AI solutions of considerable merit and practical value, helping move the country toward greater digital sovereignty.”
SCAI will educate approximately 2,500 students across undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes. The School is equipped with world-class infrastructure, including access to supercomputing resources, and already has a strong track record of innovation. The establishment of SCAI responds to the national demand for expertise in intelligent systems, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence. The School is envisioned as a globally networked and competitive, regional hub for advancing knowledge in these fields, preparing outstanding graduates, conducting globally respected and nationally relevant research, and supporting high-tech sectors of the economy. The School is being formed at a time when we are investing heavily in our innovation ecosystem, including the creation of the region’s premier science and technology park.
Professor Atakan Varol’s appointment forms part of Nazarbayev University’s broader drive to strengthen academic leadership in line with its ambitious new strategy, recently approved by the Supreme Board of Trustees chaired by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
We congratulate Professor Atakan Varol on his appointment and wish him continued success in shaping and advancing the new School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence at NU!
