The Kazakhstan Winter Presidential Multi-Event Championship was held in Petropavlovsk. Students of our university represented the North Kazakhstan Region team under the leadership of their coach, Senior Lecturer Alexander Naumov. As a result, our students won five medals: three gold, one silver, and one bronze. In the 18–20 age group, Zhanely Nuralina (group FCS-25-3) claimed first place. Medet Zhumanov (group FCS-24-2) won silver. In the same age category, Alikhan Tastanbekov finished third in the republic. In the 21–23 age category, Danila Svirzhevsky (group FCS-22-1) won the gold medal. In the veterans’ group, Alexander Vladimirovich Naumov once again secured the absolute championship title of the republic, becoming a 58-time national champion.   We congratulate our students and their distinguished coach on this outstanding achievement!

The team of Kozybayev University, as part of the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by Minister Sayasat Nurbek, took part in a meeting with the Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas, Askhat Khassenov. Today, the country’s largest national oil and gas company is systematically building cooperation with the scientific community: an R&D Roadmap has been developed, covering around 80 research areas, including geology, field development, and petrochemistry. Cooperation has already been established with 35 leading universities. For us, the discussion at such a high level of the joint project with scientists from the University of Arizona on the development of sulfur-containing polymers was particularly significant. “Kazakhstan possesses substantial sulfur reserves, and today we are shaping an approach in which this resource becomes the foundation for high value-added products. Partnership with University of Arizona and Kozybayev University provides access to cutting-edge scientific developments and enables the creation of a comprehensive ecosystem — from research and personnel training to pilot implementation and large-scale deployment of solutions. The project has a wide range of applications, from new materials and fertilizers to metal extraction technologies, while simultaneously addressing environmental challenges related to sulfur processing,” Minister Sayasat Nurbek noted following the meeting on his official page. The project is planned to be implemented in three areas: production of high-tech plastics from sulfur, development of innovative fertilizers, and the use of sulfur in extracting residual precious metals from ore. An international research team led by world-renowned scientist Jeffrey Pyun has developed an advanced inverse vulcanization technology that enables molten sulfur to be converted into polymers and high-value products such as infrared lenses, lithium–sulfur battery components, anti-corrosion coatings, and slow-release fertilizers. The technology is protected by 11 patents, supported by more than 50 scientific publications, and has significant commercial potential. This project is especially relevant for our country, as Kazakhstan currently ranks 7th in the world in elemental sulfur production, producing about 4.3 million tons annually. At the same time, the excessive accumulation of sulfur creates environmental risks, particularly given the growing production at oil and gas fields. In this context, the transition from raw material exports to deep processing and the production of innovative sulfur-containing materials with high added value is becoming increasingly important.

The procedure for international accreditation of dual degree educational programs implemented in partnership with the University of Arizona has begun at Kozybayev University. The evaluation is being conducted by ACQUIN - the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute. Founded in 2001, ACQUIN is a leading international accreditation agency that assesses the quality of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs, as well as higher education institutions, ensuring their compliance with European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). ACQUIN unites more than 160 universities from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and other countries. The agency actively operates both in Europe and beyond, including Kazakhstan, where it is registered in the national register. On February 23–24, a team of independent international experts will work at Kozybayev University. Two dual degree programs are undergoing accreditation: 6B05111 Biotechnology / Applied Biotechnology 6B06111 Information Systems in Management / Data Science Today, the commission held a series of meetings with the university’s administration, faculty members, and students. ACQUIN supports universities in enhancing transparency, improving the quality of education, and increasing their attractiveness for international students.

Constitutional reform is an important stage in the development of the state and society. Its successful implementation is impossible without the conscious participation of citizens, especially young people and the academic community. This was discussed within the university walls at a meeting of the regional dialogue platform TALQYLAU with the administration, faculty members, and students of the university, as well as representatives of the media sphere and the North Kazakhstan Regional Branch of the “Bolashak” Fund of the AMANAT Party. Participants discussed the strengthening of human rights and freedoms in the context of constitutional reforms. The draft of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a document that, in its content and scope of changes, goes far beyond the usual constitutional amendments. “It is very important that education, science, and innovation occupy a central place in the draft of the new Constitution. As for education, special attention is paid to its quality and accessibility. In addition, issues related to science, research, and the protection of intellectual property are now being enshrined in the country’s Fundamental Law - all of which represent significant steps in the development of the state,” noted Aigul Nurpeissova, Member of the Management Board for Academic Affairs. The opinion of young people is especially significant in the context of constitutional reforms, as it is the younger generation that will live and develop the country under the new legal conditions. Therefore, students of Kozybayev University also shared their views on the constitutional reform. Among the speakers was Razia Nizhatovna Ydyrysbaeva, Director of the North Kazakhstan Regional Branch of Qazaqstan Radio and Television Corporation. As the participants noted, if the previous Constitution became the foundation for the formation of independent Kazakhstan, its new draft represents an evolutionary transition toward a mature state and society. It is not a rejection of accumulated experience, but its qualitative rethinking aimed at strengthening trust between the state and its citizens.

The university hosted a Futsal Spartakiad among students. The tournament was organized as part of the implementation of Abai Kunanbayev’s creativity promotion concept, “Tolyq Adam”, and was held under the motto “Ystyq Kairat”, symbolizing willpower, the drive to win, and an active life position. The competition featured 8 teams from the faculties, the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Humanities, and the International Campus. The games were intense and spectacular, showcasing a high level of physical and technical preparation of the students, team cohesion, and the desire to achieve excellent results. The semifinal match between the Institute of Language and Literature and the Faculty of Education was particularly thrilling. The regular time ended in a high-scoring draw — 5:5. In extra time, luck favored the Faculty of Education team, who won the post-match penalty shootout 7:6. It is noteworthy that the Faculty of Education team became the futsal champions for the first time in the last five years, demonstrating top sports skills, willpower, and team unity. FICT took second place, and the Institute of Language and Literature players finished third. Individual awards: Best Player: Almat Zhulqarnay (group FKS-22-2қ) Top Scorer (12 goals): Artur Bordunenko (group Y-24-2) Best Goalkeeper: Aslan Baykadamov (group FKS-22-2қ) The Spartakiad helped strengthen interfaculty collaboration, develop students’ sports potential, and form the university team for future participation in national competitions.  

It has become a good tradition at our university to hold the anti-corruption quest game “AntiParaCraft”, aimed at promoting integrity and academic honesty among young people. This time, 7 teams from all faculties and the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Humanities participated, with a total of over 40 participants. During the quest, moving through various campus locations, the students completed tasks designed to foster zero tolerance for corruption within the university and to popularize legal knowledge. Participants presented their anti-corruption trends, solved situational cases on the topic, guessed films, answered questions in a “Quiz Game” format, and even analyzed a humorous income declaration of a fictional official to find inconsistencies. An especially interesting contest was “Detective: Investigation by the Pros”. In this task, teams were presented with a case describing a situation along with a set of clues: screenshots of correspondence, receipts, and photos of “gifts.” The goal was to determine at what point ordinary politeness or friendship crossed the line into a corruption offense. As a result of these intense intellectual and creative competitions, the winners and runners-up were: 1st place – MF 2nd place – FEDT 3rd place – FMNS Congratulations!

The Office of Commercialization of the Department of Science at Kozybayev University held a working meeting "Strategy for the commercialization of University Science" with the university's faculty, doctoral students, and master's students, focusing on the development of commercialization of scientific research. During the meeting, they discussed current challenges and prospects for implementing scientific research in the real economy, the university's role in shaping the region's innovation ecosystem, and the mechanisms for supporting projects from idea to practical implementation. It has been noted that in the context of global transformation, universities around the world are becoming not only educational and research centers, but also active participants in economic processes. The commercialization of scientific results is seen as a tool for increasing the competitiveness of universities, expanding international cooperation, and generating sustainable sources of additional income for the authors of research projects. During the meeting, an example of international cooperation between Kozybayev University and the University of Arizona was presented. This partnership includes the development of joint educational and research programs, as well as the exchange of experience in technology transfer and innovation implementation. The American university's experience demonstrates a systematic approach to commercialization through specialized technology transfer structures, the creation of startups, and the active integration of scientific research into the economy. Special attention was paid to the successful cases of Kozybayev University. In particular, the university's victory in the competition for program-targeted financing in the field of water resources and sustainable water management was noted. The implementation of this project will strengthen scientific research in the field of water security, introduce applied solutions for the region, and expand cooperation with industrial and governmental structures. The example of the university's Water Research and Technology Center was also presented, which became one of the first practices for introducing scientific developments into the real sector and confirmed the demand for university competencies in the market. The meeting highlighted the need to create a sustainable portfolio of commercializable projects, strengthen the interaction between science and business, and increase the involvement of professors and young researchers in the process of applying scientific results. The Department of Science's Commercialization Office will continue its systematic work to support scientific projects, develop partnerships, and create conditions for the effective integration of university science into the regional and national economy.

Students of the Agrotechnology Faculty at Kozybayev University met with the management of LLP “Grain Consortium of Kazakhstan,” the country’s second-largest agroholding. Thomas Dorenwendt, Deputy General Director for Production, shared that the company cultivates approximately 350,000 hectares in the North Kazakhstan and Akmola regions, developing a diversified crop rotation of cereals, legumes, and oilseed crops, achieving an average yield of 20 c/ha. The agroholding’s structure includes six grain elevators with a total capacity of 750,000 tons and two mills, as well as dairy, meat, and pedigree livestock divisions. The production facilities are equipped with modern machinery from leading global brands, and the company actively implements digital technologies. “Large companies like this essentially ensure the national security of the country. We are grateful to the people who lead and work there. Today, we welcome LLP ‘Grain Consortium of Kazakhstan’- the largest agricultural operator in the Republic of Kazakhstan. We have a unique situation: Kozybayev University is the only university in the North Kazakhstan region. This is a great advantage and a huge responsibility because we are responsible for preparing personnel for all sectors of the region. The Agrotechnology Faculty is one of the university’s strongest faculties. We have increased funding for scientific engagement, purchased laboratories worth around 1 billion tenge, and are in the process of accrediting them. Our goal is to help regional agricultural producers solve their problems. For this purpose, we have equipped laboratories with modern analyzers and visited district enterprises,” noted Chairman of the Executive Board - Rector Erbol Issakaev. Currently, the Agrotechnology Faculty has 675 students, 80% of whom study on state grants. Education is provided through six undergraduate and master’s programs. The aim of such meetings is to establish a sustainable “education–production” interaction model, synchronize educational programs with current industry requirements, provide early professional orientation for students, and supply the regional agro-industrial sector with qualified personnel. During the dialogue, mechanisms for implementing dual education, expanding practical training bases and internships, as well as cooperation in laboratory research-including agrochemical, soil, feed, and product quality analysis - were discussed. In the future, a partnership agreement is planned, along with identifying pilot areas for dual education and launching joint applied projects. The meeting marked a step toward systematic and long-term cooperation, focused on practice-oriented specialist training and raising the technological level of the region’s agro-industrial complex.  

A guest lecture for students and a master class for colleagues were delivered at Kozybayev University by Alina Solovyeva -Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan, Excellence in Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Honorary Worker of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, recipient of the Gold Star, the Order “Otan,” and the medal “Eren Enbegi Ushin.” Alina Robertovna is a graduate of our university. She completed the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography with a degree in Geography and Biology. After 32 years, she returned to her alma mater, noting how much the university has transformed and recalling her student years: “Seeing my home university in its current state is truly a pleasure! I graduated in 1994. At that time, a scholarship was enough to buy only five loaves of bread, and our professors would bring us crackers and support us with food. In terms of its atmosphere, dedication to the profession, patriotism, and love for the Motherland, this university is truly the best. Today, I see these traditions embodied: the university leadership fulfills its civic duty and strives to serve the region, children, and the country. Thank you for that!” Alina Solovyeva is a well-known author of Kazakhstani biology textbooks and a number of electronic teaching aids adapted to the updated school curriculum. She holds a Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences degree and currently teaches at School-Gymnasium No. 1 named after A.S. Pushkin in Shymkent. “Over the years, I have become the author of 18 textbooks and teaching manuals published by ‘Atamura,’ used throughout Kazakhstan. Some of them are already out of print. I have more than 100 prize-winning students from various Olympiads, including 3 at the international level and 28 at the national level. For all of this combined, in 2018 I was awarded the title ‘Qazaqstannyn Enbek Eri,’” Alina Robertovna shared. She presented her extensive experience to university faculty members and teachers of the North Kazakhstan region during the master class “Preparing for Olympiads: Effective Strategies for Developing Students’ Olympiad Potential.” A meeting with university students also took place. The life stories of such individuals inspire the younger generation, strengthen their belief in their own abilities, foster a culture of striving for excellence, and reaffirm that a university is not merely a place to earn a diploma, but a space where destinies are shaped, character is formed, and the foundation for great achievements is laid.