On July 17, 2025, JSC “Center for International Programs” of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS), held a strategic session focused on enhancing the effectiveness of the “Bolashak” program.
The Director of KazISS, Zhandos Shaimardanov, delivered the welcoming remarks. In his speech, he emphasized the vital role of the “Bolashak” program in developing human capital and supporting the socio-economic modernization of the country.
The keynote speaker was Adil Kusmanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Center for International Programs.” In his presentation, he highlighted recent changes to the “Bolashak” program, including the prioritization of natural and technical sciences — particularly Artificial Intelligence and the nuclear industry — and the requirement for internships to be conducted in the official languages of the host countries. Methodological approaches for assessing the socio-economic impact of the “Bolashak” international scholarship were also presented, along with proposals for increasing the monthly allowance standards for scholarship recipients.
During the discussion, several experts also shared their views, including Syrymbet Kaskeev, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Timur Omashev, Partner and Head of Consulting at KPMG; Yerdilda Tautenov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC “Institute of Economic Research”; as well as experts in the fields of economics and education — Zhanibek Aigazin, Ruslan Sultanov, Yelaman Tolepbergen, Yerbol Tulegenov, Nurmukhammed Dossybaev, and others.
The outcomes of the strategic session will be used to prepare analytical and regulatory proposals aimed at improving the implementation of the “Bolashak” program and increasing its contribution to Kazakhstan’s sustainable development.
