Kazakhstan is accelerating academic and scientific cooperation with leading universities and research institutions in Japan and South Korea as part of a broader push to strengthen higher education, research capacity and artificial intelligence development.
Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek travelled to Tokyo and Seoul in August for a series of high-level meetings with university leaders and government officials. The discussions centred on expanding academic partnerships, joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and workforce development aligned with the country’s long-term innovation goals.
In Tokyo, Nurbek met with the leadership of Tokyo Metropolitan University and the United Nations University (UNU). During talks with Tokyo Metropolitan University President Takaya Ohashi, both sides explored ways to broaden institutional partnerships, increase academic mobility and launch new joint educational and research initiatives. Nurbek invited Ohashi to attend the Strategic Partners Forum scheduled for November in Astana.
Cooperation with the United Nations University also featured prominently. In discussions with UNU Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General Tshilidzi Marwala, the two sides examined opportunities to deepen collaboration in science, higher education, research and sustainable development. They also considered expanding the university’s presence in Kazakhstan, consistent with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s call to strengthen international academic partnerships. Marwala accepted an invitation to the same Strategic Partners Forum in Astana.
The visit builds on momentum generated by Tokayev’s official trip to Tokyo for the inaugural Central Asia-Japan Summit in December 2025. At that summit, the Kazakh president described human capital as “the main engine of development” and invited Japanese universities to open branches and educational centres in Kazakhstan. Japan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Yasumasa Iijima, has previously noted that educational cooperation has become an increasingly important pillar of bilateral relations alongside trade and investment.
Kazakhstan’s drive to expand international academic partnerships coincides with its growing role as Central Asia’s leading higher-education hub. In July, Almaty achieved its highest-ever position in the QS Best Student Cities 2027 ranking, while the country recorded continued growth in international student enrolment.
In Seoul, the focus shifted toward science, technology and artificial intelligence. Nurbek met South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon. Their discussions covered technology transfer, joint research and the training of highly qualified specialists, with particular emphasis on AI.
A central topic was the planned opening of a branch campus of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Kazakhstan. Nurbek also held talks with KAIST Vice President Jaemin Jung on academic exchanges, joint research projects and cooperation in AI and digital technologies.
Additional meetings with the leadership of Seoul National University and Korea University concentrated on expanding collaboration in medicine, engineering, information technology and other priority fields. Both institutions already maintain partnerships with Kazakh universities.
Educational links between Kazakhstan and South Korea are also growing through dual-degree programmes. Seoul Cyber University currently partners with Q University, Almaty Humanitarian and Economic University, and Maqsut Narikbayev University. Earlier this year, Woosong University opened a branch campus in Turkistan, further illustrating the expanding institutional footprint.
South Korea has become an increasingly popular study destination for Kazakh students. According to the Korean Educational Development Institute, 1,516 Kazakh students were enrolled at South Korean universities as of April 2024. The trend reflects the broader strengthening of educational cooperation between the two countries.
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These initiatives align with Kazakhstan’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for AI and digital innovation. The recent visits also occur against the backdrop of deepening strategic ties. Earlier this month, President Tokayev accepted an invitation to visit Seoul during talks with South Korean Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik.
By forging closer links with leading Japanese and South Korean universities, Kazakhstan aims to enhance the quality of its higher education system, accelerate research collaboration and equip its workforce with the skills required for a technology-driven economy. The partnerships are expected to deliver tangible benefits through joint programmes, increased academic mobility and the eventual establishment of new campuses and research centres on Kazakh soil.
As the country continues to invest in human capital and international academic networks, the outcomes of Minister Nurbek’s August visits are likely to shape the next phase of Kazakhstan’s higher-education and innovation strategy.
