Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech) recently made a significant stride towards enhancing higher education and scientific collaboration between Korea and Kazakhstan. President Kim Dong-hwan led a delegation that visited Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University to enhance academic exchanges and joint initiatives between the two nations.
During the visit, President Kim had a meeting with Nurlybek Nalibayev, Governor of Kyzylorda Region, to discuss enlarging bilateral partnership in higher education, academic exchange promotion, and joint research programs implementation. The meeting provided a solid ground for future academic collaboration between Korea and Kazakhstan.
Governor Nalibayev showed special interest in partnership not only in conventional areas like agroprocessing, food products, and tourism but also in innovative fields like renewable energy, waste management, and lithium exploration in the vicinity of the Aral Sea. He stressed mutual interest in the protection of the environment and in sustainable development of the region. Responding, President Kim declared SeoulTech's intention to open a startup incubator in the Kyzylorda area, introduce academic exchange programs, educate IT experts, and widen joint research programs.
President Kim also met with Rauza Mendaliyeva, Head of the Department of Internationalization at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, and Beibitkul Karimova, Board Chair and Rector of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. They discussed the development of dual-degree programs and collaborative academic projects in areas like "AI Architecture" and 'Data Management'. At present, 100 students are studying under these programs under the patronage of the Kazakhstan government scholarship.
In addition, President Kim gave a public lecture at the School of Artificial Intelligence called "IT and AI Trends in Korea," providing students with some insights into Korea's digital revolution, new technologies, and international AI trends.
During the national "Republic Seminar"a national-level event in Kazakhstan for senior officials of the Ministry of Education, departments in charge of education quality control, school principals, and directors of technical and vocational colleges both President Kim and Professor Taehee Kim, Vice Provost for International Affairs, presented as keynote speakers. President Kim spoke about "IT and AI Trends in Korea," whereas Professor Kim spoke on "Prospects for Kazakhstan–Korea Cooperation: AI Research and Workforce Development From Vision to Implementation", focusing on SeoulTech's long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan and strengthening its collaboration with Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University.
At the same time, SeoulTech has been actively developing educational relationships with Kazakhstan, particularly opening the School of Artificial Intelligence at Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University in November 2023. The initiative has been recognized as a milestone in bilateral academic relations. Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly of Korea and former Chairman of the Korea Kazakhstan Friendship Association in the National Assembly, was instrumental in the project. Speaker Woo visited Kyzylorda in October 2024, reaffirming the countries' high-level parliamentary exchange and commitment to cooperation in cutting-edge technologies.
