AlmaU University has graduated the first cohort of students who completed minor programs developed by the AIFC Academy with the support of Freedom Broker and the Freedom Shapagat Corporate Foundation. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the development of a practice-oriented model of higher education and in building human capital for the financial industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Certificates of successful completion were awarded to students enrolled in the “Finance” and “Law” academic programs who completed additional educational tracks. The minor programs were officially transferred to AlmaU University in August 2025 and integrated into students’ individual educational trajectories, enabling them to expand their professional competencies and strengthen the applied focus of their training in line with labor market requirements.
The educational programs were developed by the AIFC Academy in collaboration with Freedom Broker and with the participation of the Freedom Shapagat Foundation. This partnership ensured the inclusion of practical case studies, industry expertise, and current market practices in the learning process. The duration of the programs ranges from three to four months depending on the selected track.
Aigul Kazbekova, Project Lead at the AIFC Academy, emphasized:
«Holding this ceremony confirms the effectiveness of cooperation between the academic community and industry. Within the framework of the minor programs, students gained not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills aligned with the current needs of the financial sector. Such educational initiatives build a solid professional foundation and contribute to a successful career start for graduates».
The minor programs have become a tool for strengthening the link between the university and industry: students work on real-world tasks, study case studies, and gain insights into regulatory mechanisms, asset management, and compliance practices.
Timur Buldybayev, First Vice-Rector of AlmaU University, noted:
“In a very short time after signing the memorandum of cooperation, we managed to integrate the minor programs into the educational process and achieve tangible practical results. Training under programs developed jointly with leading participants of the financial market increases the applied value of education, enhances students’ professional training, and forms competitive specialists already at the stage of study. This project is an example of effective synergy between the university and industry.”
In 2025, twenty-two students successfully completed the “Asset Management” minor program and received certificates confirming their mastery of key competencies required for work in the financial and investment sectors. Thirty-six students are continuing their studies under the “Financial Market Regulation” track. The next intake for other minor programs is scheduled for January 2026.
Zhanna Kashenova, Director of the Educational Projects Department at Freedom Broker, noted that the awarded certificates confirm graduates’ possession of a wide range of professional skills-from analyzing financial instruments to understanding the regulatory environment-which expands their career opportunities and increases their competitiveness in the labor market.
The ceremony was not merely the conclusion of the training-it marked the first professional achievement of students who are already beginning to build their careers in Kazakhstan’s dynamically developing financial sector.