AlmaU MBA alumni from the Class of 2012 – entrepreneurs Akmaral Imasheva, Nabi Aitzhanov and Rustem Bibalinov – have provided three educational grants for applicants admitted to AlmaU in 2026.
For Akmaral Imasheva, the decision to support future students is closely connected to her own experience. The entrepreneur and trustee of the iQanat social and educational initiative recalls that her family faced financial difficulties at the beginning of her educational journey. This experience became one of the reasons why she now seeks to create opportunities for young people who want to receive an education and realize their potential.
“When I graduated from school, my family was facing certain financial difficulties, so getting a paid education was not easy for me. I combined studying and working while taking responsibility for my own financial needs. This experience taught me a lot, strengthened my character and made me stronger. But I remember well how difficult it was to study, work and think about the financial side of education at the same time. That is why today I especially want to support talented and hardworking young people so that they can focus on their studies and gain the profession, knowledge and skills that will help them build their future,” she said.
The initiative was also supported by her MBA classmates, Nabi Aitzhanov and Rustem Bibalinov.
“I am grateful to Nabi and Rustem for supporting the initiative. Each of us has our own projects, businesses and responsibilities, but at the same time, we understand that we can dedicate part of our resources to creating opportunities for others,” says Akmaral.
For the alumni themselves, the initiative became a continuation of their own educational journey. In 2012, they studied in the MBA program while working and developing their businesses. Their education allowed them to immediately apply what they learned in practice – rethink management decisions, find new approaches to business development and build professional connections.
“When we started our businesses, no one taught us how to do it. We worked during the day and studied for our MBA in the evenings. Today, we understand how important the knowledge and practical experience we gained during that period were for us,” the alumni recall.
For Nabi Aitzhanov, the value of education lies not only in the knowledge a person gains during their studies, but also in the ability to apply it in real life.
“The MBA gave us an opportunity to learn from our own experience and immediately test what we learned in business. Many decisions that seemed like simply part of the learning process at the time eventually became the foundation of our professional approach. That is why it is important for us today to give the same opportunity to those who are just starting their journey,” he notes.
Rustem Bibalinov emphasizes that for the alumni, it is important not only to support applicants today, but also to give them the opportunity to shape their own professional future.
“Today, we are giving these young people an opportunity to begin their educational journey. Some of them may go on to create their own business, others may become strong professionals or contribute to the development of their industry. What matters to us is to support them at the start and provide opportunities that will help them unlock their potential,” he said.
Today, the three recipients of the educational grants are preparing to begin their studies at AlmaU. Before the final decision was made, they took part in interviews with the alumni, who wanted to meet the future students personally and learn more about their goals and motivation.
For AlmaU, this story shows that the university community continues to grow even after graduation. Alumni connections with the university can take many forms – from professional collaboration and mentorship to participation in university life and supporting the next generation of students.
That is why the MBA alumni hope this initiative will become the beginning of a broader tradition within the AlmaU community – one in which those who have already completed their educational and professional journey help those who are just starting theirs.
“I would like to see more stories like this. I hope this initiative will be embraced by other AlmaU alumni and become a meaningful tradition of supporting young people in pursuing their education at one of the country’s leading business universities,” shared Akmaral Imasheva.
In this way, the story of three MBA alumni from the Class of 2012 becomes part of the larger AlmaU story – a community that continues to grow, evolve and remain connected years after graduation.