On May 21, 2026, a ceremonial reception hosted by Almaty Management University (AlmaU) was held at the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre to celebrate the victory of the Tolyq Adam program at the Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2026 in the category «Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year».
AlmaU became the first university in Central Asia to receive this award in the history of the prestigious competition.
The event was opened by AlmaU President Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, who spoke about the university’s journey – from a small management school in Almaty to international recognition among Asia’s leading higher education institutions.
«In 1988, I founded what was then called the Almaty School of Management. It fit into a single rented room in Almaty. A few like-minded people and a belief that Kazakhstan needed its own business education. In the era of AI, the program helps people not lose themselves, so that AI does not completely consume them. The formula is simple: Tolyq Adam + AI = Tolyq AI. A holistic human empowered by artificial intelligence. A mind strengthened by machines – and a heart that provides direction. Today, our program stands alongside the best educational strategies in Asia in 2026», – emphasized Asylbek Kozhakhmetov.
Representatives of government bodies and the international expert community also delivered welcoming remarks.
Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education at Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akerke Abylaikhan highlighted that Kazakhstan’s higher education policy is aimed at strengthening the global competitiveness of national universities.
«Today’s youth studying at universities represent the future of our country. The level of knowledge and system of values of students in Kazakhstan’s universities will shape the image of our state in the next 10–15 years. The concept of «Tolyq Adam» began to gain wide attention several years ago during meetings between President Qasym-Jomart Kemelūly Toqaev and young people. We studied abroad through international programs, explored global experience, and learned from advanced achievements in science and education. However, today we can confidently state on the international stage that in matters of upbringing and spiritual values, nothing is more important than our national identity and cultural heritage. By systematically integrating the philosophy of «Tolyq Adam» into the educational process, AlmaU has demonstrated to the global community the importance of national values in modern education», – she noted.
Head of the Almaty Youth Policy Department Aziz Kazhdenbek emphasized the importance of this achievement for Kazakhstan’s higher education system and the country’s intellectual development.
«This program is not merely an educational model, but a philosophy for shaping individuals capable of critical thinking, responsibility, and morality, while preserving their dignity and spiritual integrity in a rapidly changing world» – he said.
Member of the AlmaU Board of Trustees and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network in Central Asia Dinara Seitzhaparova highlighted the importance of cultural identity in educational development.
«Today, AlmaU demonstrates to the entire region an important idea: a university can be more than a place for transferring knowledge – it can become a space for shaping thought. We are proud that an idea rooted in our culture and philosophy is becoming part of the global educational dialogue, and I am personally proud that AlmaU has managed to raise this standard so high» – she stated.
President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova congratulated the university on its achievement.
«Such prestigious awards in global education serve as clear evidence of the university’s strategic vision, high academic standards, and international competitiveness» – she emphasized.
Honored Artist of Kazakhstan and opera singer Gulzat Daurbayeva noted:
«It is becoming increasingly evident that the Tolyq Adam program makes a significant contribution to helping young people become not only strong professionals, but also honest and intelligent citizens».
During the event, key achievements of the program were presented. Based on Abai Kunanbayev’s concept of «Tolyq Adam» and implemented through a modern transformational learning model, the program includes eight courses and annually engages more than 1,000 students. Throughout its implementation, students have initiated over 100 social, environmental, and entrepreneurial projects in partnership with businesses, NGOs, and educational organizations.
The event continued with a panel discussion dedicated to the influence of the Tolyq Adam program on modern education and youth. Participants included researcher of Kazakh mythology, writer, and Professor of Practice at the Tolyq Adam Institute Zira Nauryzbai, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Transformative Humanities at AlmaU Aizhan Sapargaliyeva, and student Maiya Bolat.
Zira Nauryzbai noted that Abai Kunanbayev reinterpreted traditional concepts of Kazakh society – such as honor, dignity, and power – enriching them with enlightenment values.
«Abai is not simply a poet, but a figure who revealed the deep codes of the Kazakh worldview. The concept of ‘Tolyq Adam’ is close to me, and I fully support it. I am glad that AlmaU is implementing such an educational program» – she shared.
The culmination of the event was the awarding of three educational grants to talented applicants who are already demonstrating outstanding academic and professional achievements while contributing to Kazakhstan’s development. The grants were presented by AlmaU Rector Timur Buldybayev.
«Today’s grants are not merely support – they are a sign of trust and an investment in Kazakhstan’s future. They symbolize continuity, when a university recognized by the international academic community supports young people who have already achieved global recognition. We sincerely believe that such young people will shape the new intellectual and leadership image of our country» – the Rector stated.
The grant recipients included:
- Alua Nurman – World No.1 in the FIDE ranking among girls under 20, chess grandmaster.
- Dana Kadyrbek – founder of the HydroTech atm. startup and winner of the international green startup competition UNIDO Cleantech Days.
- Eldar Ussenov – multiple gold medalist of international and national academic Olympiads.
The event concluded with a musical performance by Birzhan Khasangaliyev, who performed the song «Atameken».
AlmaU will continue developing the Tolyq Adam initiative, strengthening its mission to prepare a new generation of leaders and create an educational environment in which knowledge becomes a tool for meaningful change.
Background Information:
Times Higher Education Awards Asia is an annual prestigious award established by the international analytics agency Times Higher Education (THE), known for global university rankings and higher education analysis. THE Awards Asia recognizes outstanding practices, achievements, and innovations among Asian universities in higher education.
The 2026 winners were announced on April 22, 2026, in Hong Kong. The expert jury included Roberta Malee Bassett, Global Lead for Tertiary Education at the World Bank, as well as representatives from leading institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Graduate School of Education, University of Warwick, Tohoku University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, SOAS University of London, University Canada West, University of Wollongong, and Tecnológico de Monterrey.