On 14 July 2026, Almaty Management University welcomed H.E. Dace Rutka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the meeting, the parties discussed AlmaU’s current cooperation with Latvian universities and identified promising areas for further collaboration.
The Ambassador was welcomed by Timur Buldybayev, Rector of AlmaU. He noted that international partnership is one of the University’s strategic priorities. Today, AlmaU cooperates with more than 170 universities worldwide and actively participates in Erasmus+, international research projects, and global academic networks.
AlmaU currently has nine active agreements with six Latvian universities: Alberta College, Daugavpils University, Rīga Stradiņš University, Baltic International Academy, RISEBA University of Applied Sciences, and EKA University of Applied Sciences.
Representatives of AlmaU presented the results of joint cooperation under the Erasmus+ programme. In recent years, AlmaU and EKA have organised reciprocal visits by faculty members and university leaders, open lectures, academic exchanges, and discussions on joint research. Particular attention has been given to projects in neuromarketing, neuromanagement, consumer behaviour, and the commercialisation of research.
Cooperation with RISEBA is also developing actively. Faculty members from the Latvian university participate in AlmaU conferences and deliver guest lectures for students.
Dace Rutka positively assessed AlmaU’s existing partnership network and highlighted the strong academic and research potential of the Latvian universities with which the University already cooperates. The Ambassador also spoke about the annual Strategic Partners Forum, traditionally held in autumn. In 2026, the Forum will take place in November, and AlmaU plans to participate, present the University, and establish contacts with new potential partners.
The parties also discussed opportunities to launch joint educational programmes, conduct research and summer schools, participate in Horizon Europe consortia, and implement projects in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Prospective areas also include expanding cooperation with other leading Latvian universities, including the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University.
The meeting marked an important step towards strengthening academic ties between Kazakhstan and Latvia and opened new opportunities for student and faculty mobility, joint research, and international educational projects.