On October 22, 2025, the AlmaU Impact Forum, held in partnership with the SDG Alliance, was held at AlmaU to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN). The forum served as an expert platform for discussing the practical aspects of integrating the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the ESG agenda into higher education, corporate governance, and urban development. Representatives from more than 20 Kazakhstani universities, heads of educational institutions, researchers, ESG experts, representatives of the private sector, NGOs, and international institutions participated in the forum. The forum program combined three key areas: education, sustainable development, and urban studies. The organizers were the Institute of International Relations, the Institute of Urban Studies, Tolyq Adam, and the Institute of Education.
The forum was opened by Asylbek Kozhakhmetov, Member of the IAUP (International Association of University Presidents) Executive Committee and AlmaU Founder and Rector, emphasizing that sustainable development is not a fad, but a principle ingrained in the university’s mission:
“For AlmaU, sustainable development is not a trend or a fad. It is our value compass. It is a fundamental norm, embedded in the very mission of our entrepreneurial university – to make a real impact on the development of the economy and society. True transformation occurs only when academia, government, and the private sector work as a unified whole. The time has come to build a New Central Asia – a region that can and must become the epicenter of creative, ethical, and sustainable leadership.”
Continuing this line of thought, Vlastimil Samek, representative of the UN Department of Global Communications and head of the UN Information Office in Kazakhstan, noted the importance of moving from declarations to action:
“Living sustainably shouldn’t be a fad; it’s something we need to live by. We’re slightly behind schedule on the SDG trajectory by 2030, but Kazakhstan is demonstrating a commitment to increasing impact and deepening international cooperation.”
Zoya Kasenova, a representative of the Almaty SPK, continued her welcoming speech, emphasizing the city’s role as a driver of environmental and social development:
“Almaty is becoming a center for shaping the strategic agenda for sustainable development, green thinking, and a culture of responsibility. The SPK’s goal is to create conditions for sustainable development, from green transportation to participation in projects like today’s forum.”
Vadim Tsurikov, SDG Alliance’s Director of Research and Innovation, added:
“Sustainable development is no longer abstract – it involves concrete actions and measurable results. By implementing SDG and ESG principles, we are shaping a generation of leaders for whom sustainability is the norm.”
The forum featured three panel discussions, bringing together leading experts and practitioners from various fields. The first session, “Sustainability: New Trend or New Normal?”, moderated by Irina Gorbacheva, Director of Sustainable Solutions, brought together representatives from consulting, education, and the corporate sector.
The panel session featured:
• Kamila Sungat, Sustainability Manager at KPMG
• Saltanat Basembekova, Acting Head of the Office of Sustainability, Nazarbayev University
• Timur Eleusizov, Chairman of the Eco Fund
• Nursultan Zikriya, Senior Manager of ESG Management, Freedom Holding Corp.
According to Kamila Sungat (KPMG), ESG drivers include both external factors – the expectations of investors, the government, and society – and internal factors – corporate culture, shareholder values, and employee values.
“In addition to financial indicators, non-financial aspects – environmental and social – are becoming increasingly important. They shape a company’s reputation and long-term sustainability,” she emphasized.
Timur Eleusizov, Chairman of the Eco Fund, added that sustainability must be demonstrated through real actions, not just empty declarations:
“By 2027, many companies will struggle to remain in the market due to their failure to meet global environmental requirements. True sustainability is the ability to operate even without external funding. This requires specialists capable of integrating SDG and ESG principles into corporate practices.”
A logical continuation of this theme was the second panel discussion, “Urban Experiments in Achieving Sustainable Development,” which addressed issues of urban policy, transport infrastructure, and ecosystem-based solutions.
The session was attended by:
• Ivan Ryaposov, Research Fellow, AlmaU Institute of Urban Studies
• Zarina Dauletkan, Director of the AlmaU Institute of Urban Studies
• Dinmukhamed Ushpayev, Transport Analyst, Future of Mobility, AlmaU Graduate
• Madina Dzhunusova, Research Fellow, Institute of Public Administration and Policy, University of Central Asia
• Marlis Linke, Head of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Representative Office in Central Asia
• Roman Barabanov, Urban Mobility Expert
Marlis Linke noted that a sustainable city is not only about ecology but also about quality of life:
“Urban spaces should provide opportunities for work, education, and recreation, creating a comfortable environment for all categories of citizens.”
Zarina Dauletkan, Director of the AlmaU Institute of Urban Studies, shared the university’s experience:
“We are developing the educational program ‘Urban Studies and City Management,’ where students work with real urban cases.” Our Green and Safe Streets project, which won an award at Tomorrow City Shanghai, demonstrates how infrastructure solutions impact the ecology and quality of the urban environment.”
The third session, “Education with Impact: How to Form Generations That Will Change Society,” focused on the role of educational institutions in fostering sustainable thinking. The session was moderated by Sholpan Tazabek, Vice-Rector for Global Partnerships at AlmaU.
Participating in the discussion were:
Asel Tasmagambetova, Founder of the Sh. Ualikhanov School; Aigul Sarenova, Director of the Tolyq Adam Institute; Kamila Rolland, PhD, Head of the Inclusive Education Department at SDU; Aidar Kazybayev, Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Global ESG Partnership; and Marzhan Tadjieva, Project Manager at Turn It Around CCE CapsUnlock.
According to Asel Tasmagambetova, sustainable thinking must be developed from childhood:
“We conduct workshops on the SDGs for elementary grades, explaining to children the importance of conserving resources and protecting the environment. For example, my daughter knows her goal – SDG 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation” – and is already consciously saving water.”
The forum concluded with a poster session presenting student initiatives aimed at solving environmental and social problems. The young participants demonstrated that impact begins with personal responsibility and concrete actions, not just loud slogans.
Thus, the AlmaU Impact Forum, in partnership with the SDG Alliance, was an important step in strengthening the partnership between universities, businesses, government agencies, and the research community. The forum demonstrated that sustainable development is not a temporary trend, but a new norm shaping a future in which science, education, and society work together to
create a green, just, and inclusive world. It is important to note that students from the Institute of International Relations actively volunteered at the forum.