On 16th September in New York, Almaty Management University (AlmaU) and the New York Film Academy (NYFA) signed an agreement of cooperation in the field of educational programs.
The signing ceremony, which took place within the walls of the New York Academy, was attended by NYFA president Michael Young, AlmaU president Assylbek Kozakhmetov, and Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the USA Yerzhan Ashikbayev, as well as various representatives of the foundation.
Supported by the Presidential Initiatives Fund, this partnership marks an important milestone in the collaboration between higher education institutions in Kazakhstan and the USA. A key aspect of the agreement is the joint commitment to train qualified specialists for innovative careers and to promote the growth of the creative industry.
According to the Dean of the AlmaU School of Media and Film, Anara Sekeyeva, this agreement aims to stimulate progress and the growth of opportunities in the global international educational arena, especially within the framework of the rapidly evolving Media and Film industry.
“For our country and our students, this agreement provides significant benefits, allowing our students to pursue their education without having to leave the country. Kazakh students can receive a high-quality international education with a technical and contemporary understanding of the Cinema Industry, encompassing fields such as filmmaking and acting” she said.
Sekeyeva highlighted the particular attention the university already devotes to filmmaking and the art of acting in cinema.
“Under this agreement, we anticipate participation in project-based activities such as film production, pitching and student projects where students can create their own films. There are also advantages for US students, in that the agreement allows them to study here” she added.
The School of Media and Film is a new development for AlmaU, established in April 2021 in partnership with Kazakhfilm JSC, named after Shaken Aimanov. The school offers a filmmaking program which allows a student to choose their own specialism: directing, producing or screenwriting. This is a standard system used in US universities, where the first two years of study provide a consistent foundation for all students, before allowing them to choose a specialism based on their interests and abilities.
It is located on Kazakhfilm territory, offering students the unique opportunity to engage in the film production process while continuing their studies.
“Modern technological capabilities mean students can shoot everything in virtual production studios located in the AlmaU Sport&Art Zone. This studio could significantly facilitate online training and hybrid formats, or host teaching staff. It could also serve as a site for training existing industry specialists and broadening their experience with using this kind of equipment” – Anara Sekeyeva, Dean of the AlmaU School of Media and Film.