The educational model based on the philosophy of Abai has received international recognition: the Tolyq Adam programme of Almaty Management University (AlmaU) has won the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2026 in the category Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year. AlmaU has become the first university in Central Asia to receive this award, marking a significant achievement not only for the university but also for the entire region.
The award ceremony took place on 22 April 2026 in Hong Kong as part of the THE Asia Universities Summit. In 2026, the shortlist included 80 projects from 17 countries.
“THE Awards Asia were created as a space to recognise the true diversity and depth of the university landscape – achievements that are not always fully captured by formal metrics. This year’s laureates fully embody this idea: for the first time, the winners represent 10 different countries and territories, and their initiatives – diverse and meaningful – demonstrate the transformative power of education. Their stories confirm that higher education in Asia is in a phase of confident growth and is ready to reach even greater heights,” said editor of Times Higher Education Chris Havergal.
The victory of Tolyq Adam in the category Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year confirms the strong international recognition of Kazakhstan’s educational model. The expert jury included Roberta Malee Bassett, Global lead for tertiary education World Bank, as well as representatives of leading global universities – 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.
The jury highlighted AlmaU’s innovative approach to building an educational environment grounded in humanistic values, the philosophy of Abai Kunanbaev (Абай Кунанбаев), and modern pedagogical practices.
“This victory is not only recognition of the university, but also confirmation that the humanistic educational tradition established by Abai Kunanbaev is able to speak a universal language of the modern world. The Tolyq Adam programme is our response to the challenges of the time: we aim to educate not only professionals, but holistic individuals capable of thinking, feeling, and acting responsibly. For AlmaU, this is a step towards deeper integration into the global educational space and, at the same time, a contribution to the development of education in Kazakhstan and the region,” said Rector of Almaty Management University Timur Buldybayev.
The ideological foundation of the programme is the concept of Tolyq Adam by Abai Kunanbayev, reinterpreted through the modern educational model LEADER. It integrates the development of critical thinking, empathy, ethical and environmental awareness, as well as sustainable leadership skills. At its core is the harmonious development of the individual through the unity of mind, heart, and will.
Today, the programme reaches more than 1,000 students annually and includes eight transformational courses aimed at developing a holistic worldview and practical competencies. Project-based learning plays a significant role: during implementation, students have initiated more than 100 social, environmental, and entrepreneurial projects in partnership with NGOs, educational institutions, and business organisations.
According to internal university research for 2024-2025, participants demonstrate steady growth in academic performance and personal development. Students report improved critical and creative thinking, higher levels of empathy and awareness, as well as a clearer understanding of their life goals.
AlmaU’s victory at the THE Awards Asia 2026 highlights Kazakhstan’s growing role in shaping the global education agenda and demonstrates the potential of humanistic education models. The programme is already attracting interest from other universities as a scalable and reproducible practice.
AlmaU will continue to develop the Tolyq Adam initiative, strengthening its mission to educate a new generation of leaders and to build an educational environment in which knowledge becomes a tool for meaningful change.