From March 2 to 5, 2026, an AlmaU delegation, led by the university’s senior leadership, took part in an offsite meeting of the Board of Trustees held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. This visit became one of the key international events for the university, combining strategic agenda discussions with the expansion of partnerships with leading educational institutions in Asia.
The Board of Trustees of AlmaU includes prominent representatives from business, academia, and international organizations, including:
- Yerkin Tatishev – Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Almaty Management University, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Kusto Group;
- Janat Berdalina – Independent Director at Solidcore Resources plc (a Polymetal company), Co-founder of Erkin El NGO, Member of the Advisory Board of WomenTech Kazakhstan;
- Zhaxybek Kulekeyev – Advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC KazMunayGas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NJSC Eurasian National University named after L. Gumilyov;
- Assylbek Kozhakhmetov – Founder and President of EI “Almaty Management University”;
- Erlan Dosymbekov – Managing Partner of EY Caucasus and Central Asia;
- Andrey Linnik – Advisor to the Chairman of the Board of Aspara Munay LLP;
- Gulbanu Pazylkhair – General Director of Altyn Samruk Qazaqstan JSC;
- Dinara Seijaparova – Representative of the UN Global Compact in Kazakhstan, Sustainable Development and ESG Expert;
- Tan Chin Tiong – Honorary Professor at Singapore Management University, Professor of Marketing at the Lee Kong Chian School of Business;
- Asset Abdualiev – Founder and CEO of Silkroad Innovation Hub, Founding Partner at BuildTech VC (Silicon Valley, USA);
- Xiaobo Wu – Director of the National Institute of Innovation Management, Zhejiang University.
The meeting in Seoul was also attended by Sholpan Tazabek, Vice-Rector for Global Partnerships at AlmaU, and Timur Buldibaev, First Vice-Rector of AlmaU.
During the meeting, key priorities of AlmaU’s development were discussed, including the implementation of the 2025-2028 strategy, digital transformation and the integration of artificial intelligence, the development of academic programs, and the strengthening of corporate governance.
The meeting was held at Seoul Cyber University in a specially designated Kazakh Room – a space reflecting the cultural and academic ties between Kazakhstan and Korea. Notably, this room was visited by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in 2021. The university campus also features representations of Abai, highlighting respect for Kazakh culture.
A significant part of the program included visits to leading universities in South Korea. The AlmaU delegation visited Seoul National University, one of Asia’s top research institutions, where participants explored advanced developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The AlmaU delegation also visited Korea University (KU), where a meeting was held with the university’s leadership to discuss opportunities for academic cooperation.
One of the key highlights of the visit was the trip to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), a recognized center for education in international relations, languages, and regional studies. HUFS is the only university in South Korea where the Kazakh language is taught.
During the visit, meetings were held with the university’s leadership, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to promote academic mobility and joint educational programs. As a symbol of strengthening academic ties, AlmaU presented the book “In Search of an Effective Model of a Kazakhstani University” to the HUFS library.
Special attention was given to the guest lecture delivered by Professor Zhaxybek Kulekeyev, dedicated to the draft of Kazakhstan’s new Constitution and the country’s socio-economic development. The lecture attracted significant interest from HUFS students and faculty. The event was attended by special correspondents from Khabar and 24KZ, and a television report is forthcoming.
South Korean students were introduced to the draft Constitution of Kazakhstan.
It is also worth noting that in September 2026, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies plans to confer the title of Honorary Professor upon the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, underscoring the high level of academic and intergovernmental cooperation.
As a result of the visit, important agreements were reached to further strengthen AlmaU’s international position, develop academic and research initiatives, and expand cooperation with South Korean universities.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea for their comprehensive support and assistance throughout the AlmaU delegation’s visit. We also extend our appreciation to Seoul Cyber University, Seoul National University, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies for their warm hospitality, excellent organization of meetings, and openness to further cooperation.
The offsite Board of Trustees meeting in Seoul marked a significant milestone in AlmaU’s development and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to global partnership, innovation, and academic leadership.