Kazakhstan‑Malaysia university forum signs more than 80 cooperation pacts

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

The inaugural Kazakhstan‑Malaysia University Forum in Astana concluded with over 80 agreements signed between more than 40 Kazakhstani and 30 Malaysian higher‑education institutions, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education said.

The agreements were formalised on the forum’s final day, including a pact between the National Center for Higher Education Development and Education Malaysia Global Services and a separate deal linking Almaty Management University with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek told delegates that the forum established an institutional foundation for deeper collaboration. He warned that signing memorandums alone is insufficient, urging partners to deliver tangible outcomes in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, engineering and innovation. Nurbek’s remarks echoed the priority list outlined in the new agreements, which aim to nurture highly qualified human capital for both countries.

Representatives from ten Kazakh universities – including Al‑Farabi Kazakh National University, Satbayev University and Nazarbayev University – met with a Malaysian delegation comprising Education Malaysia Global Services, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, IMU University, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Universiti Malaya‑Wales. The Malaysian side also brought the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, underscoring a focus on quality assurance and credit transfer mechanisms.

During the visit, Malaysian Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir delivered a lecture at Gumilyov Eurasian National University and was named an honorary professor of the institution. He later toured the Kazakh National University of Sport, where officials briefed the delegation on ongoing projects and discussed further cooperation pathways.

The forum’s outcomes matter for Malaysia because they open new channels for Malaysian universities to attract Kazakh students and to embed Malaysian expertise in fast‑growing sectors such as AI and digital tech. For Kazakh institutions, the partnerships provide access to Malaysia’s established research networks and potential funding streams, helping to diversify their international collaborations beyond traditional Western partners.

Both sides plan to convene a follow‑up meeting within the next twelve months to review progress on the signed agreements and to identify additional joint initiatives. The ministries indicated that a joint steering committee will monitor implementation, ensuring that the newly signed pacts move beyond paperwork to deliver measurable academic and research results.