Monday, 25 May 2026
Kazakhstan and Egypt strengthen university partnerships
In a promising step for academic ties between Central Asia and North Africa, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Askar Zhengis, met this week with President Ahmed Dallal of the American University in Cairo (AUC) to discuss new possibilities for cooperation between universities in both nations.
The meeting focused on expanding partnerships in higher education, particularly in scientific research and student exchanges. Ambassador Zhengis outlined Kazakhstan’s ongoing efforts to internationalize its education system, which include opening branch campuses of prominent foreign universities as part of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s broader educational reforms. He noted the strong interest among Kazakhstani students in Egyptian universities, with many currently studying at Al-Azhar University, Cairo University, and Ain Shams University.
President Dallal, for his part, highlighted the historic ties between AUC and Kazakh universities. He recalled the signing of a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation with Nazarbayev University in December 2024, an agreement designed to enhance joint academic and research programs. President Dallal also expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and welcomed the prospect of hosting its leadership in Cairo.
Founded in 1919, the American University in Cairo stands out as a hub for academic excellence in the region, offering degrees in English and adhering to the U.S. higher education model. Its four main faculties—Business, Global Affairs and Public Policy, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Sciences and Engineering—have nurtured many of Egypt’s prominent public officials and business leaders, including Central Bank Governor Hassan Abdalla, Minister of Economic Development Rania Al-Mashat, and leading entrepreneur Naguib Sawiris.
The ongoing dialogue between Kazakh and Egyptian educational leaders highlights a growing commitment to international academic cooperation, promising exciting opportunities for students and researchers in both countries.