Kazakhstan wants Malaysian universities back as it revives its education ties

Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir is leading a three-day official trip to strengthen higher education cooperation with Kazakhstan until September 27, 2026. — Bernama

First Published: Sunday, 27 Sep 2026 10:01 AM MYT

ASTANA, Sept 27 — Kazakhstan is seeking to reconnect with Malaysia and revive higher education cooperation through student mobility, research collaboration, and the establishment of Malaysian university branch campuses in the Central Asian nation.

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek said Malaysia had long been regarded as a model for the country in positioning itself as an international education hub, particularly through its coordinated approach to attracting and supporting international students.

“Historically, we had very good bilateral relations in higher education and research between Kazakhstan and Malaysia. About 15 years ago, there were thousands of Kazakh students receiving education at the best Malaysian universities, both public and private.

“But somehow, we lost momentum,” he told Bernama after attending the opening ceremony of the Malaysia-Central Asia Higher Education Forum 2026 (Mahef2026) at Maqsut Narikbayev University here yesterday.

Nurbek said the visit by Malaysian Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was timely, as both countries sought to relaunch educational bilateral ties.

They identified six key areas of cooperation, including academic exchanges and attracting leading Malaysian universities to establish branch campuses in Kazakhstan.

He said Kazakhstan currently hosts about 40 branch campuses of foreign universities, including institutions from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, Türkiye, South Korea, China, and Russia.

“We need Malaysian universities to come and be part of that hub. Through Kazakhstan, Malaysia can connect with all the countries in the region because we serve as a hub for Central Asian countries,” he said.

Nurbek said other potential areas for joint and dual programmes include energy, particularly nuclear, transition, and alternative energy, and green hydrogen, agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology, health sciences and biotechnology, as well as transportation and logistics.

He said 32 Kazakh universities have more than 80 agreements with 42 Malaysian universities, and 52 Malaysians study in Kazakhstan.

However, these figures do not fully reflect the potential for bilateral cooperation, especially in academic mobility and faculty exchanges.

He added that Kazakhstan plans to utilise its Bolashak international scholarship programme to rebuild academic links with Malaysia through visiting scholar and research fellowship programmes.

Both countries have also agreed to work towards holding an annual Kazakhstan-Malaysia higher education forum.

“We want to reconnect with Malaysia. We want to relaunch our bilateral relations. We want to add that new layer of human dimension, of human connection,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Nurbek said Malaysia’s development of human capital and success in attracting international students had served as a reference point for several reforms Kazakhstan undertook, adding that academic ties offered long-term connections that could endure beyond economic and commercial partnerships.

Education Malaysia Global Services organised Mahef2026, bringing together higher education stakeholders from Malaysia and Central Asia to strengthen cooperation in areas including student mobility, transnational education, technical and vocational education and training, and digital skills.

Zambry, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan until Sunday, is leading Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen higher education cooperation with the Central Asian nation and the wider region. — Bernama