Future-proofing relations with institutions in Central Asia

The management of the University of Debrecen and Kazakhstan's Astana IT University discussed the preparation of a complex agreement concerning education, research and economic development. The honorary consul of Hungary to Kazakhstan also attended the online meeting.

The representatives of the two higher education institutions also discussed the coordination of medical and health science courses, as well as industrial installation, development and business opportunities. Astana IT University was represented at the meeting on Thursday by Andrey Alexandrovich Beloshitsky. The vice-rector for science and innovation said that IT University in Astana is a nationally and internationally recognized, major scientific institution that plays a leading role in the region's research and innovation activities, and also shoulders significant social responsibility. With its innovative technological focus, the important goal of the institution is the implementation of the smart and digital university model. Due to academic excellence and high level of technological education, the demand for the institute’s graduates is constantly high. 
At the consultation, Okszana Kiszil, coordination and strategy director described the educational and scientific portfolio and innovation activities of the University of Debrecen. Speaking about the institution's health industry research and development, Rector Zoltán Szilvássy said that, as it turned out, the negotiations revealed many similarities discovered between the two universities.

- Both universities have an industrial park and carry out their research, development and innovation activities in a cluster environment, so it soon became clear that this cooperation goes beyond the traditional education-research and student mobility agreement; industrial installation and economic development can be given a great deal of emphasis - Zoltán Szilvássy said, evaluating the meeting.

The rector added: the new cooperation can give another boost to the institution's already very active relationship-building activities in Central Asia, as the university currently has relations with numerous Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek institutions. There are currently 141 students from Kazakhstan, 53 from Kyrgyzstan and 25 from Uzbekistan, 11 from Turkmenistan and 7 from Tajikistan studying at DE.
Jambulat Sarsenov, honorary consul of Hungary to Kazakhstan, also attended the meeting. He emphasized that the planned agreement is in line with the planned cooperation between the member countries of the Turkic Council and can contribute to the effective economic development of the region.

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