A global scholarship with outsize impact at home and beyond

The Bolashak Scholarship Programme was established in 1993 and has played a pivotal role in shaping Kazakhstan’s future by sending the nation’s brightest students to leading international universities.

The programme focuses on key sectors such as education, healthcare, engineering, data science and public administration, cultivating the expertise necessary to drive the country’s economic growth and technological innovation.

In 2020, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined a strategic vision for the programme: to train 500 mid-career professionals annually at top universities around the world.

This ambitious target aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader goal of developing a highly skilled workforce in critical areas that are essential for the country’s sustained growth and advancement.

By 2023, more than 2,000 Bolashak scholars had been trained at leading academic institutions.

This concentration reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to producing professionals who will spearhead advancements in engineering, data science and computer science, life sciences and healthcare, environmental science and sustainable energy, and public policy and governance.

This strategic targeting of high-demand fields highlights the programme’s critical role in preparing Kazakhstan for the challenges of the modern global economy.

The programme’s ability to adapt to shifting global trends in technology and innovation underscores its ongoing relevance to the country’s economic diversification efforts.

Integration, research and impact

The United States has become a primary destination for Bolashak scholars, with more than 30% of Bolashak scholars choosing American universities in recent years as the US has been able to offer scholars access to cutting-edge laboratories, specialised research resources and international conferences.

Since 2020, US institutions have hosted over 500 scholars, providing opportunities to participate in high-impact research projects that address both global challenges and issues of direct relevance to Kazakhstan.

Bolashak scholars benefit not only from academic knowledge but also from hands-on research experience that equips them to contribute to Kazakhstan’s scientific, technological and economic development.

The integration of these scholars into US universities is facilitated through tailored academic support systems that help them navigate cultural and academic adjustments.

These include mentorship programmes, workshops and specialised seminars, all designed to ensure the success of Bolashak scholars during their time abroad.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experience

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US is a diverse and dynamic institution with over 59,000 students, supported by a faculty of 2,848 and a dedicated staff of 10,700.

Offering more than 150 undergraduate majors and 150 graduate programmes, the university provides extensive educational opportunities across 15 colleges and instructional units, including 151 online degree and certificate options.

With a global network of 545,000 alumni and a strong commitment to online education, the university was a pioneer in the field, launching its first fully online course in 1995 and now offering over 2,000 online courses, including 190+ MOOCs, to seven million learners worldwide.

Since 2021, the Global Education and Training (GET) initiative at the University of Illinois has welcomed over 150 Bolashak scholars. By 2024, this number reached a historic milestone of 88 scholars in a single cohort, making Illinois one of the leading host institutions for the programme.

In total, Illinois now hosts the largest Bolashak cohort in its history, with scholars coming from 42 institutions across Kazakhstan, including 29 universities, six research institutes and various government ministries.

This broad representation highlights the programme’s national scope and its ability to identify and support talent from diverse sectors within Kazakhstan.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has earned its status as a leading destination for Bolashak scholars through a combination of tailored support, academic collaboration and robust professional development initiatives.

GET staff work closely with various academic units across campus to provide individualised support to Bolashak scholars, matching them with faculty mentors from fields as diverse as law, environmental ecology, data science and higher education innovation trends.

This mentorship system not only enhances the scholars’ academic experience but also opens up avenues for personalised research opportunities.

Bolashak scholars participate in a range of activities designed to enrich their academic and professional experiences.

For example, scholars are involved in course audits, seminars and research development workshops to deepen their understanding of subjects related to their fields.

In partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Teaching & Learning, Bolashak scholars also have access to pedagogical training that enhances their teaching and research skills.

It is worth noting that many Bolashak scholars, as part of their 12-month research projects, have reported that their research articles have been submitted or even accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Kazakhstani universities are particularly focused on increasing the number of articles published in Scopus-indexed journals in order to meet the key performance indicators set forth in the Concept for the Development of Higher Education and Science in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023 to 2029.

Publishing in Scopus-indexed journals remains a significant challenge for researchers and faculty members across higher education institutions in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.

Cross-cultural understanding

In addition to the academic benefits, the cultural exchange aspect of the Bolashak Programme is vital. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bolashak scholars engage in a variety of cultural exchange activities that not only help them share Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage but also expose them to different cultural perspectives.

Events like the “Intercultural Spotlight on Kazakhstan” and the “Travel around the World” programme allow scholars to showcase Kazakh culture while learning about global traditions and practices.

Moreover, the QazTalk Kazakh Language Speaking Club initiated by the Russian, East European and Eurasian Center provides an informal yet valuable platform for Bolashak scholars to teach and interact with other students and faculty members on campus interested in Kazakh culture and language.

This type of cultural exchange fosters mutual understanding and promotes the development of cross-cultural communication skills, which are increasingly crucial in today’s interconnected world.

Bolashak scholars return home not only with academic credentials but also with hands-on research experience, international networks and a global perspective that will allow them to address pressing national challenges.

The growing network of Bolashak alumni plays a crucial role in fostering ongoing collaboration between Kazakhstan and global academic institutions.

These alumni serve as ambassadors, fostering partnerships, research collaborations and knowledge exchange that amplify the impact of the programme well beyond the scholars themselves.

Shynar Imangaliyeva is programme coordinator for global education and training at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.

This article is a commentary. Commentary articles are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of University World News.