Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), a top-tier Chinese university based in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, has signed a cooperation agreement with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to establish the Kazakhstan branch of NPU on May 19th in Xi’an.

According to Song Baowei, president of NPU, the NPU-Kazakhstan branch school will address the growing demand for local science and engineering talent from Chinese-funded enterprises in Kazakhstan. The branch will facilitate joint enrollment, jointly develop training plans, and provide joint training with the aim of developing highly skilled talent to meet the demand of the local industry.

According to Song, the educational program will enroll both undergraduate and graduate students, with the initial batch consisting of 60 master's students selected to develop specialized skills in areas such as materials science and computer science for the Central Asian region.

Principal Tuimebayev Zhanseit Kanseituly of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University commented that the establishment of a Chinese high-level university branch in Kazakhstan is a groundbreaking event in the fields of education and technology between the two countries.

The principal of Kazakhstan stated that “the establishment of a branch in our school would greatly enhance academic and technological exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, and we are extremely pleased with this cooperation. I believe this will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.” 

The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, located in Almaty, was founded in 1934 and is Kazakhstan’s most prestigious academic institution.

The university has established cooperative relationships with 43 Chinese universities, including Peking University, Shanghai International Studies University, Wuhan University, Xinjiang University, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

The establishment of the Kazakhstan branch of NPU will further enhance cooperation and exchanges in education between China and Kazakhstan.