The year 2026 has been declared the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This is not a political slogan, but a real strategic vector for the country’s development, deeply integrated into the economy, the education system, and public administration.
Kazakhstan has formulated a long-term Concept for the Development of Artificial Intelligence for 2024–2029, aimed at implementing AI solutions across education, the economy, and public governance. At the core of this concept are the creation of a national AI platform and the development of human capital and scientific potential.
Human capital, as the key driver of the future of AI, is becoming an обязательная discipline in all universities across the country, including the University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov. To date, 93 universities have integrated AI courses, more than 390,000 students have completed training, and this is only the beginning.
Twenty-five new educational programs in artificial intelligence are being developed, covering fields ranging from medicine to intelligent transport systems. National standards for integrating AI into education have been approved, making ethics, data protection, and academic integrity mandatory components of the approach. Kazakhstan is actively expanding international scientific cooperation, including partnerships with China and other countries, and is also discussing the establishment of a specialized AI university modeled on leading global examples. At the same time, state programs are being launched to introduce AI into the work of public service, increasing efficiency and opening new digital services for citizens.
In the AI Year 2026, the University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov must become an epicenter of knowledge, an innovator, and a center of competencies. The University is called upon to unite the education of the future; introduce specialized AI courses and interdisciplinary programs; prepare professionals not merely to adapt, but to create AI technologies, products, and startups; develop research in the field of language models and AI applications with a focus on the Kazakh cultural and linguistic context; create its own AI solutions with commercial potential, strengthening the country’s technological sovereignty; build bridges between government, business, and international research centers; serve as a platform for practical internships, hackathons, startup incubators, and joint projects; and promote ethical AI that respects individual rights, cultural diversity, and strengthens public trust in technology.
The IT Department of the University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov is a vitally important strategic driver of the university community. Despite certain instabilities, we have taken a decisive step into the era of total digitalization and artificial intelligence. The rapid development of AI is already influencing the worldview and behavior of employees and, especially, students. There is no alternative to this process, as it is fundamentally transforming the order and lifestyle of the entire academic community. We must be prepared for this change. We must act decisively. Therefore, in my role as Vice Rector for Digitalization, I have set a strategically important objective: to transform the University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov into a fully-fledged digital university within three years.
The year 2026 is a turning point, when artificial intelligence becomes part of the national development strategy, and the university becomes the foundation of this transition. The University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov can become a locomotive of knowledge in the AI era—training leaders, building an ecosystem of innovation, and shaping a future in which Kazakhstan will be not only a user of technologies, but also their creator and an exporter of values.
The future is already here—and a small team of energetic young digital officers from the IT Department of the University of Friendship of Peoples named after Academician A. Kuatbekov is creating it today.
Maksat ESENOV
Vice Rector for Digitalization
University of Friendship of Peoples
named after Academician A. Kuatbekov
Russian