In a bid to bring Heriot-Watt’s learning and teaching offering to an even broader international audience, the partnership will initially see the delivery of undergraduate dual-degree engineering programs to a new intake of 300 students per year.

“The main goal of the cooperation with Heriot-Watt University is to improve the quality of education according to international standards and to prepare strong staff for the western region of Kazakhstan,” said Sayasat Nurbek, minister of science and higher education for the Republic of Kazakhstan.

According to Heriot-Watt, all programs will be integrated into its wider global provision of ‘One Heriot-Watt’ which promotes the idea that “wherever a Heriot-Watt student is located, the learning outcomes of their programs are identical, with one Heriot-Watt University degree certificate globally”.

“This is an exciting development, one that goes to the heart of what we stand for as an institution” said Mark Biggs, vice-principal and provost of Heriot-Watt University, while attending a ceremony at the Zhubanov campus in Aktobe to announce the partnership.

“Heriot-Watt has a tradition of being pioneering in international education driven by our values of access to higher education and outstanding performance in graduate employability,” he continued.

“We look forward to a long and successful partnership”

Biggs said the announcement marks the next step in Heriot-Watt’s “pioneering journey” while creating a “historic milestone” for both institutions.

“We look forward to a long and successful partnership,” he added.

In February 2023, the two universities, along with Kazakhstan’s Ministry for Science and Higher Education signed a memorandum of understanding focused on the development of staff at K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University.

This will also stretch to establishing research collaborations, with the possibility of bringing the National Robotarium to Kazakhstan – Heriot-Watt’s global research institute focusing on robotics and AI.