A meeting with representatives of Middlebury College and American University was held at Abai University

On April 2, 2025, an official meeting was held at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University (Abai KazNPU) between the university`s leadership and representatives of Middlebury College and several American higher education institutions. The event was organized to strengthen international cooperation and further the process of internationalization at Abai KazNPU.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for academic and scientific collaboration, the development of student and faculty academic mobility, and the implementation of joint research projects.

The meeting was attended by Vice-rector for Academic Affairs of Abai KazNPU Banu Narbekov, Vice-rector for Strategy and Internationalization Aigul Iskakova, Director of the Department of International Cooperation Bayan Sapargalieva, Head of the Middlebury College branch in Kazakhstan Nana Tsikhelashvili, program coordinator of the Middlebury College branch in Kazakhstan Anna Melnikova, Director of extracurricular Education at Grinnell College Alicia Stanley, Nicole Garcia, Deputy Director of the University`s Department of International Education, Katie Saibara, Deputy Director of International Studies at Wellesley College, Marina Aptekman, Senior Lecturer at Tufts University, Dallas Tatman, Assistant Director of Scholarships at Washington and Lee University, Francoise Ross, Associate Professor of Russian at Wheaton College, Giorgio Dimauro, Deputy Vice Rector for International Initiatives and Special Projects Barnard College, Deputy Director for Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies at Wesleyan University, was attended by Associate Professor Roman Utkin, Jeffers Engelhardt Professor of Music at Amherst College, Susan Parsons, Assistant Director of Middlebury College and Adviser on Kazakhstan, Asa Waterworth, Associate Professor of University Relations at Middlebury College.

During the meeting, discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation, interactions within academic programs and faculty exchange, as well as opportunities for international internships and academic exchanges for Abai KazNPU students.

Following the meeting, guests visited the Abai KazNPU museum and took a campus tour to familiarize themselves with the university`s infrastructure.

This meeting was an important step in deepening educational cooperation between universities in Kazakhstan and the United States. Abai KazNPU remains committed to developing joint projects with international partners and creating new opportunities for its students and faculty.