President of Estonia Delivers Lecture to Nazarbayev University Students, DKNews.kz reports.
On November 17, President of the Republic of Estonia Professor Alar Karis visited Nazarbayev University (NU) as part of a state visit to Kazakhstan. NU is recognized as a leading university in Central Asia and the Caucasus according to the prestigious Times Higher Education ranking. The Estonian presidential delegation also included Ambassador of Estonia to Kazakhstan Jaap Ora, Vice Minister of Education and Research Renno Veinthal, presidential advisors and rectors of leading Estonian universities. The guests were welcomed by Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek and NU President Waqar Ahmad.
Professor Karis delivered a guest lecture titled “Connectivity, Common Interests, and Cooperation”, attended by over 200 participants, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students from programs in public policy, education, artificial intelligence, and other disciplines.
“Unlike the long and distinguished history of the University of Tartu, we remain a young university. What NU may lack in age, we compensate with our determination to become a world-class institution, serve our country and region, and contribute to addressing global challenges,” Waqar Ahmad said in presenting the Kazakh university to the Estonian president.
In his address, President Karis emphasized the importance of education and science for the future of nations, highlighted the shared historical and cultural ties between Estonia and Kazakhstan, and underscored the role of trust and clear rules in international relations.
“I am pleased to be in Kazakhstan and to deliver my first speech here, in front of NU students. As a former rector of two universities in Estonia, I understand very well the significance of knowledge and its application for the benefit of the people. Although we are geographically distant, Kazakhs and Estonians have much in common. We share a rich history, both direct and indirect. We have both been part of ancient trade routes, experienced much, learned many lessons, and now share knowledge with each other,” Professor Alar Karis said.
A portion of the lecture was dedicated to artificial intelligence, particularly its role in education. He stressed the importance of responsible use of technology and preparing youth for future challenges.
“Today we face a new challenge — artificial intelligence. The most effective way to address it is through education: teaching children to be conscious users, informing them about the benefits of AI, and the risks it carries. In Estonia, we have launched a nationwide program called AI League, providing teachers and students with access to AI platforms specifically adapted for school learning. I know that Kazakhstan has made significant progress in using digital tools and applications in education. I am confident that there are many opportunities for collaboration in the future,” the president noted.
In turn, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek noted that the Estonian President’s lecture for students, held during his visit, marks the beginning of a new stage in bilateral cooperation in education and science.
“Today’s visit of President of Estonia Alar Karis and his lecture for our students open a new stage of cooperation in the fields of education and science. Estonian universities are distinguished by their high quality, strong research schools, and advanced digital solutions. For the first time at the level of heads of state, an intergovernmental agreement was signed, as well as six documents on academic mobility, student and faculty exchange, and joint research. We have much to learn from Estonia, which is among the world leaders in digitalization and PISA. These agreements create a solid foundation for long-term partnerships between our universities,” said Minister Sayasat Nurbek.
President Karis signed the NU Guestbook and participated in a campus tour, where he also familiarized himself with AI developments at the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence, which created Kazakhstan’s first large language model, KazLLM.
The university visit concluded with the opening of the Kazakhstan-Estonia Rectors’ Forum, where vice ministers of higher education and science from both countries, along with university rectors, discussed prospects for cooperation in higher education and scientific research.
