Arai Saniyazova, an employee of Nazarbayev University, has become the first representative from the CIS countries to receive the prestigious NASPA Global Division Award of Distinction, DKNews.kz reports.
The award recognizes outstanding contributions to international student affairs and honors efforts to advance the field outside the United States and Canada.
International recognition in higher education
NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) is an international organization focused on the development of student affairs through:
- research
- professional development
- global cooperation
Its network includes universities and educational institutions across all 50 U.S. states and more than 20 countries worldwide.
Award presented at global conference
The ceremony took place during the annual NASPA conference in Kansas City, which gathered more than 6,500 participants from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.
This year marked the first presentation of the NASPA Global Division Award of Distinction.
The award honors specialists for:
- outstanding programs
- innovative student services
- effective management in student affairs
Recognized for supporting international students
Arai Saniyazova received the award for her work supporting international students at Nazarbayev University, where she has worked since 2011.
During that time, she contributed to:
- improving student experience
- building an inclusive university environment
- developing support systems for academic and social adaptation of international students
She was also appointed to the NASPA Global Division Board, which includes 15 specialists from leading universities around the world.
Academic and international background
Saniyazova holds:
- a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University
- a PhD from Nazarbayev University
She also completed postdoctoral research at:
- the University of California, Berkeley
- the Higher School of Economics in Moscow
Earlier recognition for Nazarbayev University
In 2025, her initiative supporting international students helped Nazarbayev University receive the NASPA MENASA Regional Gold Award.
The recognition was presented for achievements in student affairs across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia region.
Why this matters
The award highlights growing international recognition of Kazakhstan’s higher education professionals and university support systems.
For Nazarbayev University and Kazakhstan’s academic sector, such recognition may help:
- strengthen international partnerships
- attract more foreign students
- improve global visibility of universities
- promote modern student support standards
It also reflects the increasing role of Central Asian specialists in global educational networks.
