On June 12–13, 2026, Almaty hosted the first-ever International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) regional conference in Central Asia. IAUP is one of the world's most influential associations of higher education leaders. The IAUP Central Asia Regional Conference, held under the theme “Impact-driven Universities: Education, Leadership and Societal Change” brought together more than 100 university leaders, representatives of international organizations, government institutions, and experts from over 25 countries across Central Asia, Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The conference was organized by Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in partnership with the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, The Phoenix Philanthropy Group, British Council, QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the Eurasian Chapter of Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), and the Almaty Tourism Bureau.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by IAUP President, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Sias University Shawn Chen and AlmaU Founder and President Assylbek Kozhakhmetov. Participants were also addressed via video message by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek.
“We strive to ensure that our educational innovations based on the philosophy of nomadic culture - sustainability, adaptability and mutual support - are studied and applied by colleagues around the world " said Assylbek Kozhakhmetov.
“Central Asia has a large and growing youth population. That is why hosting international conferences of this kind is particularly important for the region” emphasized Shawn Chen.
Among the keynote speakers of the conference were Geopolitics & Geoeconomics Strategist Former President of the board of trustees of John von Neumann University Norbert Csizmadia, NECHE President Lawrence M. Schall, QAA Executive Director Rob Stroud, Sunway University President Sibrandes Poppema, IAUP Secretary General Tatsuro Tanioka, President of Seoul Cyber University Eun-Joo Lee as well as representatives of UNESCO, Yale University, McGill University, Babson College, CETYS University, and other leading international organizations and universities. The conference program continued with a series of keynote, plenary, and panel discussions. The discussions focused on key issues related to university transformation, international quality standards, entrepreneurship education, sustainable development, the role of private universities, and the position of Central Asia in the global higher education landscape.
Within the framework of the conference, the international publication “Universities After AI: Voices from the Global Frontier” was presented.
As a result of the conference, 40 memorandums of cooperation were signed, aimed at advancing joint educational programs, research initiatives, and international partnerships.
The IAUP Central Asia 2026 conference marked an important milestone in strengthening Kazakhstan’s international academic profile, enhancing global academic cooperation, and positioning the country as a regional hub for science, education, and innovation.
