78 students from Kazakhstan are studying at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania. The figure was highlighted during a visit by Kazakhstan's Ambassador Timur Urazayev to the university in Kaunas, where he met with Rector Ineta Dabašinskienė to discuss academic cooperation, according to information from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Lithuania.
More than 100 Kazakhstani nationals are currently pursuing higher education in Kaunas, making the city an important destination for students seeking international academic experience, DKNews.kz reports.
The visit also included a meeting with Kazakhstani students, who discussed their studies, living conditions and consular assistance needs with the Ambassador.
Lithuanian university praises Kazakhstani students
During the meeting, Rector Ineta Dabašinskienė spoke positively about the academic performance and commitment of students from Kazakhstan.
A Lithuanian scholar and member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Dabašinskienė is familiar with Kazakhstan and its education system.
She highlighted the contribution of educational initiatives such as the Bolashak Scholarship and iQanat to developing talented and motivated young people.
According to the Rector, Kazakhstani students demonstrate a strong level of knowledge and a responsible attitude toward their studies.
The university's experience with students from Kazakhstan provides a foundation for expanding academic exchanges and cooperation with Kazakhstani higher education institutions.
Kazakhstan has allocated more than 655,000 university grants
Ambassador Urazayev outlined Kazakhstan's efforts to expand access to education and strengthen its scientific potential.
He emphasized the importance of education and the country's commitment to fostering a culture that values knowledge and academic achievement.
According to figures presented during the meeting, Kazakhstan has made substantial investments in education over the past seven years:
- 1,483 kindergartens have opened.
- 1,342 schools have been built.
- More than 655,000 higher education grants have been allocated.
- The reported total value of the higher education grants reached 1.5 trillion теңге.
These figures cover a seven-year period rather than a single academic year.
The Ambassador presented the investments as part of Kazakhstan's broader strategy to improve educational opportunities and develop a qualified workforce.
Foreign university branches support Kazakhstan's industrial needs
Another topic was Kazakhstan's policy of attracting leading international universities to establish branches and educational partnerships within the country.
The initiative is intended to bring international academic expertise closer to Kazakhstani students while supporting the economy's demand for qualified specialists.
Particular attention is being paid to engineering and technology disciplines, including mechanical engineering and information technology.
These fields are important for Kazakhstan's industrial development, infrastructure projects and digital transformation.
By developing specialized education at home, Kazakhstan aims to strengthen its capacity to train professionals for sectors that require advanced technical knowledge.
Nuclear energy creates demand for new scientific expertise
Urazayev also discussed the priorities outlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his State of the Nation Address.
The Ambassador emphasized that a significant part of the President's agenda concerns education, research infrastructure and the preparation of highly qualified specialists.
Training personnel for the nuclear energy sector was identified as one of the areas requiring particular attention.
Developing nuclear energy expertise involves specialized scientific and engineering education, making cooperation between universities and research institutions especially relevant.
The discussions placed these priorities within Kazakhstan's broader efforts to connect education policy with long-term economic and technological development.
Vytautas Magnus University seeks closer academic cooperation
During their meeting, Urazayev and Dabašinskienė discussed opportunities to deepen cooperation in education and science.
The Rector noted that Vytautas Magnus University already maintains close relationships with higher education institutions in Kazakhstan.
Academic exchanges are also developing actively, creating opportunities for students and researchers to gain international experience.
Such cooperation can support joint educational initiatives, academic mobility and stronger institutional links between Kazakhstan and Lithuania.
The meeting focused on future opportunities, although no specific new agreements, funding commitments or exchange quotas were announced.
Ambassador meets Kazakhstani students in Kaunas
As part of the visit, Urazayev held a separate meeting with students from Kazakhstan.
The participants shared their experiences of studying and living in Lithuania, including practical matters affecting their daily lives.
They also discussed their needs for consular assistance, providing the diplomatic mission with an opportunity to hear directly from Kazakhstani nationals studying abroad.
Such meetings help maintain contact between the Embassy and students while identifying issues that may require consular support.
Why Lithuania matters for Kazakhstan's education partnerships
The presence of more than 100 Kazakhstani students in Kaunas demonstrates the role Lithuanian universities play in Kazakhstan's international education network.
For students, studying abroad offers opportunities to experience different academic systems, develop professional skills and build international connections.
For Kazakhstan's universities, partnerships with Lithuanian institutions can support academic exchanges and cooperation in research and teaching.
The meeting at Vytautas Magnus University also highlighted the relationship between Kazakhstan's domestic education reforms and its international academic engagement.
As the country invests in scientific infrastructure and technical training, cooperation with foreign universities remains one of the channels for exchanging expertise and preparing specialists for emerging economic needs.
Earlier, we reported on Kazakhstan and Lithuania's cooperation in education, IT and investment, including previous meetings between Kazakh diplomats and universities in Kaunas. The latest visit builds on those academic contacts and highlights the growing importance of student mobility between the two countries.
