Kazakhstan’s knowledge economy is in a ‘delta moment’

Kazakhstan’s short history as an independent country and its geographical position between Europe and Asia are advantages as it aims to develop into a knowledge economy, Loretta O’Donnell, vice-provost for academic affairs at Nazarbayev University has said.

Set up in 2010 by president Nursultan Nazarbayev, the institution was the venue chosen by Chinese president Xi Jinping to announce the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013. In conversation with Times Higher Education at the recent THE Asia Universities Summit, Dr O’Donnell said that participating in the scheme will influence the university’s curriculum and mission to be an international, research-intensive institution.