On December 10, 2024, Nazarbayev University organized the final Town Hall meeting of the year with university staff. The event was marked by a series of significant announcements and recognitions.
President of NU, Professor Waqar Ahmad, expressed gratitude to the staff for their contributions and unveiled an ambitious three-year development plan. The centerpiece of this plan is a bold goal: to elevate NU to a position among the top 300 universities globally, as measured by the prestigious Times Higher Education ranking, by the year 2030.
Founding Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI), Professor Atakan Varol was honored with a special state award for his “Contribution to the Development of Science”. This prestigious recognition by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek. This award emphasizes significant contributions to scientific research and innovative problem-solving.
In addition to Prof. Atakan Varol’s recognition, ISSAI Executive Director Yerbol Absalyamov, Deputy Director for Product and External Affairs, Senior data scientist Madina Abdrakhmanova, Lead data scientist Askat Kuzdeuov, Senior data scientist Saida Mussakhojayeva, and Data scientist Rustem Yeshpanov were also acknowledged with letters of appreciation from Prof. Waqar Ahmad.
Prof. Waqar Ahmad emphasized the crucial role of NU’s faculty in realizing the university’s strategic objectives. To honor their dedication and impactful contributions, several faculty members received appreciation letters for their significant advancements in furthering the university’s development.
The Town Hall meeting concluded on a positive note, reinforcing NU’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global impact.