On November 5, 2025, the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) welcomed around 20 high school students from Quantum STEM School to Nazarbayev University.
The visit began with a presentation by Aigerim Sarsenova, Senior External Affairs Manager at ISSAI, who introduced the students to the institute’s mission and cutting-edge AI products. Following her talk, Dr. Zhanat Makhataeva, Senior Data Scientist at ISSAI, presented the ISSAI Summer Research Program (SRP), highlighting the opportunities it provides for high school and university students to gain hands-on experience in artificial intelligence and data science.
Dr. Azamat Yeshmukhametov, Head of the Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics Systems (ARMS) Laboratory and Postdoctoral Scholar at Nazarbayev University’s Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, also shared insights about the SRP, showcasing past and ongoing research projects in robotics and artificial intelligence. He spoke about the institute’s future plans to further integrate robotics and AI research into student development programs.
After the presentations, Malika Zharmukhametova, Manager of the NU Enrollment Management Department, led a guided tour of Nazarbayev University, where students learned about the university’s academic environment and campus life.
The visit sparked active discussions — students asked insightful questions about ISSAI’s projects, AI applications, and research opportunities. Among the visitors was Abylai Amen, an ISSAI SRP 2025 alumnus, who shared his personal experience in the program. “I don’t know any other place in Kazakhstan like ISSAI where you can gain real hands-on experience in AI and robotics — working shoulder to shoulder with data scientists, researchers, and professors, alongside students not only from Kazakhstan but also from other countries,” he said.
Indeed, the ISSAI Summer Research Program serves as a unique platform that brings together talented students from across Kazakhstan and abroad, fostering collaboration with peers from top global universities such as KAIST, Yale University, Princeton University, Paris-Saclay University, Yonsei University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and New York University Abu Dhabi.
The visit concluded with great enthusiasm, leaving Quantum STEM School students inspired by the possibilities of pursuing careers in AI, data science, and robotics.