Dr. Huseyin Atakan Varol, Dean of the School of Computing and AI and Founding Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and AI (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University, recently represented the university at the MENA Higher Education Leadership Forum (MENA HELF) held in Dubai. The forum convened senior academic leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across the globe to discuss institutional resilience, the future of higher education, and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on universities.
During the forum’s track on Advancing Digital Transformation and AI-Driven Innovation, Dr. Varol delivered a case study titled “Kazakh Large Language Model and Beyond: How Nazarbayev University Pioneered Sovereign Generative AI in Central Asia.” His talk highlighted NU’s pioneering initiatives in developing sovereign generative AI architectures, building foundational language models for underrepresented languages, and establishing institutional frameworks for AI governance and digital innovation in higher education.
Professor Atakan Varol focused on the development of regional language models and the importance of locally developed small language models such as the Qolda model developed by ISSAI for the Kazakhstani context. He also emphasized that local AI models can help protect sensitive information by allowing data to be processed within a trusted local environment. This is particularly important when working with medical records, official documents, and other sensitive or politically significant information, where transferring data to external AI systems may create additional digital security risks. He also highlighted the importance of developing AI solutions that are adapted to the linguistic and technological needs of individual regions. It was a productive platform for exchanging expertise, sharing insights, and building valuable professional connections.
Alongside the thematic sessions, the forum served as an important venue for strategic networking and institutional development.
Dr. Varol connected with university leaders and education professionals from across the region to explore collaborative opportunities in education leadership, workforce readiness, and research partnerships. Moreover, he engaged in focused discussions on modern student recruitment strategies and international outreach with Mohamed Hettini of Uni News Letter, exploring innovative approaches to expanding the global reach of Nazarbayev University’s computing and AI programs.
* Qolda model – A model created by ISSAI under the grant funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (program targeted funding – BR24993001), where consortium members are KazNU al-Farabi (leader), ISSAI, Til-Qazyna Scientific-practical center, Linguistic Institute named after A. Baitursynov, Institute of Information and Computational Technologies