CAMBRIDGE KAZAKHSTAN CENTRE LAUNCHED

Cambridge. 9 March. The Cambridge Kazakhstan Center was Launched at the Jesus College, University of Cambridge as collaborative effort between Cambridge Central Asia Forum and Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan . Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Prof. Dr. Zhanseit Tuimebayev described it as new home for synthesis of Cambridge and Kazakh talent for the mutual benefit for both Cambridge and Kazakhstan. He stressed the event was a milestone in the development of cooperation in the sphere of education and science between Kazakhstan and Great Britain.

The opening of the Cambridge Kazakhstan Centre is the result of the negotiations conducted by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Cambridge University where many scholars and students are already present, particularly under the Bolashak stipendiary scheme of ROK Ministry of Education.

On the Cambridge side the work will be coordinated by Cambridge Central Asia Forum which has strong ties with Kazakhstan and its Chairperson Prof Saxena and Director of Research Prof. Fennell have worked with Kazakhstani academics and students for more than a decade. From now on the Cambridge Kazakhstan Centre aspires to be an interdisciplinary research centre which will promote following:

a) support of awareness of Kazakh language and culture among Cambridge students, staff and researchers;

a) coordination of annual availability of scholarships in order to enable study of students from Kazakhstan at the University;

c) engagement in joint educational and research activity;

d) enhancement of cooperation by organizing cultural activities, lectures and conferences;

e) exchange of academics, researchers and other relevant personnel to educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan (number is set by the budget of the Ministry );

Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan strengthens cooperation with the University of Cambridge under all academic degrees - Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees and research.

Prof Siddharth Saxena, Chairman of The Cambridge Central Asia Forum was accompanied by some of the most senior members of Cambridge University and Jesus College like the President of the College, Prof. Michael Minden and Professor Peter Littlewood who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society and Prof Charles Melville, Head of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Also present were many Cambridge academics, students, Bolashak Scholars together with HE Kairat Abuseitov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to London. The participants of the opening ceremony expressed enthusisastic support for the relations with Kazakhstan in the sphere of education and science and reiterated their commitment to mutual cooperation.

The Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan handed the collection of books about Kazakhstan, its culture, science, history and traditions of the Kazakh people to the Centre.