World's leading universities to be selected for Bolashak program – Nygymetov

"In the U.S. we will focus on the Ivy League rankings, in the UK - Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK universities, and then we will take a look at other countries whose universities actively enter the world rankings," Nagymetov said.

According to him, the program will focus on the training of masters and doctoral students.
"This is a serious task since the country needs innovative scientific personnel. As part of this task it is planned to give special attention to training PhD students through joint programs with the best universities in the U.S., UK and other countries," he noted.

Also, it is expected to revise the list of priority specialties, countries and universities on the basis of preparation for the exhibition "EXPO 2017", transition to a "green economy".
In addition, he informed that it was planned to tighten all competition procedures. In particular, language requirements under the fellowship programs.

According to the Center for International Programs, for 20 years of the program existence "Bolashak" scholarship was awarded to 10 025 citizens of Kazakhstan, of which 6015 graduates now work in the country, 2500 are studying abroad in 33 countries.

The international scholarship "Bolashak" was established in 1993 by the Decree of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.