Penn State delegation strengthens global partnerships during trip to Kazakhstan

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A Penn State delegation, led by College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Troy Ott, recently took part in high-level meetings and collaborative activities in Kazakhstan — the world’s ninth-largest country — to strengthen academic, research and international partnerships.

During the five-day visit, the Penn State delegation attended the Higher Education Strategic Partners Forum, hosted by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, and toured universities, farms and cultural sites.

The group concluded the trip by signing a second memorandum of understanding between Penn State and Kazakh AgroTechnical Research University, or KATRU — also known as Seifullin University — to enhance collaboration in agricultural education and research. The first MOU between the two universities was signed in 2018.

KATRU, established in 1957 and located in Astana, offers education and professional training in smart agriculture, energy, ecology, forestry, green technologies, food safety and security, engineering technologies, and other fields, making it one of the leading centers of scientific research and technological innovation in the country.

“Our time in Kazakhstan was truly meaningful,” Ott said. “It gave us the chance to connect directly with colleagues who share our passion for advancing agricultural education and research. We came away inspired by the potential of this partnership and excited about what we can accomplish together with KATRU in the years ahead.”

The Penn State delegation also included Stephen Barnes, assistant dean for graduate and international programs, Penn State Dickinson Law; Alexander Hristov, distinguished professor of dairy nutrition, Department of Animal Science; Leila Bradaschia, director of international programs, College of Education; and Vlad Likholetov, associate director for partnership agreements and Eurasia partnerships, Penn State Global.

Penn State has cultivated a long-standing collaboration with Kazakhstan, a country located in central Asia that shares borders with Russia, China and several other central Asian nations, with Astana serving as its capital.

The partnership dates back 30 years with Kazakh students, primarily through the Bolashak International Scholarship, which was established by the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1993 to support student exchange. Penn State was initially one of only three U.S. institutions invited to participate in the program and welcomed its first Bolashak scholar in 1994.

Since then, the University has hosted more than 700 Bolashak students and scholars, helping to strengthen academic and research partnerships between Penn State and Kazakh institutions. The country now is building more formal institutional alliances, according to Likholetov.

“Kazakhstan is actively positioning itself as a regional hub for higher education and internationalization,” he said. “Penn State has significantly deepened its engagement with leading universities in Kazakhstan over the past few years, moving from student-based connections and faculty-to-faculty linkages to strategic, multidisciplinary institutional partnerships. These developments position the country as a key partner in Penn State’s global strategy and present valuable opportunities in research, education and international collaboration.”

The Penn State partnership with Kazakhstan supports faculty exchanges and collaborative research in areas such as dairy processing, food science and environmental management. It also provides opportunities for Kazakh scholars through programs such as the Experiential Collaborative Engagement Leadership, or ExCEL, initiative.

The recent visit began with discussions at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, where representatives met with the Public Diplomacy Section to explore opportunities for cooperation in education and outreach. The delegation also met with leaders from the Bolashak Center of International Programs, an organization that supports international study, professional development and research visits for Kazakh scholars.

The delegation attended the Higher Education Strategic Partners Forum, organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan. Held at the Independence Palace, the forum took place under the high patronage of His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, president of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The event brought together higher education leaders from across the region to discuss innovation, global partnerships and the future of international collaboration in higher education.

Additional meetings were held with representatives from Alltech, a global animal nutrition and agricultural science company, and representatives from Eurasian National University’s Graduate School of Education to explore new opportunities for research partnerships and student learning.

The group toured dairy farms where Kazakh producers are implementing feeding programs and nutrition strategies based on research conducted by Ott and Hristov. Organized by KATRU, the farm visits included discussions on agricultural research, technology exchange and market-oriented strategy aimed at strengthening the dairy sector.

Kazakh producers expressed interest in creating a resource similar to Pennsylvania’s Center for Dairy Excellence. This nonprofit supports the state’s dairy industry and the next generation of dairy professionals.

Additionally, the Penn State contingent connected with Penn State graduates living and working in Kazakhstan at a dinner organized by Barnes.