Afghan Women Complete Master's Degrees at KBTU

On 17 August, 27 Afghan women celebrated the completion of their master's degrees at two prominent Kazakh universities: the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU) and the International Educational Corporation (IEC). These students were participants in a cross-border initiative funded by the European Union, which aimed to empower Afghan women through education at Central Asian institutions.

The academic journey commenced at Almaty Management University (AlmaU), where the students enhanced their English language abilities and prepared for their specialised programmes. The students were able to pursue studies in Marketing and Engineering/Architecture thanks to a collaboration between KBTU and IEC. The programme also offered a variety of extracurricular activities, including winter and summer schools, cultural events, and more, allowing students to develop transferable skills and become familiar with the local culture.

"I am confident that the expertise acquired here will be highly sought-after. "We are confident that they will become some of KBTU's most distinguished alumni in the future," said Didar Batryshev, KBTU's Vice Rector for Science and Innovation.

At the graduation ceremony, held at the scenic Ayusai Visitors Centre, the graduates took the opportunity to reflect on their academic achievements and the transformative experience they had undergone. "This opportunity to come here under such challenging circumstances has been a significant positive for us. "It has provided us with the opportunity to gain independence, empowerment, and the chance to empower other women," said Medina, one of the graduates.

The initiative commenced in 2019 as a joint EU-UNDP project, with the objective of providing educational opportunities to 50 Afghan women in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. With additional EU funding in 2021, the project expanded geographically to include Kyrgyzstan and awarded scholarships to a further 105 Afghan women.

By 2027, 155 Afghan women will have had the opportunity to study in Central Asia, thanks to the European Union's support and the UNDP's efforts.

UNDP Kazakhstan. Available at: https://www.undp.org/kazakhstan/news/afghan-women-completed-their-masters-degrees-kazakh-universities