Holiday concert of students of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute

On December 20, 2019, a gala concert of students of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute of Abai KazNPU was held, dedicated to «French Christmas and the New Year 2020». The honorary guests of the event were the rector of the university Takir Balykbayev and the Ambassador of France to Kazakhstan, Philippe Martine.

Opening the evening, Rector Takir Balykbayev congratulated the guests, students and teaching staff of the Institute on the upcoming New Year and on the fifth anniversary of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute. Also, Ambassador Philippe Martine made a welcoming speech, who noted the successful development of this institution, emphasizing the role of the leadership of Abai oKazNPU. The French diplomat congratulated all those present on Christmas and the upcoming New Year.

The organizers of the event invited the pupils of the Orphanage No. 1 to their holiday, who were sincerely greeted by the volunteers of the «Accelerator of Good» project (Izgilik Elshіsi) and pleased with New Year`s gifts from the Department of Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty. In gratitude, the children performed with a dance number.

When summing up the results of 2019, which was held under the auspices of the «Year of Youth» campaign, the successes of students and teachers of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute were noted. So from the French Embassy in Kazakhstan, letters of appreciation were handed to the rector of Abai KazNPU T.O.Balykbayev, director of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute A.A.Sabitova and employees of this unit of our university.

Exactly five years ago, in December 2014, the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute was opened by the heads of two states - our country and France. If at the time of its opening two double degree programs were functioning, then this year there are already eight. The Institute expanded cooperation with partner universities of France, including: University of Strasbourg, University of Poitiers, University of Lorraine and others. Over the five-year period, the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute has shown good results in the creation and strengthening of Kazakh-French relations in the framework of cooperation between Abai KazNPU and the French Embassy in Kazakhstan . In a year and a half, three Kazakh-French forums were held, 15 agreements were signed with leading French universities, and many image events were held with the participation of representatives of state bodies of both countries.

The Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute, being a unique international educational project for Central Asia, is also a Kazakh-French dialogue platform for major international events of a scientific and cultural nature. In this sense, ISK is not limited to the provision of educational services, but seeks to bring Kazakhstan`s higher education and science to the international arena.

The main goal of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute is to provide educational services to domestic youth and students of Central Asian countries at the European level. The concept of ISK educational programs is such that it allows Kazakhstani students, many of whom cannot afford to study abroad, to receive quality European education in French. In just one year, more than 20 ISK students completed internships with our partner universities in France.