A new Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France in Kazakhstan Philippe Martine paid a special visit to Al-Farabi KazNU. Welcoming the high guest, rector of the KazNU Galym Mutanov familiarized him with the University's activities and future plans of the University. During the meeting, the parties discussed promising areas of cooperation in the spheres of science and education, in particular, plans for further improvement Geo-Energy center and giving it the status of a separate legal entity.

Today KazNU works closely with leading French universities like the national Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine, University of Robert Schuman, Lyon Institute of catalysis and environment, and more.

It should be noted that this year the delegation of KazNU visited a number of French universities, including the University of Paris Sorbonne cité Diderot. During the visit, they discussed a number of issues that had a positive impact in the scientific-innovative and educational programs. KazNU delegation also visited the laboratory of Nobel Laureate D. Smoot.

In the course of the negotiations G. Mutanov underlined a solid platform that has established for collaboration, gives good results. Students participate in programs of academic mobility, summer schools, receive dual diplomas. There is being conducted a work on common international scientific projects of the SCO to build a new Asia, where the process of evolution and its role in regional security is studied. The rector of the University noted that there is a need to expand academic mobility through Summer and Winter schools, to send students and staff in the laboratories of the universities of France in the framework of scientific training, exchange of teaching staff.

In turn, the Ambassador of France thanked KazNU for the warm welcome and noted that he is "in the best University of the country and this is confirmed by global rankings QS. Today al-Farabi KazNU is the best University in Central Asia and is among ten best universities in Eastern Europe"

Discussing promising areas of cooperation in the spheres of science and education, the Ambassador said that one of the important projects is the joint work of the Centre Geo-Energy, which is created on the basis of KazNU under the auspices of the two States. Research in this Center is of great importance and requires urgent attention in the fight on climate change. Also it is focused on the further development of fruitful cooperation and the intensification of student and faculty mobility. According to the Ambassador, "academic mobility – a question of political importance and it concerns the bilateral relations of Kazakhstan and France. Every student studying in another country is a kind of Ambassador, a guide to your culture while learning the culture of another country." Given these factors, the French side expressed interest in increasing academic mobility by conducting Summer and Winter schools, exchange of students and staff from French universities. Также решили разрабатывать совместные программы по подготовке специалистов с выходом на двойной диплом, оказывать помощь всем студентам на всех этапах обучения.

Raising the question of joint projects Philip Martine announced the intention of the French side to open a math center that would have a positive impact on academic mobility. On this occasion rector said that there is a strong mathematical school in Al-Farabi KazNU and the opening of such a center would strengthen the scientific potential of the University and the country as a whole. The parties also identified the need to enhance cooperation with French companies working in the field of nuclear energy, to increase the number of students to be sent to the European centre for nuclear research (CERN)

In conclusion, the diplomat said that he fully supports all the initiatives of Al-Farabi KazNU and called to further deepen cooperation between the two countries in the field of science, education and innovation.

Press Service