Italian Accent

Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU academician Galym Mutanov and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic in Kazakhstan Pasquale D’Avino discussed prospective areas of cooperation in scientific and educational sphere.

The Head of KazNU acquainted the high guest with the projects, activities and achievements of the University, highlighting that the University is actively developing its cooperation with many leading HEIs in Italy. Among its partners are the Ca'Foscari University, National Institute of Nuclear Physics, Catania University and Pisa University, La Sapienza University, International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics ICRAnet, Carlo Bo University of Urbino and many others.

The Rector emphasized that international cooperation is a priority direction for Al-Farabi KazNU as the leading University of the Republic as well as an important tool in ensuring the quality of education and its compliance with international standards. Today, Universities of Italy and KazNU realize an active exchange of students and academic staff. 15 Professors from Italy, who are the scientific supervisors of undergraduates and doctoral students of KazNU delivered lectures in last academic year.

It should be noted that in 2015, the World Forum of Engineering Education was held in Florence, in which representatives of the Consortium of Higher Education Institutions of Kazakhstan for training specialists in the framework of GPIIIR-2, headed by Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU G. Mutanov participated. During the event, a meeting was held with the Confederation of Rectors of Italian Universities, where the Sides reached an agreement on joint academic mobility, implementation of two-diploma programs in Engineering, Geodesy and Geology, and in conducting joint research.

The Rector of KazNU noted that in connection with an increased interest of students in the Italian language and culture in 2017, the Center for Roman Studies was founded. Since its establishment, with assistance of the Center for Academic Mobility, 16 students and undergraduates have been undergoing training in Italy within the framework of Erasmus Plus program.

At the beginning of this year, the Rector of KazNU visited the Ca'Foskari University and discussed issues for further expansion of bilateral cooperation, academic exchange and joint training of specialists, development and implementation of scientific and educational projects, translations of books and monographs written by Italian and Kazakh authors. And most recently the delegation of the Ca'Foskari University headed by its President Michele Bugliesi visited KazNU, who proposed to expand cooperation in the field of Linguistics, Natural Sciences and Business.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Italian Republic in Kazakhstan Pasquale D'Avino emphasized the special importance of mutually beneficial relations with Kazakhstan as Italy's most important strategic partner. According to the Ambassador, to strengthen communication between the two countries it is necessary to develop inter-university cooperation, create language schools and cultural centers. During the meeting, the distinguished guest expressed his admiration for the campus and the achievements of KazNU, and assured that he would provide his full support to the University in its cooperation with Italian HEIs.

In conclusion, Pasquale D'Avino thanked the leadership of KazNU for the warm welcome and expressed his intention to visit the University with an opening lecture this fall.