MINSK, 10 November (BelTA) – Belarus and Kazakhstan plan to expand their network of joint master’s degree programs, Rector of Maksim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University (BSPU) Aleksandr Zhuk said during a roundtable discussion at the first forum of rectors of Kazakhstan and Belarus, BelTA has learned.
The rector emphasized that cooperation in education and science between Belarus and Kazakhstan is a strategically important area that fosters innovation, strengthens academic ties, and prepares qualified specialists, including teachers. “BSPU is the leading university in the national system of pedagogical education, providing training, retraining, and advanced training for education specialists. Our university has about 9,000 students and nearly 600 master’s degree students across 20 higher education specialties and 13 master’s programs. More than 600 foreign citizens study here. We implement a number of advanced training programs for representatives of Kazakhstan. Thus, in 2024, 28 people from Kyzylorda University completed advanced training in the program Inclusive education: Organization. In 2024-2025, 107 people from eight Kazakhstani universities participated in nine advanced training and internship programs. The most popular ones were Methodology of scientific and pedagogical research (38 participants) and Creating a favorable environment in inclusive education: Resources, mechanisms, tools (11 participants). In 2025, internships on research methodology were completed by 36 representatives of Buketov Karaganda University and 5 representatives from Pavlodar Pedagogical University. In November 2025, a new internship on the program Socio-pedagogical conditions for adapting preschool children with special educational needs to an inclusive environment is planned for faculty at Dulaty University,” Aleksandr Zhuk stressed.
A joint master’s program in Psychology (specialization: clinical psychology) is already being implemented at BSPU’s Institute of Psychology. The program lasts two years in full-time study. Eight students from BSPU and four from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University are enrolled. Graduates will receive two diplomas: a BSPU master’s degree and a master’s diploma from Abai University. “This is a good example[of cooperation]. We plan to expand the network of joint master’s programs,” the BSPU rector added.
Since 2016, BSPU has been a member of the Education and Science Consortium between higher institutions and research institutes of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Currently, BSPU has memoranda and cooperation agreements with 28 Kazakhstani institutions, including Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana), Buketov National Research University (Karaganda) and Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University.
In 2018, the Belarus-Kazakhstan Cultural and Educational Center was opened at BSPU. “Its mission is to promote the national cultures of Belarus and Kazakhstan and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in education, science, and culture. That same year, a Kazakhstan-Belarus Center was established at Gumilyov Eurasian National University, which in 2021 was named after Belarusian writer Yakub Kolas. At the current Forum of Rectors, BSPU’s Belarus-Kazakhstan Center was named after Ybyrai Altynsarin, an outstanding Kazakh educator, writer, and public figure. The center hosts annual meetings with embassy representatives and Kazakhstani educational institutions, and organizes events in science, education, and academic mobility,” Aleksandr Zhuk said.
He added that the prospects for Belarus-Kazakhstan cooperation in education, science, and culture are aimed at expanding partnerships and are supported at the highest state level. “The support of our presidents and the existence of intergovernmental agreements create a favorable foundation for further expansion of our humanitarian cooperation for the benefit of our brotherly countries and peoples,” the rector stated.
The rector emphasized that cooperation in education and science between Belarus and Kazakhstan is a strategically important area that fosters innovation, strengthens academic ties, and prepares qualified specialists, including teachers. “BSPU is the leading university in the national system of pedagogical education, providing training, retraining, and advanced training for education specialists. Our university has about 9,000 students and nearly 600 master’s degree students across 20 higher education specialties and 13 master’s programs. More than 600 foreign citizens study here. We implement a number of advanced training programs for representatives of Kazakhstan. Thus, in 2024, 28 people from Kyzylorda University completed advanced training in the program Inclusive education: Organization. In 2024-2025, 107 people from eight Kazakhstani universities participated in nine advanced training and internship programs. The most popular ones were Methodology of scientific and pedagogical research (38 participants) and Creating a favorable environment in inclusive education: Resources, mechanisms, tools (11 participants). In 2025, internships on research methodology were completed by 36 representatives of Buketov Karaganda University and 5 representatives from Pavlodar Pedagogical University. In November 2025, a new internship on the program Socio-pedagogical conditions for adapting preschool children with special educational needs to an inclusive environment is planned for faculty at Dulaty University,” Aleksandr Zhuk stressed.
A joint master’s program in Psychology (specialization: clinical psychology) is already being implemented at BSPU’s Institute of Psychology. The program lasts two years in full-time study. Eight students from BSPU and four from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University are enrolled. Graduates will receive two diplomas: a BSPU master’s degree and a master’s diploma from Abai University. “This is a good example[of cooperation]. We plan to expand the network of joint master’s programs,” the BSPU rector added.
Since 2016, BSPU has been a member of the Education and Science Consortium between higher institutions and research institutes of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Currently, BSPU has memoranda and cooperation agreements with 28 Kazakhstani institutions, including Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana), Buketov National Research University (Karaganda) and Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University.
In 2018, the Belarus-Kazakhstan Cultural and Educational Center was opened at BSPU. “Its mission is to promote the national cultures of Belarus and Kazakhstan and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in education, science, and culture. That same year, a Kazakhstan-Belarus Center was established at Gumilyov Eurasian National University, which in 2021 was named after Belarusian writer Yakub Kolas. At the current Forum of Rectors, BSPU’s Belarus-Kazakhstan Center was named after Ybyrai Altynsarin, an outstanding Kazakh educator, writer, and public figure. The center hosts annual meetings with embassy representatives and Kazakhstani educational institutions, and organizes events in science, education, and academic mobility,” Aleksandr Zhuk said.
He added that the prospects for Belarus-Kazakhstan cooperation in education, science, and culture are aimed at expanding partnerships and are supported at the highest state level. “The support of our presidents and the existence of intergovernmental agreements create a favorable foundation for further expansion of our humanitarian cooperation for the benefit of our brotherly countries and peoples,” the rector stated.
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