International School of Economics MNU

ISE Programs in the “Atameken” NCE Ranking for 2026!

The educational programs of the International School of Economics have been ranked among the leaders of the “Atameken” NCE Ranking for 2026, once again confirming the quality and relevance of education among universities in Kazakhstan.

According to the ranking results, the “Management” program took 1st place among 49 universities in the country, with a graduate employment rate of 93%. The “Economics” program ranked 2nd out of 48, with an employment rate of 100%. The “Accounting” program took 2nd place among 58 universities, with an employment rate of 100%, while the “Finance” program ranked 3rd out of 57 institutions, with an employment rate of 95%.

In addition, two educational programs participated in the Atameken ranking for the first time. The “Marketing” program entered the top 10 out of 24 universities, and the “International Relations” program took second place out of 20, marking an important milestone in the development of these fields.

The “Atameken” NCE Ranking is an annual evaluation that takes into account the quality of educational programs, the level of graduate preparation, research outcomes, and demand in the labor market.

We congratulate the students, faculty, and staff of the International School of Economics on this achievement and thank everyone for their professionalism, hard work, and commitment to excellence.

Congratulations to our graduates on successfully passing the CFA® exams! 🎉

Our graduates Assiya Kenzhetayeva (BBA in Finance, 2022) and Yerbol Darzhanov (MA in Finance, 2025) have successfully passed the CFA® Level II exam.

We are also proud of our graduates Alisher Temirov (BBA in Finance, 2022, MA in Finance, 2024) and Zhandos Ramazan (MA in Finance, 2021), who have passed the CFA® Level I exam. All passed on their first attempt! 🎓

The Finance program at the International School of Economics, MNU, is affiliated with the CFA Institute, confirming that its curriculum aligns with the requirements of CFA® Level I for undergraduate students and Levels II and III for the master’s program.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Zhanar Aldambergenova, the program coordinator, and to the CFA® track instructors at the International School of Economics for their professionalism and continuous support. Your efforts make such accomplishments possible.

The final module of the "Technopreneurship" course at Maqsut Narikbayev University culminated in a rigorous Startup Pitch Defense, where students presented their innovative business projects to a panel of esteemed industry and academic experts.

We extend our gratitude to the distinguished jury members for their time and expert evaluation:

- QazInnovations
- Timur Kogabayev, Teaching Professor
- Kamal Nazir, Teaching Professor
- Baqyt Tolegenov, Assistant Professor

The session featured compelling pitches, with three standout teams earning top honors for their demonstration of viable business models, technological innovation, and market potential. Initiatives like this are central to MNU's mission of bridging academic theory with real-world application, actively preparing the next generation of entrepreneurs and tech leaders for Kazakhstan's evolving economy.

Congratulations to all participants on their hard work and to the winners on their well-deserved achievement.

We are pleased to announce the recent publication of two significant peer-reviewed studies by Assistant Professor Baurzhan Rakhmetov of Maqsut Narikbayev University, marking a substantial contribution to global scholarly discourse in political science and security studies.

In his article "Internet Censorship in Authoritarian Contexts: A Case Study of Kazakhstan" (Journal of Eurasian Studies, 2025), Professor Rakhmetov examines the mechanisms and key actors involved in internet censorship in Kazakhstan within the broader context of digital authoritarianism. Drawing on qualitative research methods, it highlights an institutionalised system that combines digital tools and administrative measures coordinated by central state authorities. The findings suggest that the internet in Kazakhstan functions less as a space for open participation and more as a regulated environment aligned with broader governance objectives.
➡️ Read the publication: https://lnkd.in/gQH7vGri

In a collaborative work with Kamila Murzagulova, "Artificial Intelligence in Warfare: The Case of the Russia-Ukraine War" (Journal of Strategic Security, 2025), the authors examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping both kinetic and information warfare, using the Russia-Ukraine war as a case study. It analyzes the use of AI in military operations and information campaigns, explores future developments in AI-driven warfare, and offers policy recommendations to address emerging security challenges.
➡️ Read the publication: https://lnkd.in/gbaTkpDf
We congratulate Professor Rakhmetov on this outstanding academic achievement.

Senior Lecturer and a distinguished graduate of our school, Madiyar Sagnayev, shared key insights for launching a career in procurement & supply chain. In an exclusive interview, he highlighted essential technical skills like Excel and SAP, crucial soft skills such as communication and stress management, and gave strategic advice on long-term career planning.

Read the full interview on the MNU News Telegram channel: https://t.me/newsmnu/2695

MNU жас ғалымына Президент атынан пәтер берілді

Астанада Жаңа жыл қарсаңында ғылымды мемлекеттік қолдауға арналған салтанатты рәсім өтті. Елордалық университеттер мен ғылыми ұйымдардың он жас ғалымы тұрғын үй сертификатына ие болды. Жас ғалымдарды қолдап, осындай мүмкіндік бергені үшін Қазақстан Республикасы Ғылым және жоғары білім министрлігіне алғысымызды білдіреміз. @ҚР Ғылым және жоғары білім министрлігі

Жаңа пәтердің иегері Maqsut Narikbayev University Associate Professor-ы Далия Қасқырбаева атанды. Тұрғын үй Мемлекет басшысы Қасым-Жомарт Тоқаевтың ғалымдарға қолдау көрсету және олардың әлеуметтік мәртебесін арттыру жөніндегі тапсырмаларын орындау шеңберінде, сондай-ақ ғылымға жас кадрлардың келуін ынталандыру үшін берілді. Сертификаттарды ҚР Ғылым және жоғары білім министрі Саясат Нұрбек табыстады.

Айта кетейік, Далия Қасқырбаева MNU-да 2021 жылдан бері қызмет етіп, зерттеу жұмыстарына үлес қосуда. Оның зерттеулері жетекші халықаралық академиялық журналдарда жарияланады.

Бұл жаңалық MNU ресми сайтында жарияланды:
https://mnu.kz/kk-kz/news/young-scholar-of-mnu-awarded-housing-on-behalf-of-the-president

Huge congratulations to the ISE Associate Professor, Dr Daliya Kaskirbayeva, for the “Best Young Scientist” well-deserved award received among the top ten young Kazakhstan researchers.
Daliya has been a member of the team since 2021 when she completed her PhD in Health Economics at Leeds University, UK. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Imperial College London and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from ENU. Daliya teaches several courses in Economics, Data Science, and Finance, and she significantly contributes to the ISE and MNU research activities through collaborations with international research teams. Her research results are published in top international academic journals. She also leads the research grant funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and supervises a PhD student.

We are pleased to inform you that new books have been added to the library collection. All materials are available for students and academic staff.
We appreciate MNU Library team’s continued support in developing the collection.

Congratulations to our colleagues, Artur Utebayev, the Head of International Relations programs, Stanislav Yugay, the Head of Economics, Finance and Accounting programs, Bakyt Tolegenov, the Assistant Professor and Timur Kogabayev, the Teaching Professor, who completed a three-day “Teaching as Business-Training” training for trainers held by Kaisar Makan, a business trainer.
Our colleagues learn how to apply efficient business training techniques in classroom teaching and are now qualified to train university instructors.

New Dissertation Council at MNU

A new Dissertation Council has been launched at the International School of Economics of Maqsut Narikbayev University. It is officially authorized to conduct PhD defenses and recommend awarding the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the fields of “Economics” and “Business and Management”.

Currently, 4 doctoral students are pursuing their degrees in these programs.

🎄 ISE Students at PwC Kazakhstan Christmas Day

Today, ISE students attended PwC Christmas Day, where they learned about the company, its departments, and career opportunities. The program included presentations, a Q&A session, a company quiz, a lottery, and a reflective activity where students wrote letters to their future selves.

The event ended with an informal coffee break, giving students the chance to network with PwC employees, including ISE alumni who are now part of the firm.

Thank you to PwC for the warm welcome and valuable experience.

📚 CEGREG Digest No. 3 Now Available!

We are pleased to announce the publication of CEGREG Digest No. 3, prepared by the Center for Global and Regional Governance at Maqsut Narikbayev University.

The new issue highlights the Center’s recent activities, ongoing research projects, and key announcements. It also includes curated information on academic opportunities, including master’s programs, scholarships, and internships, developed in cooperation with the International School of Economics MNU - ISE Career Center.

CEGREG Digest No. 3 is designed to keep our academic community informed about our work and to support students and early-career researchers in navigating educational and professional opportunities.

📖 We invite you to explore the latest issue and stay connected for future updates!