First Students Enrolled at the Almaty Branch of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
The Almaty branch of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences has officially started its first winter semester. A total of 52 bachelor students have enrolled in the Electrical and Information Engineering program.
According to University President Prof. Jörg Bagdahn, Anhalt University is one of about 40 international universities working in Kazakhstan and is the only German university that has received an independent teaching license in the country. This allows students to earn two degrees, both a German and a Kazakh diploma, and gives them the opportunity to complete part of their studies in Germany.
The bachelor’s program lasts eight semesters and begins with a Foundation Year, where students receive language training and basic academic preparation. The main language of instruction is English, supported by additional German language courses.
At the beginning, classes are taught by German lecturers. The first Kazakh teaching staff have already completed training at Anhalt University in Germany and will gradually join the teaching team. All study costs are fully covered by the Government of Kazakhstan.
Representatives from politics and academia welcomed the new students and their families at the start of the semester. After the event, students visited the laboratories and classrooms where they will study.
Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany continues to grow. In 2023, Germany exported goods worth 2.2 billion USD to Kazakhstan, while German investments reached a record 712 million EUR. Around 300 German companies are currently operating in Kazakhstan.
The Almaty branch is managed by Prof. Eduard Siemens, Head of the Branch and Professor of Communication Networks, together with Veronika Kirova, who coordinates local activities. Prof. Siemens emphasized that highly educated specialists are essential for supporting scientific and economic cooperation between both countries.