AI-SANA: HOW AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN KAZAKHSTAN

At the AlmatyFair.ai 2025 Artificial Intelligence Technology Exhibition, the “AI-Sana” panel session took place, where experts and representatives of Kazakhstan’s higher and postgraduate education discussed key challenges and prospects for AI education development.

Following the directive of the Head of State, the government has launched the AI-Sana program, an innovative initiative aimed at training specialists in artificial intelligence. The program was officially announced after the Demo Day Astana Hub on Artificial Intelligence on December 11, 2024.

The session was moderated by Aziza Shuzheeva, Chair of Technowomen, who, in her opening remarks, emphasized the importance of AI education development.

Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Dinara Shcheglova, introduced the AI-Sana program and showcased the Ministry’s achievements in creating an academic AI cluster in the country. She highlighted the role of key universities in the initiative and announced that the pilot phase of AI-Sana will cover 650,000 students, providing them with fundamental AI knowledge. This phase has already begun and will run until May 2025.

Kamil Akatov, Chairman of the Science Fund JSC, underscored the Fund’s role in implementing AI-Sana, stating its readiness to support AI adoption in Kazakhstan. He also discussed the Fund’s modernized approaches to fostering innovation aimed at developing the country’s AI ecosystem.

Maratbek Gabdullin, Rector of the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), spoke about integrating artificial intelligence into the educational process. He emphasized KBTU’s commitment to training highly qualified AI specialists, adapting curricula, expanding research initiatives, and forming partnerships with leading tech companies to build a modern AI ecosystem.

Raisa Uskenbayeva, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Satbayev University, presented the university’s ongoing AI-related initiatives. She highlighted efforts to update curricula, implement cutting-edge AI technologies in education, and enhance collaboration with industry partners to improve graduate training.

Concluding the discussion, the moderator emphasized that Kazakhstan has the potential to become an AI-Nation. She stressed that advancing AI education, training highly skilled professionals, and integrating cutting-edge technologies into the learning process will create a strong foundation for Kazakhstan to emerge as a global leader in artificial intelligence.