A NEW STAGE OF COOPERATION BETWEEN AMANZHOLOV UNIVERSITY AND SHANDONG COLLEGE OF FOREIGN TRADE

A delegation from Shandong Vocational College of Foreign Trade paid an official visit to Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University. The purpose of the meeting was to develop bilateral partnership, strengthen educational and scientific ties, and expand joint projects in the field of academic integration.

The delegation’s visit is part of the deepening strategic cooperation between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People’s Republic of China. This direction was particularly emphasized by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his official visit to China in September 2025. In meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, attention was given to strengthening cooperation in energy, digital development, culture, as well as education and science.

In this context, the memorandum of cooperation between Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University and Shandong Vocational College of Foreign Trade is of special significance. The document is aimed at developing joint educational programs, research and digital projects, as well as facilitating the exchange of students and faculty. This step supports the initiatives of the President of Kazakhstan to expand international cooperation and create an intellectual bridge between the two countries.

The delegation included College President Professor Liu Min, Director of the Accounting and Finance Department Lu Ziqiang, and Deputy Head of International Programs Zhang Xuan.

Shandong Vocational College of Foreign Trade is one of the leading educational institutions in Shandong Province, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Commerce. The college is known as a center for training highly qualified specialists in international economics, foreign trade, and e-commerce. It holds a prestigious position among China’s vocational institutions and leads associations and councils on foreign language education, international business, and cross-border e-commerce.

Amanzholov University’s cooperation with Chinese educational institutions has been actively developing. Over the past five years, sustainable partnerships have been established with Qingdao University, Shandong Vocational College of Foreign Trade, Ili Pedagogical University, Lanzhou University of Technology, Jiangsu Normal University, National Central University, Tsinghua University, and other leading Chinese universities.

As part of academic mobility, more than 70 Chinese students have studied at EKU, while over 50 Kazakh students have received education and internships in China. This serves as a vivid example of mutual exchange and trust.

An important stage of cooperation took place in April 2024, when a delegation from Amanzholov University visited the city of Qingdao. During the visit, agreements were signed with Haier Haitech on digital projects “Smart Library” and “AI Smart Classroom,” as well as a bilateral memorandum with Shandong Vocational College of Foreign Trade. Throughout the year, extensive work was carried out on implementing intelligent educational technologies, updating digital infrastructure, and developing new educational programs.

University Rector Mukhtar Tolegen noted: “Cooperation between Kazakhstan and China is developing dynamically. Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University actively contributes to promoting SCO ideas, strengthening educational ties, and creating a shared educational space for the future.”

Following the meeting, the parties signed an agreement on launching new educational programs in e-commerce, international entrepreneurship, and AI technologies. This document opens new opportunities for joint research, innovative projects, and dual-degree programs, taking educational cooperation between Kazakhstan and China to a new level.