28 October 2026
AMANZHOLOV UNIVERSITY EXPANDS INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN EDUCATION WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM
Dana Nigmanova, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Quality Assurance at Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, participated as a speaker in the international online conference COIL-Ed Spring 2026, organized by the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. The international academic platform brought together faculty members and researchers to exchange experience in collaborative online learning and discuss new opportunities for developing partnerships between higher education institutions.
Participation in the conference continued the professional contacts established during Dana Nigmanova’s ten-month research internship at the University of Leeds. The internship concluded in July 2026, but cooperation with British colleagues has continued, with the parties exchanging experience and discussing prospects for joint projects.
At the conference, Dana Nigmanova delivered a joint presentation with Alma Sailaukyzy of Maqsut Narikbayev University, Zarina Kutpanova of Astana IT University, and Moldir Ashimova of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. The participants from Kazakhstan presented the topic “COIL for Sustainability: Connecting Communities, Technologies, and Global Learning – Perspectives from Kazakhstan.”
The joint presentation covered a wide range of current issues, including international educational partnerships, engagement with local communities, practice-oriented learning, computer science, artificial intelligence, and climate resilience. The speakers also explored opportunities to apply their professional and research experience to the development of collaborative educational initiatives.
In her presentation, Dana Nigmanova shared Amanzholov University’s experience in international cooperation and discussed how the COIL model can be used to expand students’ access to international educational experiences.
COIL, or Collaborative Online International Learning, is a model of international online collaboration in which students and faculty members from different countries work together on shared academic assignments and joint projects. This format enables students to work in international teams, exchange knowledge, and discuss current issues while taking into account the cultural and social characteristics of different countries. As a result, international educational experience becomes an integral part of the learning process.
The development of the COIL model in Kazakhstan’s higher education system opens new opportunities for international academic cooperation. It complements traditional academic mobility programs and makes it possible to involve a broader range of students in international projects without requiring travel abroad. Implementing this approach requires coordination with international partners regarding learning objectives, assignment content, and formats of interaction.
The conference program also included discussions on the implementation of COIL projects, ethical principles of international educational partnerships, virtual exchange programs, intercultural learning, and curriculum development. The practices presented during the conference allowed participants to explore different models of international cooperation and discuss opportunities for applying them at their own universities.
Following the conference, Dana Nigmanova expressed interest in further exploring the COIL model and opportunities to adapt international experience to Kazakhstan’s higher education system. One of the promising areas for further cooperation with colleagues from the University of Leeds is the development of collaborative learning formats aligned with the educational programs and strategic goals of Amanzholov University.
The Department of International Cooperation and Quality Assurance of Sarsen Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University expresses its gratitude to the conference organizer, Dr. Pierre-Philippe Dechant of the University of Leeds, for the invitation and the opportunity to present Kazakhstan’s experience on an international academic platform.