The event brought together law students from seven cities across Kazakhstan. The competition aimed to promote the use of the Kazakh language in the legal field and develop students’ language skills. The total prize fund amounted to 600,000 tenge.

“The competition was held to mark Republic Day and celebrate seven years of Kazakhstan’s development and progress. Last year, nine universities took part, while this year the number increased to eleven. I am confident that Zañǵar Zańger will become an annual platform bringing together educated and ambitious young people,” said Anar Ibrayeva, Provost of MNU.

During the competition, students worked on practical legal cases, identified errors and inconsistencies in legislative texts in Kazakh, and demonstrated their legal analysis skills. Their performances were evaluated by prominent lawyers and experts in promoting the Kazakh language. The competition partners were Aidar Sovetbekov and Abylai Zhumazhanov, MNU alumni and lawyers with the Astana Bar Association.

“The students who worked on this project have put in a tremendous amount of effort. We decided to support them and become a partner of the competition. There are talented young people who want to demonstrate their abilities, and this competition has given future lawyers an opportunity to showcase their talent,” said Abylai Zhumazhanov.

According to the results, SDU University (Kaskelen) took first place. Second place went to students from Academician Y.A. Buketov Karaganda National Research University (Karaganda), while representatives of M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University (Shymkent) took third place. The participants were also congratulated by Askhat Aimagambetov, a member of the National Kurultai.

“The Zañǵar Zańger competition is very important. Today, we face challenges in improving legal terminology and legislation in the Kazakh language. When drafting laws in the Kurultai, it is essential to ensure that they are written correctly in the state language. We know that Maqsut Narikbayev University is one of the leading universities in the field of law. We also see how the university is implementing the initiatives and priorities set by the Head of State,” emphasized Askhat Aimagambetov.

It is worth noting that MNU students also demonstrated strong results in the competition. As the host university, MNU entered a team that participated outside the official competition.

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The conference brought together Vice Ministers of Science and Higher Education, Justice, and National Economy, representatives of the National Kurultai and the Judicial Administration, members of the Republican Notary Chamber and the Bar Association, legal scholars, partners from international law firms, and experts from Kyrgyzstan, the United States, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. The main objective was to develop practical approaches to advancing the legal profession in the context of artificial intelligence adoption. MNU Chairman of the Board Talgat Narikbayev emphasized that universities must regularly review their academic programmes to address the evolving requirements for legal professionals.

“Law graduates are already facing increased competition in the job market due to the development of artificial intelligence. As universities, we must adapt and update our programmes in line with the demands of the times. I am confident that the shared approaches we develop to identifying the fundamental knowledge and digital skills lawyers need, as well as methods for verifying AI-generated legal opinions and protecting confidential data, will help modernize legal education and improve the quality of law enforcement,” said Talgat Narikbayev.

The conference was organized by the Educational and Methodological Association of the Republican Educational and Methodological Council in the field of Law as part of the implementation of the Concept for the Development of Legal Education in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2025–2030. Participants also examined the integration of new technologies into legal training while maintaining high standards of professional knowledge and responsibility. Aidar Zharylgаnov, Vice Minister of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stressed that technological literacy should complement, rather than replace, fundamental legal training.

“The digital transformation of legal education must go hand in hand with the development of critical thinking, legal ethics, legal analysis skills, and an understanding of the social consequences of decisions. The lawyer of the future is a professional who knows how to use technology effectively. At the same time, it is important to understand that AI does not replace fundamental human knowledge. On the contrary, the more advanced technology becomes, the greater the demands on lawyers’ ability to verify results, identify errors, and formulate legally sound conclusions,” noted Aidar Zharylgаnov.

Following the conference, recommendations were developed to guide the transformation of legal education in Kazakhstan. MNU serves as the lead university of the Educational and Methodological Association in the field of Law.

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Ester Babajanyan is a graduate of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. She has more than 18 years of professional experience in civil, contract, and inheritance law. She is an expert in anti-corruption review of regulatory legal acts and a member of working groups on draft legislation under the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Ester Babajanyan began her professional career as a lawyer in a private organization in 2005. In 2013, she joined the MNU team as a Senior Lecturer in private law disciplines at the Law School. Since 2019, she has served as a Teaching Professor, as well as Head of the Law degree program and the University’s Legal Clinic.

Ester Babajanyan is the author of academic publications on the theory of transactions, unilateral declarations of intent, and issues related to civil circulation. For more than 10 years, she has contributed to professional development programs for notaries and has conducted training sessions on contract law, judicial protection, inheritance disputes, and the training of candidates for judicial positions. She has been awarded the Honorary Certificate of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and commemorative medals marking the 25th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the 30th Anniversary of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Maqsut Narikbayev University congratulates Ester Babajanyan on her appointment and wishes her every success in her new role!

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The agreement was signed in Seoul during a meeting between the MNU leadership and representatives of the SNU School of Law. The parties discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to further developing the academic exchange programme and mutually beneficial partnership. The document was signed by Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the MNU Board, and Hyuk Joon Ro, Dean of the SNU School of Law.

Cooperation between the two universities dates back to 2002. The School of Law at Seoul National University is one of South Korea’s leading institutions for legal education and consistently holds top positions in global rankings of law programmes. Over its 80 years of history, the School has trained more than 20,000 legal professionals.

Earlier, MNU agreed to launch a joint dual-degree programme with Seoul Cyber University.

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Founded in Brussels in 1873, the International Law Association is dedicated to the study, clarification and development of public and private international law, as well as to promoting international understanding and respect for international law. Its membership brings together legal practitioners, academics, government officials, judges and experts from the commercial, industrial and financial sectors. The ILA holds consultative status with the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and UNESCO and has more than 5,000 members worldwide.

The official launch was attended by ILA Executive Director Nicholas May, who formally announced the start of the Kazakhstan Branch’s activities. MNU Chairman of the Board Talgat Narikbayev congratulated the new branch on its opening.

“We want representatives of different schools and generations, academics and practitioners, judges and public officials, diplomats, lecturers and young researchers to meet here. I see this as one of the key values of the Kazakhstan Branch, as it can serve as a bridge between the expertise already developed in Kazakhstan and the international professional community. I also believe we should pursue a broader goal: to gradually establish Kazakhstan as one of the leading centres of international legal expertise in Central Asia,” said Talgat Narikbayev.

He also noted that international law has long been an important part of MNU’s academic environment. This year, MNU students achieved Kazakhstan’s best-ever result at the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. The team placed 12th overall and took first place in the written memorial category among 806 teams from more than 100 countries.

The event also featured remarks by Miras Daulenov, President of the Kazakhstan Branch of the ILA; Marat Sarsembayev, Kazakhstan’s first Doctor of Law and Professor specialising in international law; and representatives of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice. The participants discussed the mission, goals and priorities of the Kazakhstan Branch, its key areas of activity and prospects for future cooperation.

“The opening of the Kazakhstan Branch is a symbol that Kazakhstan’s voice will be heard in shaping the international agenda. The ILA plays an important role in the development of many international legal instruments and conventions. This will give members of the Kazakhstan Branch an opportunity to contribute to the work of committees addressing a wide range of issues. It took us more than 20 years to reach this point, and during that time a strong community of international law scholars and practitioners was established. MNU has played a special role in this process, as its academic school of international law has created an environment that contributed to the establishment and development of the branch in Kazakhstan,” said Miras Daulenov.

The establishment of the Kazakhstan Branch was unanimously approved by ILA member countries at the Association’s 82nd Biennial Conference in Vienna. The branch’s Vice Presidents are Abai Ablaiuly, Assistant Professor at the MNU Law School; Roza Aqshalova, Head of the Department of International Law at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University; and Sergey Sayapin, Assistant Professor at KIMEP University School of Law. Sauryk Abirbek, Senior Lecturer at MNU, has been appointed Secretary of the branch.

With the launch of the new branch, Kazakhstan has become the 69th country represented in the International Law Association.

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The agreement was reached in Karamay, China, as part of an event marking the first anniversary of the Beijing International Arbitration Center’s Central Asian office. The memorandum was signed by MNU Provost Anar Ibrayeva and BIAC Chairman Guo Wei. The document provides for the launch of a minor in International Arbitration at the University.

Experienced BIAC industry experts will contribute to the development of the program’s practical training component. This will help students develop skills in legal English, legal drafting, and negotiations in the field of international arbitration. The program will also provide opportunities for professional internships and for students to participate in the provision of legal services in this area.

It is worth noting that Anar Ibrayeva also took part in a seminar on strengthening legal cooperation and sharing experience among the partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative. Representatives of universities from Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan discussed the reform of arbitration systems in Central Asia, as well as the development of legal education and the optimization of the business environment. Anar Ibrayeva spoke about MNU’s efforts to adapt legal education to artificial intelligence and the changing legal landscape.

Earlier, MNU also signed memoranda to launch joint programs with the Beijing Language and Culture University and the China University of Political Science and Law.

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The summer school was held from August 5 to 23 this year. Participants included MNU Law School students Dana Kumargazy, Shynar Baiton, Shyngys Turzhigit, and Kanat Kaiyrosh. Students from universities in Uzbekistan also took part in the programme.

The programme featured lectures by professors from Lanzhou University and invited international lecturers on various aspects of environmental law. Participants discussed current environmental challenges, international cooperation, as well as the development and application of environmental legislation in different countries. The students also took part in excursions around Gansu Province, where they had an opportunity to learn more about local traditions and Chinese culture.

The event was organised as part of the cooperation between the two universities. Read more about the cooperation between MNU and Lanzhou University Earlier, MNU hosted a summer school focused on the Kazakh legal system. Around 20 students from Lanzhou University took part in the programme. Read more about the summer school at MNU.

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The undergraduate programme is offered by the MNU Law School. It combines fundamental legal education, practical training, and modern digital tools. The curriculum is designed to enable students to progress systematically from the fundamental principles of law to solving practical legal cases.

During the first year of study, students build a strong foundation by studying legal theory, constitutional, civil and criminal law, legal logic, and philosophy of law. The focus then shifts towards developing practical skills, working with real-life legal situations, procedural training, and specialised subjects. Particular emphasis is placed on practice-oriented learning.

The programme includes a Moot Court component, in which students simulate court proceedings involving civil, criminal, administrative, and international cases, developing skills in legal argumentation, public speaking, and the preparation of procedural documents. Another distinctive feature of the programme is its focus on digital competencies. Students study digital law, work with AI tools, gain practical experience with LegalTech solutions, and learn to use modern legal databases.

From their second year of study, students can choose one of two educational concentrations: Jurisprudence or International Law. Regardless of their chosen pathway, students receive a solid foundation in legal education before deepening their knowledge in their chosen specialisation. The programme also provides an opportunity to pursue an additional specialisation (minor) in such areas as IT Technologies in Law, English and German Law, Business and Law, and Law Enforcement.

Particular attention is paid to language training. Instruction is delivered in Kazakh, Russian, and English. In addition to Academic English, students study Legal English in accordance with the international TOLES system, opening up additional career opportunities in international companies, law firms, and foreign organisations.

It is worth noting that, according to the ranking of degree programmes by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Atameken, MNU prepares the country’s best specialists in the fields of law and international law. Graduates of the Law degree programme will be able to pursue careers in the judiciary, prosecution service, law enforcement agencies, government institutions, advocacy, notarial practice, corporate legal departments, consulting firms, and international organisations. The university’s programmes are accredited by leading international agencies, including QAA, FIBAA, ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW, GARP, CFA Institute, HRCI, CIM, and IQAA.

More information about admission requirements at MNU is available at this link.

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The agreement between the two universities was reached during the International Conference on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the Rule of Law, held in Beijing, China. The cooperation agreement was signed by Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU, and Jiang Zeting, Chairman of the University Council of CUPL. This innovative postgraduate program is designed to prepare professionals capable of working at the intersection of law, artificial intelligence, data governance, and digital transformation.

The new academic program integrates the educational experience and institutional expertise of one of China’s leading law schools. It combines a strong legal foundation with studies in artificial intelligence technologies, data analytics, algorithmic regulation, digital compliance, and AI governance. The agreement also provides for the participation of CUPL faculty members and experts in the educational process, as well as internships and short-term academic visits to leading Chinese information technology companies, enabling students to gain practical insight into advanced AI applications.

The International Conference on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the Rule of Law brought together legal scholars from more than 20 countries. The event also featured the Academic Forum of the China–Central Asia Legal Education Alliance, where members discussed the characteristics of the autonomy of Chinese law and the diversity of global legal civilizations.

“In digital systems, responsibility is distributed among developers, operators, infrastructure providers, and the state. The law must develop new models in which responsibility follows actual control and actual benefit. This leads to a simple principle that I propose for our Alliance: the degree of automation should depend on what is at stake. A system that forwards a document and a system that restricts a person’s liberty require different levels of oversight,” Talgat Narikbayev emphasized during his speech.

The Chairman of the Board also highlighted Kazakhstan’s successful experience in building a digital state, with particular attention to such initiatives as the Digital Family Map and the Digital Bailiff system. The forum was also attended by Christopher Campbell-Holt, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MNU, as well as Galymzhan Kudaibergenov and Sergey Pen, Deputy Chairmen of the Board of MNU. Established last year, the China–Central Asia Legal Education Alliance aims to promote joint research on legal foundations, foster mutual understanding of legal cultures, and strengthen academic and cultural cooperation among the countries of the region.

The conference concluded with the adoption of a joint initiative calling for the use of international law as a guiding framework for global governance, the expansion of practice-oriented cooperation in international legal education, and the establishment of mechanisms for regular dialogue on issues related to the international rule of law.

The post “AI + Law”: MNU Launches Joint Master’s Program with China’s Leading Law University appeared first on MNU.

The program was organized as part of the cooperation between the two universities. Around 20 Chinese students gained an in-depth understanding of Kazakhstan’s legal system and also studied the basics of the Kazakh language. The program also included visits to Astana’s major landmarks.

“It was a very rewarding week for us, and we are truly grateful for the warm hospitality. We sincerely thank the administration of the MNU Law School for their responsiveness and support throughout our studies. We found it fascinating to learn about Kazakhstan’s legal system and its unique features, and we also really enjoyed our Kazakh language classes. In addition, we had the opportunity to participate in a meeting with the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović. We are deeply grateful for the exceptionally warm welcome and the meaningful cultural exchange,” said Zhang Jingyi, a student from Lanzhou University.

Earlier, MNU signed a memorandum of cooperation with Lanzhou University in the fields of education and research. The agreement provides for the implementation of academic mobility programs, joint research projects, as well as the organization of conferences, seminars, and symposiums. As part of the partnership, MNU students will also travel to Lanzhou University this summer to study Chinese law and gain firsthand experience of Chinese culture.

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