Visually-Impaired Version 
This week, Maqsut Narikbayev University became a hub for a series of international visits and high-level academic events featuring prominent foreign experts. These developments reaffirm the university’s status as an open, globally engaged, and rapidly advancing academic centre.
Open Lectures by Leading Foreign Experts
As part of its efforts to foster international partnerships and promote open educational dialogue, the university hosted a series of lectures addressing pressing global issues — from climate challenges to the future of multilateral diplomacy.
On May 27, Joshua Lincoln, a distinguished expert with over 30 years of experience in the United Nations system, delivered a lecture at MNU. His expertise spans international diplomacy, sustainable development, and environmental policy. Currently a Senior Researcher at Tufts University (USA), he has previously led key UN missions in Geneva, Palestine, and Yemen. In his address, titled “The Rocky Road to Our Better Future: Managing the Net Zero Transition and Global Pollution Challenges in Uncertain Times,” Lincoln outlined both the strategic and practical dimensions of achieving carbon neutrality.
The following day, MNU welcomed Professor Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland), one of Europe’s foremost institutions in international relations. Her lecture, “Towards a Multilateralism for the Future: The Need for Political Innovation and Imagination,” was a compelling call to rethink the role of multilateral cooperation in the 21st century.
International Round Table with the Ambassador of Canada
On May 28, Christopher Duggan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Kazakhstan and Central Asia, visited Maqsut Narikbayev University. During his meeting with Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of MNU, they discussed potential areas of collaboration, including the organisation of guest lectures by the Canadian diplomat. Ambassador Duggan also took part in an international round table on migration policy and mobility management in a rapidly evolving world.
MNU Provost Sergey Pen noted that despite their geographical distance, Kazakhstan and Canada face similar challenges in migration and social policy. He underscored the university’s role as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint solutions.
The Canadian delegation included government and policy experts Corinne Prince and Sue Sadler, along with Associate Professor at Carleton University and Visiting Professor at MNU, Martin Geiger. The round table also featured Professor Yadi Zhang from Chongqing University (China) and representatives from Kazakhstani NGOs and civil society, fostering a truly international and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Visits by Heads of International Organisations
On May 28, MNU also welcomed high-ranking representatives from international organisations. The university hosted Emmanuel Dupuy, President of the Institute for European Perspective and Security Studies (France), and Younes Zangiabadi, Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy (Canada). Additionally, Habip Asan, Director of the Division for Transition and Developed Countries at the World Intellectual Property Organization (Switzerland), will visit on May 30. He is scheduled to speak at the round table “Intellectual Property Education: Opportunities and Prospects.” The event will be attended by members of MNU’s senior management, government officials, and experts from various sectors.
These visits highlight Maqsut Narikbayev University’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its role as a premier academic platform for international cooperation, expert dialogue, and global engagement. Such initiatives are crucial steps in building strategic partnerships and expanding the university’s educational and research frontiers.
