Orientation Week for new students at Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education (GSE) began on Monday, 10 August 2026, marking the start of a new academic year and an exciting new academic journey for our incoming graduate students.
This year, more than 600 candidates applied for admission to GSE, Central Asia’s top-ranked School of Education. Following a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, just over 100 students secured admission across GSE’s three graduate programmes. Among them, 21 students joined the four-year, full-time PhD in Education- the largest incoming PhD cohort in the School’s history.
As part of Orientation Week, GSE held a special Welcome Ceremony on Monday, 10 August 2026, bringing together new students, faculty, academic leaders, and administrative staff. The event provided an opportunity to welcome the new cohort to the GSE community and introduce them to the School, its programmes, people, academic expectations, and opportunities ahead.
The ceremony was presided over by Professor Aida Sagintayeva, Dean of GSE and Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Budgets at Nazarbayev University. Professor Mir Afzal Tajik, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, opened the ceremony by welcoming the new students and faculty and providing an overview of GSE and its graduate programmes. He highlighted the School’s commitment to academic excellence and quality, including the accreditation of all three GSE graduate programmes by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
In her welcome address, Professor Sagintayeva reflected on GSE’s key strengths, achievements, and growing impact on education in Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and beyond. She encouraged the incoming students to make the most of the intellectual, professional, and collaborative opportunities available to them during their time at GSE.
The Vice Dean for Research, Professor Daniel Torrano, faculty members, and administrative colleagues also extended a warm welcome to the new students, reinforcing an important message: joining GSE means becoming part of a diverse academic community committed not only to earning degrees, but also to generating knowledge, developing educational leadership, and contributing to the transformation of education.
For our new students, 10 August was more than the first day of an academic year. It marked the beginning of a journey of learning, inquiry, challenge, discovery, collaboration, and growth.
Orientation Week continues, with new students taking part in programme meetings, academic sessions, and other activities designed to help them get to know GSE, connect with their peers and faculty, and confidently begin their studies.
We warmly welcome the GSE Class of 2026 and wish every student a rewarding and transformative journey ahead.