On August 29, Nazarbayev University hosted NU Alumni Fest 2026, a charity festival that brought together alumni, students, faculty, staff, partners, and friends of the University. Around 1,500 people attended the festival.
The event was dedicated to Nazarbayev University’s 15th anniversary and was jointly organized by the University and the NU Alumni Association with the support of NU Impact Foundation.
The festival aimed to strengthen the University community and foster a culture of giving back – encouraging alumni to stay connected with their alma mater, share their experience, and create new opportunities for future generations of students. One of the key outcomes of NU Alumni Fest was KZT 7 million raised through ticket sales. All proceeds will be used to establish an additional scholarship for socially active NU students.
Alumni Return to the University to Share Their Experience
Sayasat Nurbek, Acting Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, delivered welcoming remarks to festival participants.
A central part of the festival’s business program featured talks and panel discussions with NU alumni who have built careers in business, the public sector, technology, investment, and other fields. The panel sessions took place at Өnergy Creative Art Hub – a multidisciplinary space at Nazarbayev University that brings together art, science, technology, creative industries, and entrepreneurship. Opened this year as the first hub of its kind in Central Asia, Өnergy provides an environment for experimentation at the intersection of disciplines and for turning ideas into new projects, products, and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Yerbol Tulegenov, Chairman of the NU Alumni Association Council, and Aizhan Atshabarova, Executive Director of the NU Alumni Association, spoke about the Association’s work. Timur Malikov, Chief Marketing Officer at BI Group and an NU alumnus, also shared his professional journey and career experience.
The Build Your Own Path panel featured Laura Vaigorova, founder of SmarTestPrep; Dauken Seitkali, co-founder of ARLAN BIOTECH; Yernar Birimzhan, co-founder of Drinkit and HP Coffee; Nazerke Kalidolda, venture investor at Sturgeon Capital; and Alibi Sansyzbay, founder of Outpeer AI, who shared their professional and personal experiences.
The Leadership & Impact panel brought together Lyazzat Ibragimova, Chairwoman of the Management Board of Otbasy Bank; Adil Kusmanov, Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan; and Assylan Kassymov, Associate Partner at McKinsey. The discussion was moderated by Yerbol Tulegenov, Chairman of the NU Alumni Association Council.
All participants in both panel discussions are Nazarbayev University alumni.
Careers, Connections, and the University Community
The festival featured an Opportunity Hub, where participants could connect directly with representatives of leading Kazakhstani and international companies. The recruitment zone brought together Higgsfield AI, BI Group, Alstom, AVC Group, BCG, Deloitte, EPAM, KAZ Minerals, McKinsey, Otbasy Bank, SLB, Smart Bridge, and Teach For Kazakhstan.
The campus also hosted sports and interactive activities, robotics and drone zones, Speed Dating, a food court, and a large children’s playground.
Welcoming Back the Classes of 2020 and 2021
A special highlight of NU Alumni Fest was a ceremony for the Classes of 2020 and 2021, whose traditional graduation celebrations were affected by the pandemic.
Several years later, the alumni returned to campus to come together and celebrate the completion of an important chapter in their university journey. Professor Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University, delivered welcoming remarks to the graduates.
The ceremony became a symbolic reflection of the festival’s broader message: the connection between alumni and their alma mater continues long after graduation.
Music by NU Alumni and Students
The festival’s concert program brought together NU students, alumni, and creative groups. NU Orchestra, NU Choir, Dance Club, Vocal Club, and other student and alumni groups performed on stage.
ALEM headlined NU Alumni Fest 2026.
Giving Back: One Generation’s Success Creates Opportunities for the Next
NU Alumni Fest is designed to be more than an opportunity to reconnect years after graduation. Its broader purpose is to build lasting ties among alumni, students, and the University.
By returning to NU, alumni share their professional and life experience, support students, create career opportunities, build new partnerships, and contribute to the development of the University community.
The KZT 7 million raised at the festival will serve as a tangible expression of this culture: the funds will be used to establish an additional scholarship for socially active NU students.
NU Alumni Fest 2026 was made possible with the support of NU Impact Foundation, which creates and supports initiatives aimed at developing talent, fostering innovation, and advancing projects with social impact. For the NU Impact Foundation, supporting NU Alumni Fest was a natural extension of this work – creating a space where the experience of one generation helps open up new opportunities for the next.
BI Group and Higgsfield AI served as the festival’s main partners.
NU Alumni Fest demonstrated that the strength of a university lies not only in the education it provides, but also in the community that stays with its members long after graduation.