By Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs
On 8 May 2026, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) welcomed His Excellency Margulan Baimukhan, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UN ESCAP, for a high-level visit aimed at exploring concrete pathways for academic collaboration, student mobility, and institutional collaboration between AIT and Kazakhstan.
The visit brought together senior AIT leadership and the Ambassador for a wide-ranging discussion on how AIT’s strengths in engineering, technology, sustainable development, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, water engineering, and professional capacity building align with Kazakhstan’s ambitious national development agenda, particularly its 2050 Vision and its goal to fully digitalize the economy by 2029.
Prof. Pai-Chi Li, AIT President, warmly welcomed His Excellency and expressed AIT’s strong interest in deepening its engagement with Kazakhstan. He identified three strategic pillars as central to the partnership: developing human capital, fostering joint and impactful research, and nurturing the innovation ecosystem, calling all three critical for addressing both current and future regional challenges. Prof. Li affirmed AIT’s commitment to building a meaningful and long-term institutional relationship with Kazakhstan.
Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAR), shared a personal connection to Kazakhstan, recalling his interactions with Kazakhstani students during a visiting professorship at Warsaw University of Technology in 2015 and noting the strong intellectual curiosity and academic calibre he observed. He expressed his conviction that AIT’s inclusion as an official destination for Kazakhstani students would be mutually beneficial, and that the relationship between Thailand and Kazakhstan is both natural and growing.
Prof. Siddharth K. Jabade, Vice President for Administration and Development, highlighted Kazakhstan’s robust economic performance, its pivotal role as the Central Gateway to Central Asia, and the establishment of the country’s Ministry of AI and Digital Development, focused on forward-looking initiatives. He outlined three potential areas of AIT-Kazakhstan collaboration: human resource development aligned with Kazakhstan’s knowledge economy goals; an innovation corridor linking Kazakhstan and Thailand; and new 21st-century education programs in AI and digitalization. Prof. Jabade also highlighted the potential for faculty secondment programs between AIT and Kazakhstani universities.
Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, Executive Director, Development & External Affairs – Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (DEA – OAAA), opened the meeting by extending a warm welcome to His Excellency and introducing the senior AIT leadership team present. He recalled the productive earlier meeting in February 2026, noting that Kazakhstan’s 2050 Vision, anchored on Human Capital Development, Knowledge-Based Economic Diversification, and Science, Technology and Digital Innovation, maps directly onto AIT’s core academic and research strengths. Mr. Sanjeev set the tone for the day’s discussion by outlining concrete areas for exploration, including AIT’s potential inclusion in the Bolashak International Scholarship Program, ministry-level introductions, and professional development and micro-credential programs for government officers and civil servants.
Mr. Voravate Chonlasin, Executive Director of AIT Extension, drew on AIT Extension’s direct experience with Kazakhstan, having participated in the Enactus Champions program in 2024. He highlighted three areas of mutual interest for professional development and non-degree programming: short-term certificate programs and micro-credentials for government officials and professionals; climate and sustainability education and capacity building; and youth and STEM education, particularly given Kazakhstan’s vibrant and fast-growing entrepreneurship ecosystem.
H.E. Ambassador Margulan Baimukhan delivered a comprehensive presentation on Kazakhstan, offering a compelling picture of a dynamic, resource-rich, and forward-looking nation. Key highlights included: Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth largest country, with a young population averaging 27 years of age, a near-100% literacy rate (99.8%), and over 624,000 university students, of whom 90,000 are currently studying abroad. On the digital front, the Ambassador noted Kazakhstan’s pioneering National AI Strategy and the Ministry of AI and Digital Development established at the Deputy Prime Minister level with a mandate to implement AI solutions across all sectors of the economy by 2029.
The Ambassador specifically highlighted water scarcity and irrigation as a critical national and regional priority and expressed interest in AIT’s Water Engineering and Management program under the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (FCEE). He noted that Kazakhstan recently hosted a Regional Ecological Summit (RES 2026) and is in the process of establishing an International Water Organization to consolidate global water-related bodies under one umbrella.
Regarding education, the Ambassador underscored the Bolashak International Scholarship Program, a 100% government-funded initiative operating since 1993, which has now shifted its focus to Master’s and PhD degrees, making it directly relevant to AIT’s academic programs.
The Ambassador also extended a warm invitation to AIT to attend the Kazakhstan-Thailand Business Networking Event on 25 May 2026 at the Thai Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade, as an opportunity to network with the visiting Kazakhstani business and government delegation.
The Ambassador’s commitment to facilitating introductions to the relevant ministries, combined with AIT’s clear alignment with Kazakhstan’s 2050 Vision, provides a solid foundation for a meaningful, long-term institutional partnership.
The substantive discussion that followed explored concrete pathways for collaboration, including:
- The possibility of AIT being included on the official partner institution list for government-sponsored full scholarships under the Bolashak International Scholarship Program, with the Embassy’s support and facilitation with relevant Kazakhstani ministries.
- Official introductions to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of AI and Digital Development, and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, to explore collaborative frameworks aligned with Kazakhstan’s national priorities.
- Development of professional development and micro-credential programs for civil servants, government officers, and working professionals in Kazakhstan.
- Institutional linkages with leading universities and research institutions in Kazakhstan, including potential faculty secondment arrangements.
- A possible AIT senior delegation mission to Kazakhstan to further advance and formalize the partnership.
The visit marks a significant step in building a meaningful, long-term partnership between AIT and Kazakhstan. With strong alignment on national priorities and mutual commitment at the highest levels, both sides look forward to advancing graduate degree full scholarship programs, research collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives in the months ahead. Kazakhstan represents a high-potential partner for AIT across multiple disciplines, particularly in engineering, AI and digital technology, water management, and sustainable development.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Indra Kumari, Coordinator, DEA – Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Mr. Bhaskaran Jacob, Senior Advancement Officer, DEA – OAAA.
