Kazakhstan’s first artificial intelligence university plans to enrol 600 students and trainees in the 2026-2027 academic year, as the government expands AI education from higher education to schools and rural classrooms, The Times of Central Asia reported on August 18.

Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek reportedly said Qazaq AI Research University (QAIRU) in Astana will admit 400 bachelor’s students, including 308 on state grants, and 100 master’s students. A further 100 employees of sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna will study under the MBA AI+X programme.

Located at the former EXPO 2017 site alongside Astana Hub and the Alem.ai cluster, QAIRU aims to train engineers capable of developing AI systems, the news outlet’s report said. Its three-year bachelor’s programme is taught entirely in English and follows an AI+X model combining artificial intelligence with fields including healthcare and energy.

The government is also introducing AI into existing higher education systems, the report added. Unified National Testing certificates are available through eGov, while AI-based proctoring is in use and the National Testing Center has launched AI-Talapker, a chatbot providing information on university admissions and the Unified National Testing.

“The next stage is the introduction of artificial intelligence-based solutions into the educational process,” Nurbek reportedly said, adding that AI could be used for admissions, personalised learning and career guidance.

Education Minister Zhuldyz Suleimenova said AI technologies would also become part of school education during the new academic year, according to the report. AI content will be incorporated into digital literacy and computer science curricula.

A separate pilot programme will begin on September 1 in 10 small rural schools in the Pavlodar and Kyzylorda regions. AI tools will initially be tested in fourth-grade mathematics, digital literacy, native language and AI classes, with the programme due to expand to 50 schools in November and another 300 in January 2027.

The pilot is ultimately expected to cover 500 small rural schools. More than 350,000 teachers have already received training in using AI in education, while authorities have assessed schools’ internet connectivity, computer equipment and staffing capacity.