Cardiff University has officially opened its new campus in Astana, Kazakhstan, called Cardiff University Kazakhstan. The launch occurred on September 3. Now more than 300 students have begun their coursework, beginning with a year of building a foundation in preparation for subsequent degree programs. Aligned with economic development strategies, this regional initiative seeks to expand access to education throughout the region, while addressing rising worldwide educational needs.
Cardiff University has been growing its transnational education portfolio. The creation of the new campus is an important element of this larger strategy. The Kazakhstani government has further backed this initiative by funding 500 new scholarships for international students each year for the next three years. Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner emphasized the importance of these scholarships. She explained that they provide a life-changing opportunity for millions of students to access a UK education without ever travelling outside their home country.
Asset, a 17-year-old high school student, is excited to learn business management at the new campus. He’s one of the people reaping the rewards of this program. The scholarships and program structure are specifically intended to support students like Asset as they map successful academic and professional futures.
In addition, the start-up of the campus was paid for by the business group Qualified Centre of Education Public Foundation (QCEF). In November 2022, Cardiff University signed the same types of agreements — called “contracts” by the university — with the government of Kazakhstan. This collaboration will help create educational institutional bridges connecting Wales and Kazakhstan.
Yet Vice Chancellor Larner insisted the university did its due diligence when starting the campus. She continued by stating that this trend opens doors for students. In addition, it brings enormous advantages to Cardiff University and all of Wales as a whole.
“So the fact that they can get a UK education in their home country is life-changing for some of them,” – Wendy Larner
The university has since been developing more transnational education projects in other countries, including possible ventures in Singapore and China. This growth comes at a time when universities globally are under increasing budgetary constraints, leading institutions to pursue other routes to ensure their enrollment figures.
Dr. Nicolas Peretto, who will teach a data science module at the Astana campus starting in April, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity. He remarked, “It was something which was really attractive to me in terms of getting to know a different country.”
The downside, of course, is that the campus is being created pretty darn fast and that’s worrisome. Staff often express apprehension about the effect this will have on their workload. Cardiff University’s University and College Union (UCU) has voiced serious worries about potential repercussions on faculty and the institution’s reputation.
Andy Williams, a UCU parliamentary representative, pointed out serious violations of human rights in Kazakhstan. He stated, “This is a country with poor human rights records and poor records on protecting the interests and lives of queer people in particular – we’re worried about that.” Williams had serious misgivings that they could damage the reputation of the university. He said, “We’re concerned with the damage to the reputation of Cardiff University if this was to go wrong.”
The Vice Chancellor recognized these criticisms but made the case that it was necessary to reach a new potential audience of students. “I think about this very simply – if the international students are not coming to us in the same number, we might need to go to them,” she said.
Opportunities abroad Larner noted how transnational education has become a common area of interest among universities as they look for ways to diversify their future. She stated, “That’s why many universities, not just Cardiff University, are exploring transnational education as part of their future.”
As Cardiff University moves forward with its Kazakhstan campus, it faces a dual challenge: addressing concerns about human rights while simultaneously fulfilling its mission to educate future leaders. For the university, the biggest priority is to continue to build effective relationships with students from Kazakhstan, while working their way through the landscape of international higher education.
