Long Abstract:

As Kazakhstan steadily improves its education system, it is an opportune moment to launch, expand, and strengthen U.S.-Kazakhstan ties in higher education. Partnerships, however, face challenges because faculty and administrators lack an understanding of respective educational systems. The U.S.-Kazakhstan University Partnerships Coaching Program is an initiative of the U.S. Embassy in Astana and American Councils for International Education to catalyze, align, and support strategic international partnerships among university administrators, faculty, students, and government. Through custom workshops, webinars, matchmaking, consultation, and small grants the program provides planning guides, toolkits, roadmaps, and partnership case studies to Kazakhstani universities seeking to raise their global visibility, forge sustainable links, and internationalize their campuses. Since its launch in 2017, the program has provided Kazakhstani universities with the knowledge and skills to refine their internationalization practice, and to foster partnerships with U.S. institutions.