University signs its second MoU with the oldest university in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Early Years team hosted a delegation from the Abay Kazakh National Pedagogical University – the oldest and most prestigious in Kazakhstan – and welcomed Professor Aigulim Aitpayeva, Dr Aigul Iskakova and Professor Khairulla Zhanbekov for a four-day visit commencing 17 December.

The purpose of the visit was to engage with senior staff members at the University of Northampton in a peer review of their PhD and Masters programmes in Early Years, as well as signing an MoU for future collaboration.

This visit followed on from a successful promotional trip to Kazakhstan by Cilel Smith, Senior Lecturer in Education for Early Years at the University of Northampton, which resulted in establishing good contacts with three Kazakh universities.

The University of Northampton also earned recognition by the Kazakhstan government for the prestigious Bolashak Scholarship scheme for training and development opportunities for higher education staff. The first six Kazakh academics are expected to arrive at the University in January to undertake a bespoke six-month EFL programme through Northampton Business School, with a second visit in September for a further term of intensive training in contemporary methods of teaching, learning and assessment in Higher Education.

Bolashak Scholarships have also been awarded to two Early Years staff from the Abay Kazakh University, who will be participating in a 10-month internship programme at the University of Northampton in February and will have the opportunity to observe and participate in teaching and visiting early years’ settings and schools throughout the East Midlands.