Kazakhstan opens AI-integrated university and sets Guinness record at Astana forum

October 2, 2026 at 09:29 PM2 min

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Kazakhstan opened Qazaq AI Research University, the first Central Asian university with artificial intelligence integrated into all core processes, at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana. The country also received a Guinness World Records certificate for HackAlem AI, the largest hackathon by participants, surpassing Hyderabad's 2,089. Central Asian rectors adopted the Astana Declaration on AI in higher education.

Key Facts

Qazaq AI Research University opened in Astana with 528 students enrolled, more than half of bachelor's students on state grants.
HackAlem AI hackathon set a Guinness World Record for largest hackathon, surpassing Hyderabad's previous record of 2,089 participants.
Central Asian rectors adopted the Astana Declaration on Artificial Intelligence at the eighth meeting of the Central Asian Rectors' Club.
Google, Huawei, and Samsung run certification programs at the university, and a regional training center is being created with NVIDIA.
The university plans to launch double-degree programs with Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University from next year.

University Opening

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev led the opening ceremony of Qazaq AI Research University at the AI & Digital Bridge 2026 forum in Astana. The university is the first in Central Asia to integrate artificial intelligence into all key processes, from education and research to administration. Tokayev said that as technology develops rapidly, the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, decision-making ability, and a sense of responsibility become more relevant. The university was created on the president's instruction in less than a year. Currently, 528 people study there, and more than half of bachelor's students received state grants.

Guinness Record

Kazakhstan received a Guinness World Records certificate at the forum for HackAlem AI, recognized as the world's largest hackathon by number of participants. The previous record was held by Hyderabad, India, where 2,089 people gathered. Official judge Glenn Pollard presented the certificate to Deputy Prime Minister Zhaslan Madiyev. Pollard, who has worked as a judge for 14 years, said the result shows the country is making a noticeable statement on the global technology stage. Counting was strict: each participant's entry and exit was recorded by personal badge, and only those who actually worked on projects were counted.

Rectors' Declaration

The eighth meeting of the Central Asian Rectors' Club took place in Astana under the theme 'Universities after AI'. University leaders debated how to assess knowledge, what a teacher should become, and how to preserve academic ethics. Professor Alexander Sidorkin of California State University Sacramento delivered the main report. Sidorkin said that as AI takes over some routine and operational tasks, developing skills that complement technology becomes more important for humans. The meeting resulted in the Astana Declaration of Universities on Artificial Intelligence, which defines common priorities for universities in the region.