UW-NU partnership moves toward a new era

The long-standing partnership between the UW–Madison and Nazarbayev University (NU) is entering a new era marked by leadership changes but with a continued commitment to collaboration.

In June, Dean Frances Vavrus traveled to Nazarbayev University to celebrate its newest graduates and to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NU. This agreement will guide future cooperation and collaboration in research, student and faculty mobility, graduate student and post-doc opportunities, and staff professional development. The MOU marks a new phase in the partnership, building on 14 years of strategic collaboration. Under a new president, Waqar Ahmad, NU is poised to continue towards its goal of becoming a world-class research university.

Dean Vavrus and Acting President Adesida Ilesanmi signing a MOU between Nazarbayev University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dean Vavrus and Acting President Adesida Ilesanmi sign a MOU between Nazarbayev University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison that will guide future collaboration.

Nazarbayev University, located in Astana, Kazakhstan, has been on a transformative journey since opening its doors in 2010. Aiming to integrate the best of international educational practices, NU has partnered with leading universities globally, including UW–Madison. As one of NU’s ten strategic partners, UW–Madison has played a crucial role in developing NU’s undergraduate and graduate programs and overall administration.

The UW-NU partnership, coordinated by IPO and overseen by the faculty director, focused on consulting for new academic programs and building capacity in existing programs seeking accreditation, fostering junior scholars through mentoring, engaging in capacity building for higher education administration, and providing external review and support for graduate theses and admissions. Additionally, UW–Madison collaborated with various NU units, including the NU Library, Academic Advising Office, and Department of Student Affairs.

As the partnership enters this new phase, the commitment to mutual growth and development remains strong, ensuring a bright future for both institutions.

Elise Ahn
Elise Ahn

In another transition, Elise Ahn, the founding director of the International Projects Office (IPO) at UW–Madison, has resigned after more than seven years of dedicated service. During her tenure, Ahn played a pivotal role in strengthening and expanding the partnership between UW–Madison and NU, encompassing various higher education capacity-building projects across Central Asia.

Beyond her work with the UW-NU Partnership, Ahn’s contributions include extending collaborative efforts with NU, engaging in rapid response projects during the COVID-19 pandemic with the United Nations Development Programme, and establishing mechanisms for fully funded graduate student mobility. Her departure marks a significant transition as she pursues her research in Central Asia as an alternate for the Fulbright Mid-Career Scholar Fellowship (Kazakhstan).

In an announcement to the International Division staff, Dean Frances Vavrus expressed gratitude for Ahn’s service and shared optimism for the future relationship between UW and NU.

“I am glad to see this partnership transition to its next iteration as we explore new ways for UW and NU to collaborate on education and research,” said Vavrus. “This is a natural continuation of the incredible work of the entire International Projects Office team.”

Learn more information about the NU Partnership with NU and other initiatives of the International Projects Office on the web, or by reaching out to Interim IPO Director Virginia Martin, vmartin2@wisc.edu.

 

Story by Steve Barcus