• 24 September 2026
• 178

KORKYT ATA UNIVERSITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERNATIONAL ERASMUS+ PROJECT

Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University has joined the winning consortium of the international project “Development of Endowment Funds in Universities of Kazakhstan” (UNIFUND), implemented under the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.

The 36-month project aims to strengthen the financial sustainability and institutional autonomy of higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, develop university endowment funds, and introduce modern mechanisms for their management. L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University serves as the project’s grant holder and coordinator.

Korkyt Ata University’s participation in the UNIFUND project is directly linked to its established experience in developing an institutional endowment fund. The Korkyt Ata Endowment corporate foundation has operated at the University since 2021. The experience accumulated over this period will provide a foundation for improving fundraising mechanisms, strengthening engagement with donors and alumni, and advancing the management of the endowment fund within the international project.

Through UNIFUND, the University will have an opportunity to study European practices in endowment fund development and learn about modern fundraising tools, donor engagement, and professional fund management. The project also provides for assessing the readiness of higher education institutions to develop endowment funds, enhancing specialists’ qualifications, creating a unified digital platform, and developing legal and methodological recommendations.

The project brings together the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstani and European higher education institutions, and representatives of the business community. Alongside Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, the Kazakhstani partners include L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Alikhan Bokeikhan University, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, Ozbekali Zhanibekov South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University, and Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University.

The European partners are the Polytechnic University of Turin (POLITO, Italy) and Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (UNISOFIA, Bulgaria). The Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs participates as an associate partner.

For the University, the UNIFUND project represents an important platform for expanding the capacity of the Korkyt Ata Endowment and incorporating international experience into its endowment system. Participation in the project will help foster an endowment culture, strengthen the University’s financial sustainability, and generate additional resources to support its long-term development goals.

Media Center of the Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University