Interested graduate students should submit their application by 15 January 2026 (23:59, Astana time).
Data Lab and Center for Global and Regional Governance of Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU CEGREG), Astana
Final public policy launch: 28 April 2026 (Astana)
Overview
Data Lab and Center for Global and Regional Governance of Maqsut Narikbayev University will host the Expert School on Governance and Connectivity in Central Asia in Astana. The School is an advanced, research-oriented program designed to support Master’s and PhD students in Kazakhstan in developing policy-relevant analysis on Central Asia and translating evidence into actionable recommendations for decision-makers.
Programme focus
The central focus of the Expert School is "Governance and Connectivity in Central Asia." The programme examines how governance arrangements (institutions, informal practices, and stakeholder constellations) interact with connectivity dynamics, including transport corridors, infrastructure planning, trade and investment flows, and cross-border cooperation. The School is structured around contemporary regional shifts after 2016, heightened competition over corridors, pressures on water and environmental governance, and the growing geoeconomic salience of the region linked to critical minerals, the energy transition, and strategic trade regulation.
Eligibility
- Master’s and PhD students currently enrolled at universities in Kazakhstan (at any stage of study).
- Applicants working on Central Asia-related topics across disciplines, including economics, political science/IR, and public policy.
Participation offers several concrete advantages:
- Advanced methodological training:
You will receive structured training in data analysis, including Stata for quantitative analysis and NVivo for qualitative research, as well as data visualization using Adobe Illustrator. Separate certificates will be issued for these methodological components.
- Direct mentorship by scholars:
You will work closely with experienced professors and researchers, benefiting from hands-on guidance in research design, data collection, analysis, and writing, skills that are essential for academic careers, policy work, and competitive PhD applications.
- Co-authorship and publication:
Each group will prepare a policy brief co-authored with supervising professors. These policy briefs will be published online, giving you a tangible, citable research output early in your career.
- Professional exposure and networking:
Participants will be invited to the official policy brief launch event, featuring panels with international academics, policy experts, and representatives of public institutions. This provides direct exposure to policy communities and professional networks beyond the university.
- Flexible format:
Most mentorship meetings, data training sessions, and writing work will be conducted online, allowing you to combine participation with your studies and, where relevant, professional commitments.
- Certification:
In addition to separate certificates for data analysis training, all participants who successfully complete the program will receive a general certificate of completion, formally recognizing their participation in an internationally mentored expert program.
Beyond these tangible benefits, the Expert School will help students develop core professional competencies: independent research skills, teamwork in international settings, policy-oriented writing, methodological literacy, and the ability to translate academic analysis into practical recommendations, skills that are increasingly expected in both academic and policy-oriented careers.
Application
Submissions must include:
Curriculum vitae (CV).
A brief confirmation of availability to participate in the online launch window (15−20 January 2026) and to meet regularly with your group (via email).
Key dates (2026)
-Application deadline: extended -15 January 2026 (23:59, Astana time)
-Notification of acceptance: No later than 20 January 2026
-Online workshops: 20 January - 20 March 2026
-Policy Brief workshop: 10 April 2026
-Policy launch (Astana, MNU): 28 April 2026 (offline event)
Logistics note
The Expert School is based in Astana. Participants from other cities are encouraged to seek travel and accommodation support from their home university for the final event on April 28. A limited number of partial travel grants may be available, subject to availability and selection decisions.
Contact
For questions regarding the Expert School or this call for applications, please contact:
Aizhan Arshabayeva (Data Lab): aizhan.arshabayeva@nu.edu.kz
Ikboljon Qoraboyev (Center for Global and Regional Governance of Maqsut Narikbayev University): i_qoraboyev@kazguu.kz
Application link: https://forms.gle/Go57kuxBUEb9DVMX6