Landlocked in: Kazakhstan makes AI mandatory for 390,000 university students

Central Asia’s Kazakhstan has made artificial intelligence a mandatory subject across all universities, with 93 institutions already integrating AI into their academic programs and 20 universities launching 25 new educational tracks. This nationwide initiative positions Kazakhstan to compete with leading AI-adopting countries like China, Finland, and the United States while preparing students for an AI-driven economy.

Key implementation details: The Aisana project will be included in university curricula starting this academic year, giving every student hands-on experience with AI technologies.

• So far, 390,000 students have completed specialized AI courses, with 3,000 earning official certificates.
• Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Gulzat Kobenova emphasized that this initiative will strengthen the education system and bring Kazakhstan closer to global AI leaders.

Presidential backing: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for urgent action to make AI a driver of national development, signaling high-level government commitment to the initiative.

Major infrastructure project: Kazakhstan is developing the Alem.ai center as one of its largest AI initiatives.

• The center will include an educational facility for school children and a startup campus.
• Officials project the center will help boost AI solution exports to $5 billion by 2029.

Why this matters: Kazakhstan’s mandatory AI education represents one of the most comprehensive national efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into higher education curricula, potentially creating a significant competitive advantage in developing AI talent and capabilities across the country’s workforce.