CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Global Education and Training (GET) welcomed two visiting scholars from Kazakhstan to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus in 2021 participating, for the first time, as hosts for the Bolashak Scholarship Program.
In the four years since, dozens of visiting Bolashak scholars have found success at Illinois, receiving a quality experience that positioned them to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Now, Illinois is a top destination for the program, welcoming 88 scholars total in 2024 (not all 88 scholars have been on campus at one time because of different program start and end times).
This year’s cohort is the largest Illinois has seen.
“Bolashak” means “Future”
The Bolashak Scholarship Program has a long and rich history that centered around ensuring the future success of Kazakhstan.
It is a fully funded international scholarship offered by the government of Kazakhstan and is administered by the country’s Joint Stock Company (JSC)1 Center for International Programs.
The program grants Kazakh students the chance to pursue a master’s or PhD degree at prestigious universities around the world under the condition that they return to Kazakhstan to work for a specified period.
It was first launched in 1993 by Decree of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to educate talented students at “the best universities in the world,” according to educationusa.state.gov.
“This was a big deal in terms of developing the country’s human capital,” said Shynar Imangaliyeva, a GET program coordinator and member of the GET program implementation team overseeing the Bolashak fellows. “The idea behind it was to give Kazakhstani citizens the chance to study at top universities around the world and get the skills needed to drive the country’s growth.”
Imangaliyeva was born and raised in Kazakhstan and is no stranger the scholarship program having made significant contributions to the development of international organizations and projects throughout her career.
She also knows when Illinois became a host institution for the program.
In 2020, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev directed the Ministry of Education and Science to ensure that 500 scholars were trained every year at top global universities and research centers.
Then in 2021, when Imangaliyeva was the director of the Institute for Educational Development in Kazakhstan, she visited Illinois.
“We discussed a potential long-term partnership, and shortly after, the first two Bolashak scholars from Almaty Management University arrived (at Illinois),” Imangaliyeva said.
Today, GET is hosting the fourth cohort with 88 Kazakhstani scholars from 42 institutions, including 29 universities, three secondary schools, six research institutes, two ministries, and one government support center.
“The name “Bolashak,” which means “future” in Kazakh, really reflects the program’s goal of preparing the next generation of skilled professionals,” Imangaliyeva said.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Illinois is on a long list of prestigious universities from around the world that host scholars from the Bolashak program. Some of those universities, including several in the U.S., host cohorts even larger than Illinois’ current.
With that in mind, GET Director Matt Rosenstein said what makes Illinois an attractive destination for visiting scholars is the success scholars achieve while on campus that is made possible, in part, by the support they receive from GET and Intensive English Institute staff.
Rosenstein said staff members from program coordinators to lecturers meticulously work with each fellow to create a combination of learning and individualized support. This in turn fosters a robust higher education experience that will bring them closer to reaching their professional, academic, and personal goals.
One way they do this, Rosenstein said, is by collaborating with colleges, schools, and other units across campus to get their support in providing expertise and opportunities for the scholars.
Wendy Spencer, a GET program coordinator, is on the program implementation team alongside Imangaliyeva that helps carry out some of the cross-campus collaboration for the Bolashak program.
GET Associate Directors Rob Marinelli and Grant Brewer are also key actors in implementing and supporting growth and further development of the program.
Spencer said she and her team members work directly with academic units such as the College of Law, iSchool, School of Integrative Biology, and the College of Education to design program activities that support the academic and professional goals of the scholars.
Additionally, Rosenstein said significant cooperation with units like the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL), Slavic Reference Service, Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), and International Education support Bolashak fellows’ professional development in pedagogy and research, and opportunities to integrate the fellows into the wider community at Illinois.
Rosenstein said these activities can come in the form of a course audit or course observation, or they can be in the form of a customized workshop.
“We can’t have successful programs without those collaborations with other units on campus,” Rosenstein said.
Individualized mentor relationships with faculty across the campus is another key mechanism to support the fellows, Rosenstein said. For the current cohort, fellows have been matched with over 30 faculty from 14 different campus units. And that number is expected to grow.
Additional support for the Bolashak fellows also comes in the form of the Bolashak Committee, which includes members from the GET team and Bolashak scholars from all four groups.
Imangaliyeva said the committee is a platform where scholars can share their questions, concerns, and suggestions about the program, and request any additional resources they might need.
“I (also) find it helpful to explain to the GET team why some of these requests are important, especially when it comes to things like why Bolashak scholars need specific certificates with training hours,” Imangaliyeva said.
Rosenstein said these efforts are intentional, as GET ultimately aims to support the scholars’ holistic development in their specializations and build capacity to engage in international research.
Because of the consistent and deliberate efforts from GET and IEI staff, Rosenstein said Illinois has created a reputation of being an institution where success and opportunity grows.
“The scholars that were here in the past shared their experience when they returned (to Kazakhstan) and people they were connected to wanted to try to access the same opportunities,” Rosenstein said. “We also have established partnerships in Kazakhstan that are aware of the strengths of the university and the opportunities provided through our programs, so those partners are working to steer scholars here to our program as well. We’ve essentially established a reputation and word got out.”
A Rewarding Experience
The Bolashak fellows benefit greatly from the Illinois program, however they are not the only people who receive a rewarding experience.
Rosenstein said the GET and IEI staff who work directly with the fellows also find educational value through teachable moments and grow professionally from the experience.
“It's a privilege for us as well to host them because we have a chance to learn more about Kazakhstan and more about their culture and region,” Rosenstein said.
Spencer said working with this year’s large cohort has been an incredible opportunity to learn about Kazakh culture.
“Bolashak fellows take great pride in their heritage and eagerly share it with the Illinois community through events like the Intercultural Spotlight on Kazakhstan, Travel Around the World, and QazTalk Kazakh Language Speaking Club,” Spencer said. “At these events, they showcase traditional dances, foods, and customs. I especially look forward to trying their homemade baursak, a fried bread made for special occasions.”
Spencer also said their enthusiasm and contributions truly enrich the Illinois campus community.
Imangaliyeva said working with this Bolashak group has been an insightful experience for her as a program coordinator.
“The GET team puts a lot of energy and time into making the whole process as smooth as possible, from the pre-arrival phase to the program on campus and the follow-up activities,” Imangaliyeva said. “It's definitely not easy to welcome a large group of scholars from four different fields, each with their own professional backgrounds, coming from academic institutions and government agencies. Good communication, open conversations, and being open to constructive feedback are key to making the program efficient, productive, and enjoyable for everyone involved.”
Imangaliyeva also said what stands out to her is that for many of the Bolashak scholars, their time at Illinois will have a significant impact on their future career and personal goals. She said the exposure alone to different research activities, new academic ideas, and diverse perspectives is helping them refine their career paths.
“They're excited to figure out how they can apply these experiences back home, whether in education, policymaking, or community development,” Imangaliyeva said.
Choosing Illinois
When scholars choose Illinois, Imangaliyeva said she wants them to know they’re not just getting a top-tier education—they’re joining a community that truly values diversity, openness to new experiences, independent work, and personal growth.
“The campus is incredibly diverse and international, which really broadens your perspective and makes the whole experience richer—especially when you have the chance to introduce your own country to others and share interesting facts about your history and culture,” Imangaliyeva said. “I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Bolashak scholars take full advantage of this.”
Imangaliyeva said choosing Illinois is about more than just academics; it’s about being part of a supportive community that helps you grow in all areas of your life and gives you the chance to build meaningful connections for future professional and research projects.
“And it’s not just about the present. We already have a strong network of over 100 Illinois alumni in Kazakhstan, and I’m confident they’ll continue launching innovative projects and forums for Central Asia, inviting Illinois researchers and faculty to be part of them,” she said. “So, Illinois isn’t just a place to study—it’s a place where you can build lasting connections and be part of something bigger.”
Analicia Haynes is the storytelling and social media specialist in Illinois International. She can be reached at 217-333-5987 or ahayn2@illinois.edu.
- JSC refers to a business entity where the capital is divided into shares that can be owned by shareholders. These companies are typically managed by a board of directors and can be either privately held or publicly traded on the stock exchange. In this case, the JSC Center for International Programs is the entity responsible for overseeing the Bolashak scholarship program
Additional Bolashak Stories
1. GET wraps up 2023-2024 Bolashak Program with capstone event, poster presentation
2. Scholar Spotlight: Nurken Aubakir details his Illinois experience
3. GET visits Kazakhstan for Bolashak 30th anniversary celebration
