A FOUNDATION THAT OPENS DOORS

The most important program in the Yessenov Foundation’s portfolio is the Research Internships Program at world laboratories, launched in 2013. Each year, 10 winning undergraduate students or young scientists receive the opportunity to complete an internship at one of the leading laboratories, that they choose themselves. It is important for the Foundation that the host research laboratory is reputable, conducts researches aligned with the Program winner’s field of study, and includes world‑renowned professors as well as respected researchers. The awarded grants cover the visa, round-trip airfare, and living expenses, including food and accommodation in the host country.

“After completing such an internship most of our students have experience, scientific publications, and an enhanced reputation. That’s why they are readily accepted into master’s and doctoral programs, often with full funding,” explains Irina Grishchenko, Chief Operating Officer of the Yessenov Foundation.

The Program’s beneficiaries specialize in fields such as biosciences, chemistry, physics, mathematics, IT, medicine, robotics, and others. Over the past 12 years, more than 1,700 Kazakhstani students have applied, and over 130 of them have completed research internships in the USA and South Korea, Switzerland and Japan, Malaysia and France, China and Canada, as well as other countries.

Nail Beisekenov, 24, a graduate of D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, completed his master’s degree at Niigata University in Japan, won the Foundation’s Program, and this summer completed an internship at Austin Peay University in the USA.

“I specialize in ecology and conservation biology. During my internship, I developed an online portal on the Google Earth platform for analyzing the ecological conditions of an entire state. This concept later evolved into a global climate change monitoring system, with the results published in the journal Remote Sensing,” says Nail.

Currently, Nail is continuing his academic career as a PhD student at Texas A&M University. He is working on an environmental project funded by NASA.

The scholarship program, the Shakhmardan Yessenov Scholarship, also attracts great interest from students of Kazakhstani universities. It is named after Shakhmardan Yessenov, a prominent Kazakhstani geologist, scientist, and statesman who discovered numerous mineral deposits and ensured that Mangyshlak remained part of Kazakhstan. More than 500 applications from across the country were submitted for the most recent competition alone. In total, since the Foundation’s establishment, 196 young Kazakhstanis have become its scholarship recipients.

“Through a participant‑friendly selection process, and with the support of our psychologist‑coach, we choose young people who not only demonstrate strong academic performance but also have a clear commitment to continuing their personal and professional development,” explains Aigerym Sultan, the Program Manager.

Annually, the Program awards 20 of the country’s top students, providing them with the Shakhmardan Yessenov Scholarship for an entire year.

Sofia Smirnova, a 19-year-old from Uralsk, won the scholarship this spring.
“I’m studying Power Supply Engineering at the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University. I applied because the Yessenov Scholarship competition is an incredible opportunity. The scholarship will help me pursue my future plans: I need to save money for a master’s program in China, where I intend to apply,” shares the scholarship recipient.

The achievements of 161 students enrolled in the English Language Program for Regional Universities at Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) have been another key outcome of the Foundation this year. Since the Foundation’s establishment in 2013, this two-year Program has also been implemented at four other universities in Aktau, Kyzylorda, Karaganda, and Petropavlovsk. A total of 1,506 students and teachers have improved their English proficiency through the Program. They are guided by experienced, certified teachers, notably Antony Durrant and Courtney Bailey in recent years.

As part of the Yessenov Data Lab (YDL) Summer School for Data Analysts, 15 students, including 8 women, completed an intensive training program held both online and offline in Almaty. This year, the training at the School was conducted by renowned experts from Kazakhstan and around the world, including Timur Bakibayev, Doctor of Computer Science, Nikita Saxena, Research Engineer at Google DeepMind, Kuanysh Abeshev, PhD in Mathematics, and Vladislav Yushchenko, Senior Engineer at Meta’s London office. Since the Program’s launch, 111 Kazakhstanis have taken part in the School.

Dauren Kassengaliyev, a graduate of the master’s program at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) who is currently studying at the University of Genoa in Italy, shared the following about his experience at YDL.

“I’m thrilled with the YDL. The Program turned out to be far more interesting and in‑depth than I expected. I gained an excellent Data Science framework that now helps me understand the direction I need to take next,” says Dauren.

10 Kazakhstanis won the Yessenov Launch Pad competition held this autumn. All of them received grants for additional education aimed at developing either soft or hard skills.

Also this year, the Foundation opened the Shakhmardan Yessenov Auditorium, which combines advanced technical equipment with modern design and ergonomic standards. The event took place at Satbayev University, the alma mater of the prominent geologist and science organizer. Galimzhan Yessenov, the Foundation’s establisher, also announced that in 2027, to mark the 100th anniversary of the outstanding Kazakhstani scientist, a monument dedicated to him will be unveiled in Aktau, surrounded by a newly created public space. This is another project of the Foundation.

The charitable organization has been supporting the Kazakhstani team of schoolchildren at the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) for several years now. This year, the competition was held in Ji’ning, China. Our team returned home with 7 medals, including gold ones.

“Summing up the outcomes of 2025, we are pleased to share that we were able to support another 226 talented and ambitious Kazakhstanis in developing, exploring, and advancing professionally. Since we have stayed in close contact with our winners for many years and follow their achievements, I can confidently say that for many of them, we have become the Foundation that truly opened doors to big science and to their professions,” states Aiganym Malisheva, Executive Director of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation.