20 WIN THE YESSENOV SCHOLARSHIP

“The competition took place in March. We chose the best 20 candidates out of 506 applicants through a two-stage process. In the first stage, we evaluated whether the applications complied with the Provisions, and verified the accuracy of the facts presented in them. In the second stage, with the help of our long-time partner, psychologist Yelena Amreyeva, we assessed the candidates’ personality traits, leadership qualities, and skills, and conducted both group and individual interviews featuring unusual tasks,” said Aigerym Sultan, Program Manager at the Shakhmardan Yessenov Foundation.

Yelena Amreyeva, a psychologist and coach, comments on the competition.
“One of the most pleasant aspects this year was the increased participation from regional universities. The level of candidates from these institutions also continues to grow year after year. Unfortunately, there are still cases where a university ‘prepares and sends’ a student to our competition. These candidates often differ significantly in their applications compared to how they perform during interviews. It’s a sad situation as this approach can actually hinder the student’s development and deprive truly deserving individuals of the opportunity to compete for the scholarship.”

The students from Satbayev University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, West Kazakhstan universities — Agrarian and Technical, and Medical (in Uralsk and Aktobe, respectively), Pavlodar State University, Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Yessenov University, al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as universities in Atyrau, Karaganda, Astana, Petropavlovsk, and Shymkent, are among this year’s Yessenov Scholarship recipients.

The list of the Scholarship recipients’ fields of study includes medicine (various specializations), pharmaceutical production technology, ecology (various specializations), robotics (various specializations), electric power supply, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, mathematics, computer engineering, biological engineering, hydrology, and others.

Here’s what some of the winners say about the competition and their plans for the future.

Sardorbek Rustamzhanov, 20, from Shymkent:
– I’m a future pediatrician, currently studying at the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy. I decided to take part in the Scholarship competition to test my abilities and luck. I was also interested in the Foundation’s activities. What I remember most was the group interview, where I met interesting people with similar views. I think I won due to my active participation and leadership qualities. I plan to use the Yessenov Scholarship to pay for English courses and then take the IELTS exam. The remaining funds I will use to attend international conferences.  After finishing my bachelor’s degree next summer, I plan to travel to Europe.

Alikhan Ibrashev, 19, from Kyzylorda:
– My specialty is Information Security, and I am studying at Satbayev University. I applied because I wanted to test my abilities and step out of my comfort zone. The Shakhmardan Yessenov Scholarship is an opportunity to unlock my potential and receive support. During the interview, which was part of the second stage of the competition, I appreciated that everything was conducted in the form of a live dialogue rather than an exam or a test. I was able to talk about myself and feel the jury’s genuine interest in my development. This gave me confidence. I won because I am really interested in my specialty and have clear goals, which I was able to demonstrate to the selection committee. I plan to use the Scholarship for education and practice in the field of cybersecurity: online courses, books, attending conferences, and training on platforms like Hack The Box. In the near future, I plan to deepen my practice in ethical hacking, complete an internship at a major IT company, and prepare for applying to a Master’s program abroad.

Dmitriy Kapuler, 20, from Aktau:
– I study Computer Engineering at Yessenov University. I felt that my personal qualities, achievements, and research experience made me a suitable candidate for this Scholarship, so I decided to apply. I remember most the group task in the second round and the interview with the psychologist. I think that I was able to really show who I am, and that’s probably why I won. I plan to spend the Scholarship on professional development courses and driving school, as well as on research activities and life in general, including travel, for example. I plan to launch my own startup, which will also be the topic of my thesis. After graduation, I want to pursue a Master’s degree in Turkey or Poland and complete the research article I’m currently working on.

Sofia Smirnova, 19, from Uralsk:
– I’m studying Electric Power Supply at Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University. I applied because the Yessenov Scholarship competition is an incredible experience for me. The Scholarship will help me move forward with my plans since I need to save money for a Master’s program in China, where I plan to apply. The most memorable moment of the competition was the group interview. It was a real challenge for all of us, where we had to demonstrate our communication skills and ability to quickly find solutions. I believe the key to my victory was my essay, in which I shared my perspective, academic achievements, and plans for the near future.

As a reminder, the Yessenov Scholarship is one of the programs of the Shakhmardan Yessenov Science and Education Foundation, which has been operating since 2013. It provides monthly financial support for one year to the country’s top students. Since the Program’s launch, 196 students from universities across Kazakhstan have become Scholarship holders.