Alumni « Graduate School of Public Policy

Welcome to NU GSPP Alumni Community!

You are one of over 496 GSPP alumni and over 10 000 NU alumni!

Your alumni membership gives you an opportunity to continuous engagement with NU GSPP and all NU alumni!

NU GSPP alumni membership gives you a free membership at NU Alumni Association and many other benefits.

Overview

In 2024 NU GSPP Alumni number reached 496. Of these, 255 completed Master in Public Administration program, 221 Master in Public Policy program and 20 Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy. The overall employment rate is 87.3%.

Year	Program	Employment rate within 6 months of graduation
2023	MPP	85.7%
2023	MPA	97.3%

NU GSPP alumni community have different backgrounds and occupations. NU GSPP graduates of all cohorts work mostly in quasi-public, private sector, public sector and international organizations. The employer organizations include Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Akimat of Astana, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aerospace Committee of the Ministry of Digital Development, Defence and Aerospace Industry, Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture, National Bank, Anti-corruption agency, Sovereign Wealth Fund «Samruk-Kazyna», JSC, Baiterek Holding and national companies like KazMunayGas, Kazatomprom, Transtelecom, Republican Center for Health Development. GSPP alumni also work in universities and academies like Nazarbayev University, Academy of Public Administration, KazGUU, Karaganda State University; Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), UN organizations (UNDP, UN Volunteers, UNICEF, UN Woman), Islamic Organization for Food Security, World Bank, US and British Embassies in Kazakhstan and private companies in Kazakhstan and abroad.

NU GSPP alumni community is diverse and include the citizens of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Nigeria and Tanzania.

NU GSPP Alumni Engagement

NU GSPP Alumni Chapter was established in 2017 to unite all alumni and provide a platform that supports members throughout the country. The Chapter is engaged in social and professional activities to strengthen network among NU GSPP alumni, current students and School, as well as promote NU GSPP. Alumni Chapter has its bylaws and NU GSPP Alumni Committee.

GSPP Alumni network has become an effective tool in recruiting and attracting talented and promising students for the NU GSPP degree and Executive Education programs. NU GSPP alumni are engaged in both School and NU Open House Days, as well as in Orientation week activities. They are NU GSPP and NU ambassadors both at local and international levels. We also have our ambassadors in Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and India. They promote the School and University and recruit bright promising students.

Active and valuable involvement of alumni and their employers was noted during final Accreditation stages both by the Accreditation Commission of the European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA) and the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA) of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). This positively affected the decision in awarding accreditation to GSPP Masters programs by the EAPAA in 2019 and the NASPAA in 2023.

NU GSPP regularly updates alumni on upcoming School plans and events. Annual Joint Valedictory Reception and Alumni Reunions are platforms for bringing together the alumni, updating them on School’s development, as well as strengthening our alumni professional network. These events also serve as useful points of contact between fresh graduates and alumni which will be helpful for future employment and career progression.

NU GSPP ALUMNI CHAPTER BY-LAWS

NU GSPP Alumni Chapter Committee

	Nurzhamal Sandybekova -President My name is Nurzhamal Sandybekova, and I am honored to be the newly elected President of the NU GSPP Alumni Chapter. I proudly graduated from the GSPP MPA program in 2023 and hold a Bachelor’s degree in International Law and Physical Education. Beyond my academic achievements, I am a Master of Sports and an active member of the Republican Commission on Women, Children, and Family Affairs of the “Auyl” Political Party. Currently, I work in the Sports Development Department of the Astana Akimat, where I combine my professional expertise with my passion for promoting physical activity. In my free time, I am an avid sports enthusiast and enjoy all forms of physical activity. I have a deep love for dogs and horses and take care of them with great dedication. When I’m not on the move, you can find me immersed in a good book, enjoying the stillness it brings.
	Yenlik Kalybek – Vice President My name is Yenlik Kalybek, and I am thrilled to be elected as the Vice President of the Chapter. I graduated from NU GSPP with a Master’s in Public Policy in 2023 and was honored to receive the Best PAE Award that same year. I have a passion for playing tennis. Whether I’m serving an ace or executing a precise backhand, my mind is always in the game. The strategic thinking and split-second decision-making required make it my favorite sport. Currently, I serve as the Project Manager at the Kazakhstan Institute of Public Development (KIPD), a quasi-governmental agency under the Ministry of Culture and Information in Kazakhstan.
	Madi Khanafiya- Vice-President My name is Madi Khanafiya. I graduated from NU GSPP with a Master’s in Public Policy in 2021 and from NU PSIR with a Bachelor’s degree in 2019. Over the past five years, I have gained experience in the education, public, and NGO sectors, working as a Project Manager at the Human Rights NGO “Erkindik Qanaty,” a Research Specialist at NU GSPP, and a Senior Manager at the International IT Startups Technopark “Astana Hub,” where I brought public administration and strong leadership to my roles. In addition, I have been a member of the NU Alumni Association Council since 2022, graduated from the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program in 2023, and won a research grant in the “Kazakhstan: Development Challenges and Solutions” program for young experts organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan (KazISS) in 2023. Currently, I work as a Senior Career Guidance and College Counselor at Quantum STEM School.
	Zhanar Ismailova – Team Lead My name is Zhanar Ismailova. I graduated from GSPP MPA in 2019. Entering this program was one of my best decisions in the recent 5 years :))) My working experience includes employment in the public affairs and government relations company, as well as the World Bank project in the sphere of pharmaceutical policy reforms in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. At the moment I work at NU GSPP as the manager of Executive education programs.
	Anara Zhardem – Team Lead My name is Anara Zhardem. I graduated from NU GSPP in 2021 with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. In addition, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and am an experienced oil and gas professional with project management certification. Currently, I work as a Venture Relations Coordinator at the North Caspian Operating Company (NCOC).
	Alexandra Matenova (Kogay) – Team Lead Hi there! My name is Alexandra Matenova (Kogay) and I am an MPP 2018 graduate of GSPP. Short information about me. A tech-savvy professional with a passion for humanitarian causes, blending IT expertise with a commitment to making a difference. I am a life enthusiast and energetic campaigner. Coffee aficionado. GSPP admirer.
	Kassiyet Temirzakhkyzy –Team Lead My name is Kassiyet Temirzakhkyzy, and I proudly graduated with an MPP in 2023. Currently, I work in a dynamic civil society organization, where I am deeply involved in fostering community engagement and promoting democratic values. My passions lie in civic and political participation, and I am particularly interested in election monitoring. This role allows me to combine my commitment to transparency and accountability with my desire to make a meaningful impact in society.
	Yersin Anuarbek- Team-Lead My name is Yersin Anuarbek. I graduated from our NU GSPP with a Master in Public Policy degree in 2020. During my study, I tried myself as the President of NU GradUnion. I worked as an Assistant to the Vice-Provost of NU from 2021 until 2023. Currently I am a Senior Event Manager at NU.
	Mereke Tanaguzova – Team Lead I am Mereke Tanaguzova, PhD 2023 Graduate of NU GSPP. I hold the positions of Economic Analyst; Research Analyst at the ADB; Trade Expert at the quasi-government sector, and Research Associate at the SDSN Kazakhstan. My research interests are specialised in trade development of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region.
	Alpamys Assabayev I am Alpamys Assabayev, MPP Class of 2019 Alumnus. Currently working for the International Organisation for Migration (UN Agency), volunteer at the NU Alumni Association. Moreover, I had a chance to become “Bolashaq” alumnus. My working experience includes United Nations, quasi-government and civil service. My interests include international development, policy, governance, economics, prevention of violent extremism and terrorism. GSPP was a turning point in my life, with ever increasing demand to myself in terms of intellectual and applied development. Thanks to the staff, even toughest courses were interesting journeys and we still communicate, sharing knowledge and shaping the current Kazakhstan.

Alumni benefits

Benefits of being NU GSPP Alumni:

alumni ID card and access to campus;
access to NU Sports Center;
free library access (reading room);
lifelong University e-mail address;
automatic and free membership at NU Alumni Association;
access to all relevant information on the activities of the NU Alumni Association and participation in the managing affairs of the Association;
access to the Career and Advising Center services – professional development services; career counseling, including the assistance in employment and in the organization of internships; graduate application advising;
Since NU GSPP encourages lifelong learning, we invite all our Alumni to guest lectures, research seminars and annual conferences of the School;