NU GSPP international alumnus, Mohammad Habib Abdullah, has been recognized in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” Asia List for 2024 due to his humanitarian and voluntary activities both within and outside of Afghanistan.

Forbes annually publishes a list featuring individuals under 30 from various countries who have made significant contributions in entrepreneurship and innovation, achieving remarkable changes in society.

Mohammad is a recent graduate of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at the NU Graduate School of Public Policy (GSPP) from Afghanistan.

Throughout his academic journey at NU, Mohammad served as the Vice President of the Student Government, making history as the first international and graduate student to take on such a pivotal role. He also co-founded and presided over the Association of International Students (NUAIS), and was the president-elect of the Graduate School of Public Policy Student Council (NU GSPP SC).

Here at NU, Mohammad also founded numerous groundbreaking projects, ranging from cultural exchange programs like Inside Cultures and Culture Day, to free Kazakh and Russian language courses, and the Kazakhstan Tour. He spearheaded philanthropic endeavors such as the “Give Back To Kazakhstan” charity project, which raised the largest amount in the university’s history. Additionally, Mohammad is the founder of the Exceptional Graduating International Student Award and the Citizenship Award for GSPP’s outstanding graduates.

Currently, besides working as a research assistant at the Nazarbayev University Research Center for Entrepreneurship (NURCE), Mohammad is the driving force behind various transformative initiatives, including the Nazarbayev University Global Network Club (NUGNC), the Nazarbayev University Adventure Club (NUAC), and the Nazarbayev University International Alumni Chapter (NUIAC).

Mohammad is also the first-ever recipient of the prestigious Diana Award from Afghanistan. He is the founder and CEO of Youth for Youth, Afghanistan’s largest youth-led online platform for capacity-building and networking. Additionally, he established the Yuz Yigit Charity Foundation, a network of one hundred local youths focused on reducing poverty and illiteracy in Afghanistan through philanthropic activities.

Congratulations to Mohammad for this outstanding achievement! We are incredibly proud of our alumnus.