On November 2, 2021, Monika Iversen, who has been recently appointed to the position of Ambassador of Germany to Kazakhstan, has visited KAZGUU University on a courtesy visit.

During the meeting, the Ambassador of Germany showed interest in the educational programs presented at the University and got acquainted with the university’s work. In particular, they discussed the training of specialists in the field of national and international law. In addition, aspects of the development and influence of English and German law in the educational context have been discussed. The parties also discussed cooperation and joint projects with German universities.

On the part of the University, the expert meeting was attended by Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the KAZGUU University, Sergey Pen, Provost, Roman Melnik, Head of the German Law School, Professor, Michael Wilding, Lecturer of German and European Law at DAAD.

In turn, the Chairman of KAZGUU Talgat Narikbayev thanked the guests for their visit to the University.

The parties agreed to continue to maintain a positive trajectory of relations and to make every effort to further strengthen them in the educational sphere.

Press Ofice of KAZGUU University

NUR-SULTAN – In honour of the forthcoming COP26 in Glasgow and in the framework of UN Day celebration, UN Resident Coordinator Office, Embassy of the UK, Embassy of Italy in Kazakhstan in partnership with KAZGUU University organises the students debate in a hybrid format entitled “Voice of Youth: Uniting the World to Tackle the Climate Change”.

The event aims to raise awareness about climate change in order to put the topic on the public agenda, inspire and encourage youth to find climate solutions.

Students from KAZGUU University, Eurasian National University and Nazarbayev University will present their practical recommendations on how to tackle climate change issues.

Keynote speakers:
• H.E. Ms. Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan
• H.E. Ms. Kathy Leach, Ambassador of the UK to Kazakhstan
• H.E. Mr. Marco Alberti, Ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan
• H.E. Mr. Sergey Pen, Provost of KAZGUU University

2021 is particularly important in view of the upcoming meetings of the climate and biodiversity conventions, where governments must set mutually reinforcing and ambitious targets to protect the planet by almost double decreasing greenhouse gas emissions this decade, as well as through biodiversity conservation and restoration.

Date and time: 28 October 2021, 12:00-13:30

Venue: KAZGUU, Korgalzhyn ave. 8, Nur-Sultan

LIVE broadcasting will be available on UN in Kazakhstan Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/uninkazakhstan

For media accreditation please contact:

Press Officer of the UN in Kazakhstan Ms Elnara Bainazarova, tel: +7 701 9400086, e-mail: elnara.bainazarova@un.org

We are pleased to announce that AIFC Academy of Law has designated M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University (KAZGUU) as a Strategic Knowledge Partner. KAZGUU has been a valued academic partner since the inception of the AIFC Academy of Law, as demonstrated in several successful collaborative initiatives between our organizations, including:

✔️ TOLES Legal English program designed non-native English speaking legal professionals
✔️ Cross-training KAZGUU’s faculty in AIFC law & practice, and common law teaching methodologies
✔️ Participation of KAZGUU students in the Academy of Law’s International Internship Programme
✔️ Participation of KAZGUU students and faculty in AIFC Foundations and Certificate short courses

David Gallo, member of the Board of Directors of the AIFC Bureau of Continuing Professional Development, noted: “KAZGUU University is a leading higher education institution in Central Asia, with a full range of bachelors and post-graduate law, business and liberal arts programmes. The AIFC Academy of Law is pleased to build on this valuable relationship by supporting KAZGUU’s mission of preparing its students for professional success in multi-jurisdictional settings.”

Sergey Pen, KAZGUU Provost, stated: “KAZGUU was a first Kazakh university, launched initially separate courses and then an independent minor-programme in English Law. We have a strong background of teaching common law to national students and lawyers and a very good joint projects with the Academy of Law. It’s time to join forces. We believe in our collaboration and joint strategic initiatives in order to implement best practices and improve national legal system and legal education”

The parties have agreed to develop common law and practical skills courses for inclusion in KAZGUU’s degree programmes.

We are soliciting academic research papers and articles from KAZGUU’s faculty and students for distribution in the Academy’s DISCOURSE online channel

The Academy of Law looks forward to a long and mutually rewarding collaboration with a view toward ongoing legal system and professional competencies development in Kazakhstan and across the CIS.

[Nur-Sultan, 9 June 2021]

Higher School of Economics M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University has become the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. Master of Science in Finance has been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct within the program. This program positions students well to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter, which has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world. Entry into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that KAZGUU curriculum is closely tied to professional practice and is well-suited to preparing students to sit for the CFA examinations. Through participation in this program, Higher School of Economics M. Narikbayev KAZGUU University is eligible to receive a limited number of CFA Program Student Scholarships each year.

The Master in Finance program is a combination of in-depth study of quantitative methods with a practical solution of business tasks. The program prepares for a wide range of financial services that require analytical severity and the ability to market innovative challenges.

Curriculum provides rigorous academic content that is coupled with the current practice will prepare the most demanded professionals in the field.

Master of Science in Finance is the only academic program welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program and recognized by GARP as an Academic Partner in Kazakhstan.

Dr Saule Kemelbayeva, Dean of Higher of School of Economics, says:

“We are extremely proud and happy to announce that our Master of Science in Finance program is now recognized under the CFA Institute® University Affiliation Program. So far, we have been the first and the only university in Kazakhstan recognized as an affiliated university under the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program (UAP) for an undergraduate level; now we are the only one in Central Asia for both Master and Bachelor levels. Our university now appears at the CFA Institute® webpage among the best universities across the world ensuring excellence of our Finance program at the international level. Financial markets and intermediaries are a very fast developing and promising industry in Kazakhstan and the region; therefore, we believe that the future graduates of our Finance programs will be highly demanded by local labor markets and will pursue successful careers. Moreover, one of the most prestigious professional certifications in the world will make them competitive in the international labor market as well. And this would become possible for the best-achieving students within the CFA exam scholarship.”

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. Our aim is to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. There are more than 160,000 CFA charterholders worldwide in 164 markets. CFA Institute has nine offices worldwide and there are 161 local societies. For more information, visit www.cfainstitute.org or follow us on Twitter at @CFAInstitute and on Facebook.com/CFAInstitute

About the CFA Program

The CFA Program sets a standard for developing the skills, standards, competence, and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers, investment advisers, and other investment professionals worldwide. It is widely considered the investment profession’s most rigorous credentialing program. Administered in English, the CFA curriculum and examinations are identical worldwide. Fewer than one in five candidates who begin the program successfully complete it and go on to earn the coveted CFA charter, the “gold standard” for investment professionals.

On June 4, 2021, Professor George Bermann gave a lecture on the topic of investor-state dispute settlement before students of KAZGUU University. In his lecture, he covered the main areas of investment arbitration, procedures and substantive protections offered by international investment agreements.

Professor Bermann is the director of the Center for International Commercial & Investment Arbitration at Columbia Law School, a world-renowned authority on comparative law, EU law, international trade contracts, WTO dispute resolution, and transnational litigation and arbitration. For more than four decades, he has been an active international arbitrator in commercial and investment disputes in all sectors, including general commercial contract, construction, intellectual property, energy, oil and gas, competition law, transportation, and employment.

Prof. Bermann drew comparisons between investment arbitration and commercial arbitration. He noted that investments disputes are based on an international investment agreement (e.g. a bilateral investment treaty), which required consent of the State. He described ICSID, as a specialized institution to hear only investment disputes. He noted that over 60% of investor-state claims are brought before ICSID.

On substantive investor protections, Prof. Bermann discussed a number of rights, including:

1. National Treatment: where a foreign investor must be treated the same as a domestic investor.
2. Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment: where an investor must be treated the same as that of a foreign investor of a different state.
3. Expropriation: where there is a taking by the State, that an investor is entitled to the payment of full, adequate and effective compensation. He explained the difference between direct (loss of the entire investment) and indirect expropriation (substantial deprivation of the investment).
4. Fair and Equitable Treatment: the guarantee of fair and equitable treatment. Prof. Bermann prefaced this protection by noting its application on a case-by-case. This saw its critique as an inconsistently applied type of protection. Prof. Bermann noted the concept has developed through arbitral awards, that the notion of ‘unfair’ and ‘inequitable’ treatment has been defined. He referred to specific examples, including proportionality (did the government regulate the matter excessively, and it take more than required measures to achieve its objective); legitimate expectations (did the government give an assurance at the time of investment, that have since been broken, and now can be relied upon).
5. Full Protection and Security: where an investor is protected from harassment, violence and any physical harm.

Prof. Bermann described the whole arbitral process: choosing a seat (the ‘geographical home’) of the arbitration; selecting arbitral tribunal; hearings; rendering an award. Then he explained the process of enforcing an award. This means, in the context of investment arbitration, to go to a court where the State has assets, and then to obtain an order to enforce against the property of that State. Prof. Bermann noted that enforcement would usually take place under the New York Convention.

Prof Bermann closed his lecture with a final note that the investor-state dispute settlement system is open to serious critique, of which is being addressed and reformed. He described the issue to involve the centralization of power amongst three private individuals (the tribunal), whom had substantive power to dispose with the economic interests of a country. He noted the system to contain no appeal on the merits, and that states, substantively, are concerned with their right to regulate for the public interest.

The lecture then finished with questions and answers. The university students posed insightful questions, reflective of their understanding of investor-state dispute settlement. This included, on recent trends in investment agreement negotiation practices, scrutiny of an arbitral award, anti-suit injunctions, investment courts and umbrella clauses.

Photo: https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/george-bermann