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A meeting of Bolashak program alumnae was held at the Presidential Center to mark the upcoming International Women's Day. The event, «Bolashak Woman», annually gathers distinguished female Bolashak scholarship recipients to highlight women's contributions to various fields and the development of the scientific and educational environment.
Speakers included Bolashak program alumnae: Majilis Deputy Nurgul Tau, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development Naila Mukhtarova, oncologist-hematologist of the University Medical Center Assel Suleimenova, Chair of the Alliance of Young Scientists of Kazakhstan Asiya Yermukhambetova, and pianist-composer and soloist of the State Academic Philharmonic Saida Kalykova. The event was moderated by Aygerim Kusainkyzy, a researcher at the Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University.
Opening the event, Chairwoman of the Board of the Center for International Programs, Aliya Ospanova, noted that over 30 years, the Bolashak program has trained more than 5,000 women at leading universities worldwide. Women who have studied abroad through the Bolashak program play a key role in the intellectual and cultural exchange between countries.
«Our alumnae have not only received high-quality education but have also brought valuable experience and knowledge back to their homeland. Bolashak women contribute to various fields, from medicine and engineering to social sciences and the arts, and promote the country's development through their knowledge, experience, and leadership qualities. The scholars play a significant role in shaping Kazakhstan's international image: they have become effective representatives of Kazakh values such as a commitment to education, equality, hard work, and justice», said A. Ospanova.
Majilis Deputy Nurgul Tau highlighted that the Bolashak program is accessible to all, noting that many alumnae come from regions and, after receiving prestigious education, return and contribute to the development of their native areas. Such women have become role models, showing that through education, one can achieve success and bring about positive changes.
Naila Mukhtarova, Deputy Chair of the Committee for Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development, spoke about the President's directive to ensure gender balance in public service and increase the representation of women in leadership positions. Asiya Yermukhambetova, Chair of the Alliance of Young Scientists of Kazakhstan, discussed the positive trend of increasing the number of women in science. According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, women scientists make up 54% of the total. She also noted that the Bolashak program breaks gender stereotypes in choosing professions, as Bolashak trains personnel in many rare and in-demand professions, such as engineering, which were previously considered predominantly male domains.
Pediatric oncologist-hematologist Assel Suleimenova shared her lifelong education journey and her work with young patients.
Bolashak alumna Saida Kalykova is the only academic musician in the world. After completing her music education in Italy, representatives from various theaters and conservatories offered Saida Italian citizenship. However, the talented musician decided to return to her homeland. For many years, Saida has been a soloist at the State Academic Philharmonic and the author of 26 musical compositions. It is worth noting that among pianist-composers in Kazakhstan, only seven are women.
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