Recipients of the "Bolashak" scholarship in 2025
Bolashak Scholarship Program: Empowering Kazakhstan's Future
The Bolashak scholarship program, an initiative launched by Kazakhstan, is designed to send its citizens abroad for higher education and specialized training in various fields, particularly natural and technical sciences. Since its inception, the program has been instrumental in equipping Kazakhstan's workforce with globally recognized qualifications[1][3].
In the recent 2025 cycle, the program awarded scholarships to over 200 recipients[1][5]. The selection process is rigorous, involving comprehensive testing, interviews, and national commission evaluations[1].
The impact of the Bolashak program is multifaceted, benefiting both individuals and the nation:
- It contributes to Kazakhstan's socio-economic modernization by providing a skilled workforce educated at prestigious institutions[3].
- Scholars often return to Kazakhstan with the skills and knowledge to support development priorities, particularly in strategic areas like veterinary science, energy management, and water technologies[1].
- The program fosters knowledge transfer and international collaboration, as scholars complete internships abroad and engage with global scientific communities[3].
- The government continues to update eligibility criteria and program priorities to align with Kazakhstan's strategic goals, such as emphasizing training in official languages of host countries and raising monthly allowances to support recipients[3].
Moreover, the Bolashak initiative extends Kazakhstan's cultural influence internationally by involving foreign students and promoting the Kazakh language and culture in global education environments[2].
However, concerns have been raised about the program's effectiveness. Some critics argue that many scholars struggle to find work in their field upon returning to Kazakhstan and suggest allowing them to work abroad to gain more experience[4]. Others propose that scholars should spend five years working in their field in leading European and American centers to gain more knowledge, experience, and skills[6].
Despite these concerns, the Bolashak scholarship program remains a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s human capital development strategy, facilitating advanced education abroad, promoting international expertise, and directly supporting the country’s economic and scientific modernization efforts[3][1][2].
For more information, the full list of Bolashak scholarship recipients and those for Scientific Internships can be found here.
[1] Bolashak Scholarship Program [2] Kazakhstan's Cultural Influence Abroad [3] Kazakhstan's Economic Modernization [4] Criticisms of the Bolashak Program [5] 2025 Bolashak Scholarship Competition Results [6] Proposed Changes to the Bolashak Program
- The Bolashak scholarship program, an integral part of Kazakhstan's education-and-self-development strategies, is focused on providing learning opportunities abroad in various fields, particularly natural and technical sciences.
- After completing their studies, returning scholars utilize their acquired skills and knowledge in learning areas such as veterinary science, energy management, and water technologies, thereby supporting Kazakhstan's development priorities.
