On July 3, 2024, under the joint witness of the heads of state of China and Kazakhstan, the unveiling ceremony of Beijing Language and Culture University Kazakhstan (BLCU Kazakhstan) was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Kazakhstan. That afternoon, Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng, accompanied by Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, visited the branch campus, where he listened to a report by President Duan Peng on BLCU’s educational achievements and the development plan of the branch. He also gave important instructions regarding the future development of the university. The establishment of the branch is a landmark achievement in BLCU’s internationalization efforts and a significant milestone in China-Kazakhstan educational cooperation.
BLCU Kazakhstanis jointly established by Beijing Language and Culture University and Astana International University, aiming to recruit international students from abroad and provide academic education from preparatory programs to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its operational model involves the Kazakh side providing physical infrastructure, while the Chinese side provides teaching staff and curricular support. Currently, the branch has one dean from each side (Chinese and Kazakh), four full-time teachers (two dispatched by the Chinese side and two hired by the Kazakh side), and one administrative staff member from Kazakhstan. One hundred students have registered, and teaching activities officially began on October 1. On October 14, a grand opening ceremony for the new students was held, attended by a delegation led by BLCU leaders, leaders from both universities, representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan, staff, media, and over 70 new student representatives.
Teaching and learning are the core tasks of the branch campus. Based on the actual situation in Kazakhstan and student needs, the first cohort is divided into six teaching classes (13–20 students per class), with small-class instruction to ensure learning effectiveness. In this semester, three courses are offered:Chinese Language(6 credits),Chinese Reading and Writing(3 credits), and Classical Chinese Poetry and Culture(3 credits). These courses are led by Chinese teachers as course coordinators, who work collaboratively with local teachers, aiming to strengthen students’ Chinese language foundation and deepen their understanding of classical Chinese poetry and culture. The branch is equipped with multimedia classrooms and a Chinese library to meet current teaching needs. In the future, more professional courses, cultural experience activities, and academic lectures will be introduced to promote students’ all-round development.
BLCU has provided strong support in teaching materials for the branch. In June 2024, the university press donated more than 200 types of high-quality textbooks and teaching materials—totaling 856 volumes—covering areas such as language learning, cultural knowledge, and academic subjects, along with over 1,000 sets of cultural and creative products. In September, to enhance initial support, the university additionally donated 240 copies of Er Ya Chinese – Elementary Integrated Chinese Course, which were distributed free of charge to the first cohort of students, effectively enriching the educational resources and laying a solid foundation for improving teaching quality.
In the next phase, the branch campus will focus on advancing several key areas of work: strengthening the development of a local teaching team—not only dispatching teachers from China, but also selecting and training local teachers and offering opportunities for further study and exchange; promoting the development of localized teaching materials—creating Chinese textbooks and digital resources that align with local students’ habits and cultural backgrounds; enhancing degree program enrollment—cooperating with local high schools to establish student source bases, conducting in-depth research to design courses tailored to demand (such as preparatory programs and HSK intensive training), promoting dual-campus study models, and striving for scholarship support, with plans to launch master’s and doctoral programs at an appropriate time; applying to establish an HSK test center to meet the testing needs of Chinese learners at the branch and in surrounding areas, aiming to become a key hub for Chinese proficiency testing in Kazakhstan.
In the future, BLCU Kazakhstan will continue to play a leading and radiating role, working hand in hand with partners in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia to implement the guidance of the two heads of state. By using language as a bridge and fostering mutual learning and understanding, the university aspires to become a high-level educational institution with international influence, cultivating elite talents who are proficient in Chinese and knowledgeable about Chinese culture, and making significant contributions to educational and cultural exchange between China and Kazakhstan.
