The office's new branch is located at the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan.
Visit by Minister of State Gunther Krichbaum (front row, second from left) to the Kazakh-German University in Almaty
New Office in Almaty
UA Ruhr Expands Presence in Central Asia
Strategic Partnerships set to flourish as Alliance strengthens regional footprint.
The University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) is further expanding its activities in Central Asia. To this end, the Liaison Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia has set up a new branch office in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan. With this step, Ruhr University Bochum, the TU Dortmund University and the University of Duisburg-Essen are strategically strengthening their presence in the region and creating new perspectives for research, teaching and academic exchange. The branch office has started work and will be officially opened in October 2026.
A Stronger Regional Presence
The new office, located within the State Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a testament to the trilateral cooperation between the UA Ruhr, the Academy, and the Kazakh-German University (DKU). This initiative seeks to foster and institutionalize scientific collaboration with partner institutions across Central Asia.
Elena Resch, Director of the UA Ruhr’s liaison office, emphasizes the significance of this development: “The opening of our new office in Almaty provides local support for our UA Ruhr liaison office, enabling us to serve the strategically important and geographically vast region of Eastern Europe/Central Asia with even greater intensity.” Meanwhile, the existing engagement of the liaison office based in Bochum will continue unchanged across the entire Eastern European region.
Key Areas of Cooperation
The partnerships with Central Asia are gaining traction, reflecting shared strategic interests between Germany and the Central Asian states. Key focus areas include:
- Energy and Sustainability
- Raw Materials and Resource Management
- Climate Protection and Environmental Research
- Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence
- Water and Environmental Management
- Health Research
- Mobility and Infrastructure
- Education and University Development
To further bolster these collaborations, the UA Ruhr plans to host an online event in September 2026 with leading universities from Central Asia. The goal is to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing ones.
Boost from the “Bolashak” Scholarship Program
The collaboration receives an additional boost through the Ruhr University Bochum’s inclusion in Kazakhstan’s prestigious “Bolashak” scholarship program. Starting in the winter semester of 2026/2027, the first scholars will commence their studies at Bochum.
The “Bolashak” program is one of the most esteemed international scholarship initiatives by the Kazakh government, fully funding study and research stays for highly qualified students and researchers at leading universities worldwide.
Professor Kornelia Freitag, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at Ruhr University, highlights the benefits: “Participation in the ‘Bolashak’ program opens new avenues for attracting international talent, intensifying scientific cooperation, and enhancing our global visibility.”
With this strategic expansion, the UA Ruhr is poised to make a significant impact on the academic and research landscape in Central Asia.
