Today, Abai University, the leading institution in teacher education in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, has further strengthened its position by earning the top distinction — the “Five Stars” rating under the QS Stars international ranking system. This prestigious award recognizes Kazakhstan’s first university for its achievements in academics, research, social engagement, and effective management.



In Seoul, Republic of Korea, the “QS Higher Ed Summit: Asia Pacific – 2025” is currently underway at Korea University, marking the third day of the major regional event for higher education institutions. During this distinguished gathering, Abai University received the “5 Stars” mark of excellence, bringing a significant boost to Kazakhstan’s higher education sector.



The QS Stars rating is a comprehensive international evaluation system that assesses universities based on key criteria such as teaching quality, research performance, graduate employability, social responsibility, and institutional management. It highlights each university’s unique strengths and its standing in the global education landscape.



The award was formally presented to the Chairman of the Board and Rector of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Bolat Tilep, during the QS Stars Award Ceremony in Seoul. The ceremony recognized the top universities in Asia that successfully completed the QS Stars audit and achieved outstanding results.



- “The comprehensive audit allowed us to identify our strengths and weaknesses and refine our development priorities. The ‘Five Stars’ rating is clear recognition of our team’s consistent, dedicated, and purposeful work at the international level,” - said the Rector.



By achieving this remarkable success at the “Future of Higher Education” summit, Abai University once again demonstrated the high quality and global competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s higher education.



It should be noted that this year’s summit focused on emerging educational technologies, demographic shifts, and the experience of Asian universities. Panel sessions emphasized strategic partnerships as a key trend. The discussions highlighted that for today’s universities, geographical location or national economic status is no longer the defining factor — instead, the development of global networks of strategic collaboration uniting the academic community is of paramount importance.