Women holding Bachelor's or Master's degree will be awarded educational grants to obtain Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Certificates in Mining. Award winners will have a foundation English language course during first year of study. After obtaining necessary language skills students will enroll at their faculty at one of the top universities in Kazakhstan – Kazakh-British Technical University. The scholarship will last for two years from September 2020 until May 2022. During this time, students will live and study in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Deadline for application submission is May 28, 2020 13:00 p.m. Afghanistan time (UTC+4:30). The application process comprises of three stages. To find out more about the programme and the details related to the application admission, please follow: https://afghanwomenscholarship.kz  

The scholarship programme is funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP. It is a new cross-border initiative that gives an opportunity for Afghan women to obtain education from Universities in Central Asia and thus enhance their skills and re-invent themselves professionally.

This will be the second cohort of students to arrive to Kazakhstan. Last year, 30 women who were selected through a rigorous process from a pool of applicants arrived in Kazakhstan for the education programme. In connection with the arrival of the first cohort of students to Kazakhstan in October 2019, H.E. Sven-Olov Carlsson, the EU Representative to Kazakhstan, said “One of the key elements of the European Union’s approach to Education is the willingness to generate knowledge and growth through the support of mobility programmes from which students can benefit.” Mr. Carlson added “we believe that women are central to economic growth and sustainable development and that their economic empowerment is crucial to a country's progress.”

Jamila Bahrami, one of 30 women currently studying in Almaty, is from Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Next year she is going to study TVET in Statistics. Currently she is attending a year-long English language course at Almaty Management University. She is a graduate of Kabul University with Bachelor's degree in Economics. Jamila applied for TVET in Statistics to strengthen her skills in research.

“TVET appeals to me because it is not just theory-based programme, but also includes practical internships”, says Jamila Bahrami. She wants to strengthen her skills so when she returns to Afghanistan she plans to start her own business, create jobs and to give people opportunities to earn a living. “Just like educational grants create opportunities for better future, I think it is my responsibility to multiply the effect and create opportunities for others”.

For more information: https://afghanwomenscholarship.kz/

Contact information:

•  Maral Rakhimzhanova, UNDP in Kazakhstan: maral.rakhimzhanova@undp.org, +7 (727) 2582643 #711
•  Sayed Omer Sadaat, UNDP in Afghanistan: sayed.omer@undp.org, +93 (790) 012345
•  Yerkezhan Amriyeva, EU Delegation to Kazakhstan: yerkezhan.amriyeva@eeas.europe.eu, +7 (7172) 974566