Kazakhstan   INT Graduate 2009-2010

"It’s not just learning. It’s learning to understand.”

Having recently completed his MSc in International Technology Management Saken is now working in Astana, Kazakhstan for the National Innovation Fund at the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies. “I am pleased to be developing and implementing the knowledge which I gained at WMG - I am really proud of my Uni, because almost everyone in my company knows that Warwick is one of the best universities in UK”.

After gaining his engineering degree at Kazakh National Technical University in 2007, Saken spent a couple of years working for GSM Kazakhstan, a major telecommunications provider in his home country.

“It was a great job, I was learning lots and my career was going well, but to get where I wanted to be, I really needed to strengthen my business skills and gain a masters degree. I also wanted to study abroad, so I began looking at what was on offer from the top universities. “

For Saken though, cost was a big issue and threatened to put a block on his ambitious plans. Then he found out about the Bolashak presidential scholarship scheme, a programme that provides opportunities for the most talented Kazakh students to learn at the best overseas universities.

“The scholarship covers most expenses,” he explained. “The idea is that after their course, students return to Kazakhstan to work for at least five years.”

To win his scholarship, Saken had to prove that he was one of the very best applicants. “Yes, I had to jump through a few hoops,” he smiled. “There were language tests, IQ tests and even a psychological analysis, as well as a thorough examination of my technical skills. Every year about five or six thousand people apply for the Bolashak scholarship, and only around 800 students succeed.”

Saken did succeed, and soon found himself getting used to life at Warwick. “I settled in really quickly,” he said. “The fact that people are so friendly and helpful here helps a lot, and you’re studying with other people who’ve come here from all over the world, so you’re all in the same boat.”

As for the course itself, has it lived up to expectations? “Definitely. One big thing for me is the tutorial staff; the fact that they’re professionals who’ve built their expertise with some of the best companies around. They all have a real passion for their subjects too, and that rubs off on you.

“For me, another important area is 3G technology and the business around it. 3G has been launched in Kazakhstan and telecoms is a huge growth area. That means there’s a massive demand for well-qualified professionals in Kazakhstan, and I’m looking forward to putting everything I’m learning here into practice.”

“With regards to the future there are plenty of options - with the expansion of telecoms in Kazakhstan - major players like Nokia and Siemens are on the lookout for people, and even before completing my studies at WMG I received emails from them inviting me to apply.”

Saken has recently started working at the National Innovation Fund under the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies in Astana, Kazakhstan.