ENU Becomes Coordinator of Erasmus+ CBHE Project for the First Time

The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU) has, for the first time, become a grant holder (coordinator) of a project under the European Union’s Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) program. The project, titled University Endowment Fund Development in Kazakhstan (UNIFUND), is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Kazakhstan’s higher education sector.

UNIFUND is the first Erasmus+ structural project in which a Kazakhstani university serves as the grant holder. Erasmus+ structural projects are designed to reform and modernize higher education systems at the national and regional levels.

Being selected as the project coordinator reflects a high level of trust from European partners and confirms ENU’s experience in implementing large-scale international educational initiatives.

The main objective of the project is to promote the financial sustainability and academic independence of Kazakhstan’s higher education sector through the development of university endowment funds. As part of the project, plans include establishing a National Association and a digital platform for university endowments, improving the regulatory and methodological framework, and promoting a culture of endowment development among Kazakhstani higher education institutions.

The project also provides for the development of a nationwide endowment fund management system that will enable universities to expand and diversify their sources of funding. An important component of the initiative will be the exchange of experience and best practices between Kazakhstani universities and their European partners.

A distinctive feature of UNIFUND is the broad composition of its consortium, which brings together development institutions, government agencies, business representatives, as well as leading universities from Kazakhstan and Europe.

The coordination of the project is supported by ENU’s practical experience in developing its university endowment. The ENU Endowment Fund was established on December 31, 2021, and has become one of the university’s instruments for strengthening financial sustainability and fostering a culture of philanthropy in higher education.

Today, the fund operates in four main areas:

Student support — educational grants and named scholarships.

Science and innovation development — co-financing research, startups, and technology commercialization projects.

Social and cultural initiatives — support for educational and socially significant projects.

Talent development — supporting students’ participation in international competitions, academic olympiads, and sporting events.

ENU has participated in the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education program since 2016. During this period, the university has taken part in 13 international projects, with their results integrated into the university’s educational and organizational activities.

In particular, ENU has:

- introduced innovative educational modules and courses;

- established specialized support centers for international students and graduates;

- implemented the “Welcome to ENU” incoming academic mobility program;

- established the ENU Business School within the Center for Entrepreneurship Skills Development.