Graduation Day for Kazakhstan’s First Specialists in Environmental Protection
MSEME students observe a demonstration of equipment in their new laboratory.
The Eurasian National University (ENU) in Astana recently celebrated the first graduation of its Master of Science in Environmental Management and Engineering (MSEME) program. This was the first environmental science program to be created in Kazakhstan and was organized by EFCA in collaboration with USAID and AES Corporation in Kazakhstan. The program was developed by ENU professors with assistance from specialists at the University of New Mexico (UNM).
During the two-year program, students study chemistry and physics, as well as climatology, meteorology, hydrology, methods of cleaning water and sewage and more. Second-year MSEME student, Dina Urinbayeva, said, “I greatly enjoy studying in this program. I believe that with this education, it will be easy to find an interesting and high-paying job.” This is a realistic expectation, as eight of this year’s nine graduates have already received job offers from leading companies and government institutions involved in addressing ecological issues. Currently, professors at ENU are setting up a new laboratory for the program, while next year, Kazakh professors and students are expected to travel to New Mexico for instruction in specialized subjects at UNM.
