Zhubanov University

What Zhubanov University does

Zhubanov University (К. Жұбанов атындағы Ақтөбе өңірлік университеті) is a regional state-affiliated higher education institution operating as a Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company (КеАҚ) under Kazakhstan's Ministry of Science and Higher Education, headquartered in Aktobe at 34 A. Moldagulova Avenue. Founded approximately 85 years ago (consistent with a 1941 origin referenced in sources), it enrolls students across 10 faculties spanning History and Geography, Pedagogy, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Physics and Mathematics, Philology, Economics and Law, Professional and Creative Studies, Foreign Languages, and the Heriot-Watt campus. The university delivers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and postgraduate programs in Kazakh, Russian, and English, supported by the Platonus Learning Management System for educational content delivery.

The institution's product surface extends beyond conventional degree programs through two distinctive embedded entities. First, a Heriot-Watt University (UK) campus operating within the Aktobe facility offers Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering programs with the option to transfer to Heriot-Watt's Malaysia campus — a structurally differentiated distribution channel for UK-accredited engineering credentials in Kazakhstan's principal oil-and-gas region. Second, a Confucius Institute, co-established with Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics since 2010, delivers Chinese language education, HSK standardized testing (recognized globally as 'Best Testing Center' for two consecutive years), and corporate workforce training to approximately 400 Aktobe residents plus CNPC-Aktobe staff. The university also operates an Archaeology Institute Branch (A.Kh. Margulan) and conducts joint scientific research with USTC on polymer and composite materials.

Revenue is generated through two primary streams: state-allocated educational grants (грант) distributed via a national competition system across bachelor's and master's programs, and contract-based (paid) tuition. Pricing for contract programs is not publicly disclosed. International mobility programs (134 applicants for 2026-2027), employer partnerships with TCO Kulsary, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, CNPC-Aktobe, and Schlumberger Logelco for graduate placement, and a recent regulatory tailwind (July 2026 law enabling GPA 3.33+ graduates to enter civil service without competition) support enrollment demand. Marketing occurs via a trilingual website, Facebook/VK/YouTube/Instagram channels, international education exhibitions in China, and on-campus open days.

Name

Zhubanov University

Legal name

Қ. Жұбанов атындағы Ақтөбе өңірлік университеті КеАҚ

Website

https://zhubanov.edu.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zhubanov University is a regional state university in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, offering bachelor's through doctoral programs across 10 faculties. It hosts an embedded Heriot-Watt UK engineering campus and a Confucius Institute, serving domestic and international students via state grants and contract tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHABAI

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAEAL

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAEAI

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDAIAAAE

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programs
• Engineering education
• Chinese language instruction
• International academic mobility

Headquarters

HQ city

Aktobe

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Educational Grants: The university receives state-funded educational grants (грант) for students admitted on merit-based government scholarships. These are allocated through a national competition system and distributed across bachelor's and master's programs.
2. Contract-Based (Paid) Education: Students pay tuition for contract-based programs. A new law (effective July 1, 2026) allows graduates with GPA 3.33 or higher from both state-grant and paid programs to be admitted to civil service without competition, expanding the appeal of paid education.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zhubanov University is a regional state university in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, providing higher education programs at undergraduate (Bachelor's), graduate (Master's), and doctoral (PhD) levels across 10 faculties including History and Geography, Pedagogy, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Physics and Mathematics, Philology, Economics and Law, Professional and Creative Studies, and Foreign Languages. It operates a Heriot-Watt University campus offering UK-accredited engineering programs and hosts a Confucius Institute for Chinese language and cultural education.

Product overview

Zhubanov University is a regional state university in Aktobe, Kazakhstan offering a comprehensive range of higher education programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels across ten faculties. The university operates as a multi-campus institution with an international branch (Heriot-Watt Campus) and maintains partnerships with global academic institutions including a Confucius Institute for Chinese language education. The institution provides educational services in state, Russian, and foreign languages with approximately 250 students at the Heriot-Watt campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programs (Бакалавриат) Undergraduate degree programs offered across 10 faculties to domestic high school graduates and international students, covering state-grant funded and contract-based education pathways.
• Master's Degree Programs (Магистратура) Graduate master's degree programs offering advanced academic and research credentials with international mobility and joint research opportunities.
• Doctoral Programs (Докторантура) PhD-level doctoral programs supporting advanced research, dissertation preparation, and defense, with foreign consultants from partner universities (e.g., Aegean University, Turkey).
• Heriot-Watt University Campus Programs UK-accredited engineering programs in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering offered through the embedded Heriot-Watt University campus, enabling students to obtain British qualifications in Kazakhstan with transfer options to Heriot-Watt Malaysia.
• Confucius Institute Chinese Language Programs Chinese language instruction and cultural education programs for approximately 400 Aktobe residents, corporate trainees (including CNPC-Aktobe staff), and HSK certification candidates, with the institute recognized globally as 'Best Testing Center' for two consecutive years.

Quantifiable outcome

• THE Impact Rankings 2026: improved 500 positions compared to previous years, now in 1001-1500 group.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics (China)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010The Confucius Institute is jointly established between Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics and Zhubanov University since 2010. The institute provides Chinese language education to ~400 Aktobe residents, serves as an HSK testing center (named 'Best Testing Center' globally for two consecutive years), and facilitates joint academic mobility. 10 specialists from the Chinese university currently serve at the institute, teaching Chinese to CNPC-Aktobe staff and city residents. Joint scientific conferences and collaborative research projects are planned.
• Heriot-Watt University (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeriot-Watt University operates an international campus within Zhubanov University in Aktobe. The campus offers three programs: Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Students can transfer to Heriot-Watt's Malaysia campus. The campus conducted its first open day in May 2025 with ~500 attendees. The rector emphasized Heriot-Watt's strategic priority for expanding Kazakhstan-UK academic ties.
• University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint scientific project is underway with USTC scientists to develop fire-resistant and durable new plastic materials for wind energy, shipbuilding, construction, and transport. The project is funded by the Kazakhstan Ministry of Science and Higher Education and conducted at the 'Polymers and Composite Materials' laboratory. Researchers include Xin Wang, PhD (h-index 68) and Yanbei Hou, PhD (h-index 34).
• Xinjiang University of Finance and EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrently 8 students and 7 master's students from Xinjiang University of Finance and Economics are studying at Zhubanov University under academic mobility. 5 Zhubanov students are studying in China. Regular meetings of the Confucius Institute Board are held between the two universities. A joint scientific conference is planned for October 2025.
• Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhD Zhazira Bekzhanova served as a research associate from January to October 2025 on the 'Post-Soviet History Textbooks' project at the Department of Translation, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies. The project was funded by the JGU Seed Grant.
• Pennsylvania State University (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the 'Bolashak' international program, 5 scientists from Zhubanov University underwent internships at leading foreign universities including Pennsylvania State University (Sarkulova Zhadirasyn).
• University of Leeds (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the 'Bolashak' international program, 5 scientists from Zhubanov University underwent internships at leading foreign universities including University of Leeds (Taskaliyeva Zhanar and Shangytbayeva Gulmira).
• Lancaster University (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the 'Bolashak' international program, 5 scientists from Zhubanov University underwent internships at Lancaster University (Yskalina Kurakay).
• University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the 'Bolashak' international program, 5 scientists from Zhubanov University underwent internships at the University of Amsterdam (Demeyova Gulnaz).
• Tokat Gaziosmanpasha University (Turkey)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint educational trajectory was launched from September 2022 with Tokat Gaziosmanpasha University on specially-oriented methods of teaching English. Professor Ugur Ada teaches 'Linguistics' to 1st-year students of 'English and Computer Science'. Professor Metin Ekici gave lectures on 'Special Professional Foreign Language' to Translation Studies students in November 2025.
• Aegean University (Turkey)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom January to February 2024, lecturers Ainur Kuchshanova and Zhanar Zhetessova completed a research internship at the Turkic World Study Institute of Aegean State University in Izmir, Turkey. Professor Metin Ekici from Aegean University serves as foreign consultant for PhD defenses at Zhubanov University.
• Pomeranian Academy in Slupsk (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder academic mobility programs, students from Zhubanov University studied at the Pomeranian Academy in Slupsk, Poland (2020-2021 academic year).
• University of Economy in Bydgoszcz (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZhubanov University has a double-diploma program with the University of Economy in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Students from Kazakhstan studied under this program and also participated in academic mobility exchanges.
• Bashkir State University, Ufa (Russia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZhubanov University students (e.g., Muldasheva Aruzhan, Malikova Dilnaz) studied at Bashkir State University under academic mobility programs in 2021-2022.
• Institute of History, Language and Literature of the Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoctoral students Duisenova K.B. and Kurmanova Zh.B. of the 'Foreign Philology' program completed a research internship from November 22 to December 23, 2025 at this institute.
• Shandong University (China)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhD Gulnara Mamirkulova from Shandong University visited Zhubanov University from January 12-25 to deliver lectures and practical classes to Economics and Law Faculty students on economics, tourism, and sustainable development.
• University of Minnesota (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the 'Bolashak' 500 Scientists program, senior lecturer Mukhtarova Sandugash completed a research internship in philology at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, USA) from January to May 2023.
• Sultan Idris Education University (Malaysia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA delegation from Malaysia's Sultan Idris Education University visited Zhubanov University to discuss future cooperation opportunities. Discussions included arts, sustainable development, creative industries, music, and computing technology.
• Ulster University (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhD Zhazira Bekzhanova's research project 'Gender, language and social inequalities in Kazakhstani textbooks' was funded by Ulster University through the PEER (Political Economy of Education Research) Network. The project was also supported by the UK's National Research Foundation.
• Ministry of Education of KazakhstancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA cooperation agreement was signed between Kazakhstan's Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Azerbaijan's Supreme Attestation Commission to mutually recognize scientific publications. Under this agreement, Zhubanov University's rector signed agreements with Azerbaijan's leading universities.
• Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences — Institute of Archaeology, Ethnography and AnthropologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA memorandum of cooperation was signed between Zhubanov University and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Archaeology, Ethnography and Anthropology. The History Faculty of Zhubanov University houses a branch of this institute named after A.Kh. Margulan.
• US Embassy in KazakhstanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder US Embassy funding, multiple faculty members completed courses in English language teaching methodology, media literacy, and professional development (e.g., TOEFL preparation, Cambridge CELTA). The Embassy also sponsored English Language Fellow Kay Bradley to teach at the Foreign Languages Faculty for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC-Aktobe)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPC-Aktobe works with Zhubanov University's Confucius Institute to train its staff in Chinese language. A joint scientific research cabinet between Zhubanov University and CNPC-Aktobe was proposed. The Chinese Ambassador Han Chunlin participated in discussions about this partnership.
• British Council KazakhstanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe British Council conducts annual seminars and training programs at Zhubanov University for English language teachers. The university participates in the 'Future English' project implemented by the British Council across multiple Central Asian countries.
• Kazakhstan National University named after al-FarabiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZhubanov University participates in national academic mobility programs with al-Farabi Kazakh National University, among other Kazakhstani universities.
• Kazakhstan Medical University (Atyrau)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder academic mobility, students from Atyrau University named after H. Dosmukhamedov studied at Zhubanov University (2020-2021).
• West Kazakhstan University named after M. UtemisovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder academic mobility, students from West Kazakhstan University studied at Zhubanov University (2020-2021).
• Arkalyk Pedagogical University named after Y. AltynsarinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder academic mobility, students from Arkalyk Pedagogical University studied at Zhubanov University (2020-2021).
• Kyrgyzstan State Technical University named after I. RazzakovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from Kyrgyzstan State Technical University named after I. Razzakov visited Zhubanov University for an academic mobility exchange and held a creative exhibition at the university.
• Nottingham University (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Yuwei Xu from Nottingham University (UK), PhD, conducted guest lectures and masterclasses at Zhubanov University on scientific research methods, academic publishing, and postgraduate study opportunities. Professor Xu has an H-index of 12 and serves as editor for 4 journals indexed in WoS and Scopus.
• Balikesir University (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Daniyal Israfizada from Balikesir University delivered lectures on 'Approximation Theory of Functions' and conducts joint research with Zhubanov University's Associate Professor Khassen Otarov. Their joint article was published in Azerbaijan Journal of Mathematics (Q2).
• Kastamonu University (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Orhan Soylemez from Kastamonu University delivered lectures on Kazakh literature and Turkic literary connections to graduate students and doctoral candidates at Zhubanov University.
• Kazimir the Great University (Poland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Yuri Zorenko from Kazimir the Great University's Optoelectronic Materials Department conducted joint experimental research with Zhubanov University's 'Radiation Physics of Materials' scientific center. Professor Zorenko (h-index 36, 300+ publications, 60+ research projects) gave lectures on condensed matter physics to students.
• Near East University (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Fabio Grazioso from Heriot-Watt University's Aktobe campus delivered an open lecture on 'Deep Learning Models for Image Segmentation' as a visiting professor at the university.
• Marshall University (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Barry from Toronto, Canada, visited the Foreign Languages Faculty for about four weeks (October-November 2024) sharing knowledge with faculty and graduate students. Kay Bradley from Marshall University served as an English Language Fellow at the department for the entire 2023-2024 academic year.
• University of Sussex (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior lecturer Rauan Zhalturbayeva from the Economics and Law Faculty completed a 10-month international internship at the University of Sussex under the 'Bolashak' 500 Scientists program in the direction of 'Research in Education'.
• Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior lecturers Salimgerei Z.M. and Sagieva A.T. from the World Languages department completed foreign internships at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain (2015).
• Higher Technical School of Porto (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeachers Baizhanova A.A., Shakeeva A.S., and Turmagambetova G.N. completed a foreign internship at the Higher Technical University of Porto, Portugal (2017).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kazakh-British Technical University: Almaty-based university with a UK-origin technical partnership and strong focus on engineering, oil-and-gas, and IT programs. Directly comparable to Zhubanov's Heriot-Watt-embedded engineering model and energy-sector employer pipelines.
• Shakarim University of Semey: Regional comprehensive university in Semey with similar structure of faculties and state-grant funding. Comparable as a regional multi-faculty institution competing for similar student demographics in Kazakhstan.
• Nazarbayev University: Research-intensive Astana university with English-language instruction and strong international partnerships. Comparable in pursuit of international academic mobility, research output, and global rankings, though it competes from a much higher funding base.
• M. Kh. Dulaty Taraz Regional University: Another regional Kazakhstani university with multi-faculty offerings, teacher training, and state-grant funding. Comparable in operating model, faculty mix, and reliance on national educational competition for enrollment.
• Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University: Regional Kazakhstani university with multi-faculty programs and state-grant funding. Comparable peer as another regional state university with similar enrollment dynamics and reliance on national grant competition.
• L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University: Comprehensive Astana-based national university with similar multi-faculty structure, doctoral programs, and state-grant funding model. Comparable in operating model and student segmentation to Zhubanov at a larger national scale.
• S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University: Regional Kazakhstani university serving eastern Kazakhstan with multi-faculty programs, state-grant funding, and academic mobility partnerships. Closest direct comparable to Zhubanov as a regional comprehensive university of similar size and structure.
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: Largest and most established Kazakhstani university, also a comprehensive multi-faculty public research institution headquartered in Almaty. Directly comparable as a national flagship with broad undergraduate-to-doctoral programs, international mobility, and government grant funding.

Others

• Heriot-Watt University (UK): The UK parent/partner institution embedded as an Aktobe campus at Zhubanov. Comparable as the source of the engineering programs delivered in Kazakhstan and the academic standards Zhubanov leverages in its international positioning.

Emerging players

• KIMEP University: Almaty-based private university with English-language instruction, international partnerships, and strong business programs. Comparable in international orientation and pursuit of cross-border academic mobility, though focused on business/social sciences rather than engineering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBbL2C3zqqYM1Q2LX4xY0Lw
• Facebookfacebook.com/zhubanov.university
• Instagraminstagram.com/zhubanov.university
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/zhubanov-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zhubanov University