yessenov university

What yessenov university does

Yessenov University is a multi-disciplinary public higher education institution headquartered in Aktau, Mangystau Oblast, Kazakhstan, founded in 1976 as the General Technical Faculty of the Kazakh Polytechnic Institute and reorganized as a non-commercial joint-stock company (KEAK). The university operates 9 faculties, 23 departments, and 129 educational programs across bachelor's (99 programs), master's (30 programs), and doctoral (7 subject groups) levels, enrolling 5,852 students. It is the leading higher education institution in the Mangystau region and the only institution in Kazakhstan offering a dedicated Maritime Academy program, serving regional industries including oil and gas, maritime, engineering, education, and tourism.

The university's technology stack includes a multilingual institutional website (Kazakh, Russian, English), the YU ID single sign-on and mobile application, a library information system, a Bulletin course catalog, and AI Sana, a multilingual AI-powered virtual assistant for student inquiries. Research infrastructure comprises the Research Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Territories, a scientific-analytical expert laboratory, the CSR YU Public Opinion Research Center, and the YESSENOV JYLYJAY multifunctional greenhouse using hydroponic and drip irrigation for agriculture research and student training.

The business model combines government-funded educational grants (awarded via Kazakhstan's national UNT testing system) covering the majority of domestic students, tuition fees from self-paying domestic and international students at bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and MBA/EMBA levels, and recurring dormitory fees across 4 dormitories with 1,750 total places. The university pursues internationalization through Erasmus+, DAAD, and Mevlana exchange programs and has achieved first-time entry into the QS World University Rankings 2026 (1201-1400 range) alongside consecutive participation in QS Asia and THE Impact Rankings. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

yessenov university

Legal name

Ш. Есенов атындағы Каспий мемлекеттік технологиялар және инжиниринг университеті

Website

https://yu.edu.kz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Yessenov University is a state-organized multi-disciplinary higher education institution in Aktau, Kazakhstan, serving 5,852 students across 9 faculties and 129 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and MBA/EMBA programs, with regional monopoly status in maritime education in the Mangystau region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University degree programs
• Academic research services
• Executive education
• Student accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Aktau

HQ country

Kazakhstan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Domestic and International Students): The university charges tuition fees for educational programs at bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and MBA levels. Tuition rates for the 2026-2027 academic year are published separately for international applicants. The majority of domestic students are admitted on government educational grants awarded through a national competitive selection process.
2. Student Dormitory Fees: Students pay for accommodation in university dormitories. Fees cover one semester of residency (e.g., September–January) plus a one-time deposit (депозит) as a guarantee for the preservation of dormitory property.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yessenov University is a comprehensive multi-disciplinary higher education institution in Aktau, Kazakhstan, delivering bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and executive (MBA/EMBA) degree programs across 9 faculties and 129 educational programs. It provides student dormitory accommodation (4 dormitories, 1,750 places), international academic mobility through Erasmus+, DAAD, and Mevlana exchange programs, applied research through the Research Institute for Sustainable Development of Arid Territories, and a multifunctional greenhouse (YESSENOV JYLYJAY) for agricultural training and production.

Product overview

Yessenov University operates as a comprehensive higher education institution offering a multi-level educational platform. The university provides undergraduate (Bachelor's), graduate (Master's), doctoral (PhD), and executive education (MBA/EMBA) programs across 9 faculties. The institution's technology portfolio includes AI Sana (AI chatbot), YU ID (mobile application), CSR YU (research center), and various administrative service systems. Additional facilities include the YESSENOV JYLYJAY greenhouse for agricultural research and UNION for student governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI Sana: AI-powered virtual assistant for students and staff

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• First-time entry into QS World University Rankings 2026 in the 1201-1400 range
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• German-Kazakh Institute for Sustainable Engineering Sciences (KINI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A dedicated institute within Yessenov University focused on sustainable engineering sciences, established in collaboration with German partners. Part of the university's institutional structure and listed as one of its key institutes.
• Kazakhstan-Germany Sustainable Engineering Sciences InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-development partnership in sustainable engineering sciences between Yessenov University and German academic institutions. Listed as a key institute within the university structure.
• Erasmus+ (European Union)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Yessenov University actively participates in multiple Erasmus+ projects including KUTEL, UXiship, PICASP, and GEOCLIC. Erasmus+ provides EU funding for student and staff mobility, joint curriculum development, and international project implementation. Over 230 students studied abroad in 2021-2022 through Erasmus+ mobility programs.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024DAAD is the world's largest academic exchange organization, supporting student and scholar exchanges between Germany and Kazakhstan. Offers over 10 scholarship programs for Kazakh students, young scientists, and faculty available in both German and English.
• Mevlana Exchange Program (Turkey)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Mevlana program facilitates exchange of students and faculty between Yessenov University and Turkish partner universities in specific disciplines, with partial funding from Turkey's Higher Education Council (YÖK). Exchange students and faculty must obtain visas or residence permits and purchase local insurance.
• KUTEL Erasmus+ Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024KUTEL Erasmus+ project consortium (full partner list visible on the international projects page).
• Foreign Universities (MoU Partners)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Yessenov University maintains Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with multiple foreign universities as part of its internationalization strategy. Specific partner names and MoU details are referenced in the international cooperation section but not individually enumerated in the source data.
• Mangystau Region Education DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024On May 5, 2026, Yessenov University signed a memorandum of mutual understanding with the Mangystau Region Education Department (Маңғыстау облысы білім басқармасы) to collaborate on educational initiatives.
• Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lead partner in the PICASP Erasmus+ project (grant: €882,359). Hosts project meetings, seminars, and cultural-educational tours. Organized joint events with ICA (Istituto Centrale per l'Archeologia) under Italy's Ministry of Culture. Faculty from Yessenov University have participated in seminars in Forli and Chieti, Italy.
• Holiday Inn AktauminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Tourism enterprise partner in the PICASP Erasmus+ project. Signed a cooperation agreement with Yessenov University under the PICASP project for practical training of tourism and hospitality students.
• Rixos Water World Aktau ResortminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Tourism enterprise partner in the PICASP Erasmus+ project. Signed a memorandum of cooperation with Yessenov University for student internship and training in the hospitality sector.
• University of International Business (Kazakhstan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Coordinating university in Kazakhstan for the PICASP Erasmus+ project. Professors from UIB visited Yessenov University to conduct roundtables and present on the PICASP practical business approach.
• GEOCLIC Erasmus+ Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021619011-EPP-1-2020-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP — 'New Courses on Geospatial Engineering for Adaptation of Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change.' Project duration 2021-2024. Partners include: Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, University of Twente (Netherlands), Berlin Technical University (Germany), Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), Maritime University of Constanta (Romania), EXOLAUNCH GmbH (Germany), Baku State University (Azerbaijan), National Aviation Academy (Azerbaijan), Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Mingyachevir State University (Azerbaijan), Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after Safi Utbayeva (Kazakhstan), Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov, Turkmen State University named after Makhtumkuli, International University of Humanities Sciences and Development (Turkmenistan), International Academy of Ecoenergy (Azerbaijan), and the Institute of Geography and Water Safety of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan.
• PICASP Erasmus+ Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021617540-EPP-1-2020-1-IT-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP — 'Pilot Courses in Practice Enterprise to implement University-Enterprise Cooperation for the Development of the Caspian Area.' Lead partner: Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara (Italy). Grant amount: €882,359. Partners include: University of International Business (Kazakhstan), Azerbaijan Tourism Institute, Khazar University (Azerbaijan), Servizi Integrati d'Area Ser.In.Ar. (Italy), University of Warsaw (Poland), Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania), Astrakhan State University (Russia), and Volgograd State Technical University (Russia).
• UXiship Erasmus+ Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Project on 'Activating ICT Students' Competencies for Startup Development Through Interdisciplinary Modular Courses.' Project duration: November 2019 – November 2023. Lead partner: Hochschule Wismar (Germany). Partners include: Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia), EKA University (Latvia), Kazan National Research Technical University (Russia), Rostov State University of Economics (Russia), Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (Russia), Kostanay State University (Kazakhstan), Almaty Management University (Kazakhstan), and Production-Commercial Company BETAR (Russia).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Astana IT University: An emerging Kazakh university focused on computer science and AI — directly overlaps with Yessenov's new 'Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence' faculty and digital-platform investments (AI Sana, YU ID).
• International University of Information Technology (IITU): Almaty-based IT-focused university offering bachelor's and master's programs in computer science, AI, and telecom. Comparable on the IT/AI program layer that Yessenov is building.

Direct peers

• KIMEP University: Leading Kazakh provider of business, management, and executive education (MBA/EMBA). Directly comparable on the MBA/EMBA program portfolio and international student recruitment approach.
• Satbayev University (Kazakh National Research Technical University): Kazakhstan's leading technical/polytechnic university with comparable engineering, geology, and applied sciences programs. Both institutions share the post-Soviet polytechnic heritage and technical-vocational orientation.
• Kazakh-British Technical University: A technical university in Kazakhstan offering engineering, IT, and oil-and-gas programs with strong industry and international partnerships. Comparable on technical curriculum mix and English-language delivery.
• Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after Safi Utbayeva: Kazakhstan's other major western-region technical university with strong petroleum engineering and oil-and-gas programs. Most directly comparable peer — same region, similar industry-aligned curriculum, similar student demographic, and also a partner in the GEOCLIC Erasmus+ consortium.

Broad incumbents

• Nazarbayev University: Kazakhstan's flagship research university with English-language instruction and strong international positioning. Comparable as a multi-level higher-education provider but operates as a national premium institution with research university status.
• Al-Farabi Kazakh National University: Kazakhstan's largest and most established comprehensive university and a GEOCLIC consortium partner. Represents the broad incumbent — overlaps on multiple faculties but operates at vastly larger scale and broader research scope.
• L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University: A major Kazakh comprehensive university with broad program offerings across engineering, humanities, law, and social sciences. Overlaps with Yessenov on multi-faculty breadth and doctoral program scale.

Regional players

• Turan University: Almaty-based multi-faculty Kazakh university offering business, law, and engineering programs. Comparable as a domestic Kazakh multi-faculty higher-education provider, though based in a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about yessenov university