On 3 September 2025, H.E. Mrs. Piyapin Niyomrerks, Ambassador of Thailand to Kazakhstan, together with diplomat and staff of the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana, visited Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU) in Astana. The Ambassador held discussions with Mr. Talgat Narikbayev, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MNU, the University’s executive team, as well as scholars from the Maqsut Narikbayev Institute for Network & Development (MIND) on ways to strengthen academic and educational cooperation between Thai and Kazakh institutions. On this occasion, the MNU leadership also guided the Ambassador on a tour of the University’s facilities, highlighting its teaching and research infrastructure.

Founded in 1994, MNU began as an institute under the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan with strong expertise in law before later expanding to cover fields such as economics, humanities, business, and journalism. English serves as the main language of instruction. Today, MNU is recognized internationally, consistently ranked among Kazakhstan’s top universities. The University currently has more than 7,000 students, including over 300 international students.

Meanwhile, MIND, under MNU, is one of Kazakhstan’s leading think tanks. It provides research and policy support to the Senate of Kazakhstan, produces the SDG Impact Report to monitor progress on sustainable development, and runs the MIND Accelerator program to promote innovation. It also serves as a hub for international academic cooperation with institutions such as the World Bank, the OSCE Academy, and leading universities worldwide. MIND is well recognized for publishing in-depth analyses and policy commentaries on themes such as middle power diplomacy, resilient multilateralism, and strategic autonomy, thereby elevating Kazakhstan’s presence in international academic and policy circles.

MNU and MIND have collaborated closely with the Royal Thai Embassy on several occasions, including special lectures by Thai Ambassadors and diplomats on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, Thailand’s foreign policy, and linkages between Southeast Asia and Central Asia. In November 2024, the Embassy also organized a special event at MNU to highlight Thailand’s Soft Power through Thai cuisine, fashion, and culture, which was warmly received by MNU’s faculty and students. Both the Ambassador and the University’s leadership reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening academic cooperation and building networks that will deepen the dynamic relationship between Thailand and Kazakhstan.