Bridging Borders: Constructor University honors 15 Bolashak graduates at festive ceremony
Constructor University has honored the latest 15 graduates to complete faculty development and professional training programs at its Bremen campus through Kazakhstan’s Bolashak International Scholarship program. The vibrant ceremony held February 16 on campus was attended by university leadership, faculty and distinguished guests, showcasing a growing partnership between Kazakhstan and Constructor University to promote cross-cultural exchange, global knowledge transfer and leadership development.
Established in 1993 by the President of Kazakhstan, the Bolashak International Scholarship provides Kazakh citizens with opportunities for advanced study and professional training abroad. The program supports master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral studies, as well as professional development internships. It is widely recognized for shaping Kazakhstan’s future leaders and contributing to the country’s long-term development goals.
Constructor University welcomed its first Bolashak scholars in 2024 and has since gone on to host five cohorts and three graduation ceremonies to date. “Constructor University is incredibly proud of its relationship with Kazakhstan through our Bolashak International Scholarship scholars,” said Constructor University Provost Dr. Frazer Cairns, reflecting on the significance of the partnership and the distinct value Bolashak scholars bring to the international university.
“While when they graduate, Bolashak scholars return to Kazakhstan with advanced knowledge, international experience and insights into modern technologies and management practices, during their time in Bremen they add to the richness of our international student body and contribute to our goal of building understanding across borders, across languages and across cultures.”
Building community, bridging cultures
The ceremony included a special cultural performance of traditional Kazakh music by one of the Bolashak graduates, along with speeches from university leadership, the faculty and supervisors who supported the cohort throughout their academic journey and several of the graduating scholars themselves.
In her remarks, Bolashak graduate Assel Bekmoldayeva reflected upon her own learning journey through the program, describing it as one of intellectual and personal transformation. “I feel thankful and proud of this journey. Everything was new: a new country, a new educational system, a new way of thinking. This year was not only about knowledge, but about growth. Constructor University taught me how to think, ask questions, and work with people from different cultures. It helped me believe in myself.”
Another graduate, Zhadyra Artykova, emphasized her gratitude for the mentorship and community that she and her Bolashak colleagues received from Constructor’s academic community. “This year has been a time of growth, not only in classrooms but also in life itself. Everything we have learned will benefit our homeland. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank our professors and supervisors for their patience, support and faith in us. You shared your experience with us and inspired us to move forward.”
For graduate Gaziza Makhambetova, the true value of the international experience will be the local impact it has back home in Kazakhstan. “This program will help me contribute to my country and its development,” she said.
International experience with local impact
This connection between the international and local communities was a common theme, one that Constructor University Chancellor Turgut Tülü underscored with encouragement and guidance as these latest Bolashak graduates prepare to take their expertise back to Kazakhstan.
“Dear graduates, you now carry two things with you: global knowledge and a deep connection to home,” he said. “You have learned from the world, and now the world will learn from you. Wherever you go next, you have the opportunity to be ambassadors of your country, your culture and your values,” said Tülü in his remarks to the graduates.
“Stay curious and never stop learning. The most successful people in life are not those who know everything, but those who are always willing to learn something new. Lead with integrity. Be a leader that inspires trust by aligning your words and values with your actions and decisions. In today’s world, integrity is not merely a principle. It is an act of strength.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and a group photograph, followed by a networking reception that brought graduates together with university leaders and faculty. As the celebration drew to a close, the event reaffirmed Constructor University’s enduring commitment to global partnerships that empower scholars, build bridges between cultures and support positive societal change.