About Nazarbayev University (NU)

Nazarbayev University (NU) is internationally oriented, research-intensive institution, established in 2010. It is the leading university in Central Asia and the Caucasus region. Established as an autonomous, English-medium university, by the Republic of Kazakhstan, NU is going through planned growth in research and innovation, programs and student enrollment, and global partnerships. It is spearheading knowledge creation, innovation, and socio‑economic development in the Republic of Kazakhstan and beyond. NU maintains an internationally competitive research and innovation ecosystem, including the development of the region’s largest science and technology park. It attracts exceptionally well-qualified students and the most accomplished faculty in the region. Subjects housed in this School are among the most sought after; applicant to admission ratio for undergraduate program stands at 10:1. Research, innovation and teaching in smart systems, generative AI and data science are among the key national priorities for Kazakhstan.

With a world-class campus on a 147-hectare site in the beautiful city of Astana, NU is ambitious about the future.  While our ranking of 401-500 (Times Higher) is creditable for a 15-year-old institution, our ambition is to be an internationally competitive, nationally and regionally relevant university and for this to be reflected in substantially improved rankings. Building on achievements of past 15 years, NU is launching an ambitious institutional strategy, investing in research and innovation infrastructure and strengthening academic leadership team at various levels. The President, Prof Waqar Ahmad, has recruited a world-class academic leadership team, with recent appointments including Prof Rehan Sadiq as Provost (previously Provost and Vice President, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus), Prof Bjorn Birgisson as Vice Provost Research and Innovation (former Executive Director at the University of Georgia and Vice President Research at KTH Royal Institute of Technology), Prof Huck Hui Ng as Vice President Medicine (from his role as Assistant Chief Executive, A*STAR Research Council Singapore), and Prof Sam Smidt as Vice Provost Academic Affairs (Director King’s Academy at King’s College London and previously a Pro Vice-Provost at University College London).

The School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) has been newly created to lead on research, innovation and teaching in areas of critical importance to national and regional development. It brings together the current research and teaching in computer science, robotics and mathematics, and will be the equal largest school in student numbers. Reflecting the significance of this School to the university and the country, we are seeking an accomplished leader as the inaugural Dean. To support our ambitions in this key field, the university is investing in additional faculty, including at full professor level.

A parallel new school is the School of Engineering, with which SCAI has especially strong teaching and research synergies. The School of Sciences and Humanities houses physics, chemistry as well as social sciences and humanities disciplines. The School of Medicine, with its associated hospital network, preclinical research facility and the Centre for Life Sciences form the region’s best facility for teaching, research, innovation and practice in medicine and healthcare. The Graduate School of Education is an internationally significant hub for teaching, research and executive education. The Graduate School of Public Policy offers taught and doctoral programs, undertakes research on public policy and supports the development of public services. The Graduate School of Business offers a suite of master’s programs and has recently launched undergraduate degrees (including a dual degree with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology). We expect SCAI to collaborate in research and teaching with most of these schools.  

A doctoral institute is being created to substantially support the growth in doctoral student numbers, expected to stabilize at 800 students (assuming completions within four years), with additional students studying for professional doctorates. We anticipate that much of the growth in overall student numbers will be at master’s and doctoral level. The current student population of 8000 is projected to grow to 9000 by 2030.

The university is committed to enhancing educational and research quality. Through a relationship with Advance HE, faculty colleagues are supported to gain basic, senior or principal fellowship of Advance HE. We hold QAA institutional accreditation, with three programs also accredited by QAA. Our School of Medicine holds North American accreditation, and we hold or are currently undergoing acquisition of accreditations by AMBA, AACSB, ABET (including for computer science) and others. At student level, graduate employability is around 98% in most years and the students we attract are on par with those attending leading research-intensive universities in the UK or the US.

NU has a history of collaboration with world’s elite institutions, in earlier years including the University of Cambridge, University College London, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Pittsburgh, Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Collaborative degrees are being launched with SOAS University of London and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with more partnerships to follow in future years. As a founding member of the Asian Universities Alliance of 16 leading research-intensive universities, we collaborate with Tsinghua University, HKUST, Peking University, NUS and other high-profile partners. In 2027, NU will hold the Executive Presidency of AUA.

Research and innovation will be central to the School’s purpose. In this, you will build on excellent performance of recent years. The University is committing substantial sums in improving the innovation infrastructure, with a 20,000 sq m development to support student and faculty startups, and a 45-hectare science and technology park. Laboratory infrastructure at the university is world class and a number of research and innovation centres are undertaking internationally leading research. 

NU operates with academic autonomy and institutional independence, guided by international governance structures and partnerships with leading universities worldwide. The University’s strategic ambition is to become a globally recognized research university and a national and regional asset in knowledge creation, innovation, and talent development. To lead this exciting School, bringing together computing, robotics, digital technologies, mathematics and artificial intelligence, Nazarbayev University invites applications for the position of the founding Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI).

School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) - A Flagship Initiative

Nazarbayev University is establishing the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI) as a strategic academic initiative designed to position the University and Kazakhstan at the forefront of the global digital and artificial intelligence revolution. Artificial intelligence and advanced computing technologies are transforming economies, industries, and societies at an unprecedented pace. Recognizing the strategic importance of these developments, Nazarbayev University is making a major institutional investment to build a world-class academic hub dedicated to AI, computing, mathematics, robotics and the broader digital innovation. NU’s strengths in teaching, research and innovation in these fields are well established, including the research and development contribution of our Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI). Among other contributions, ISSAI was behind the development and launch of KazLLM, the first regional language large learning model.

SCAI will serve as a globally connected center of excellence, bringing together leading scholars, educators, and innovators working at the frontier of artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, cybersecurity, applied mathematics and emerging digital systems. SCAI will play several strategic roles:

• Educating the next generation of digital leaders through innovative undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.
• Advancing frontier research in artificial intelligence, robotics, computing, applied mathematics and data-driven technologies.
• Supporting national digital transformation, contributing to Kazakhstan’s ambition to become a regional technology and innovation hub.
• Catalyzing entrepreneurship and technology transfer through partnerships with global technology companies and emerging startups.

The School will develop research and teaching strengths in several strategic domains, including:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Applied Mathematics
• Data Science and Large-Scale Data Systems
• Robotics and Autonomous Systems
• Cybersecurity and Digital Trust
• High Performance and Quantum Computing
• Intelligent Infrastructure and Smart Cities
• Human-Centered AI and Digital Ethics.

The School and ISSAI will operate within a highly interdisciplinary environment, collaborating closely with other schools across the University including engineering, natural sciences, medicine, education, public policy, and business. These collaborations will enable new research frontiers in areas such as intelligent energy systems, smart infrastructure, AI for healthcare and governance, climate analytics, and digital manufacturing. SCAI will also benefit from Nazarbayev University’s strong international orientation. NU maintains partnerships with leading global institutions, and SCAI will expand these collaborations to build international research networks in artificial intelligence and digital innovation. In particular, the School seeks to establish strong engagement with leading AI ecosystems in Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, South Asia and China, building research partnerships, faculty exchanges, and joint innovation initiatives.

A Rare Institution-Building Opportunity

The creation of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence offers a rare opportunity to build an AI-focused school within a rapidly advancing research university. The founding Dean will play a central role in shaping the School’s academic structure, research priorities, and global partnerships; and through collaboration, it will support the development of the university as a whole, in teaching, research and innovation. With strong institutional commitment and plans to recruit many internationally recognized faculty members in the coming years (ten additional academic posts were awarded in this area in recent months), the Dean will lead the development of a globally visible research and innovation community in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, robotics and applied mathematics.

Few academic leadership roles offer the opportunity to build and lead an AI-focused school within a well-resourced research university, while simultaneously contributing to the development of a rapidly emerging regional technology ecosystem. The successful candidate will help position SCAI as:

• A globally recognized research hub in artificial intelligence and computing
• A regional leader in digital innovation and technology entrepreneurship
• A major contributor to the international AI research community.

For senior academic leaders in computing and artificial intelligence, this role provides a unique opportunity to build a lasting institutional legacy while shaping the future of AI research and education in Central Asia.

Position Summary

The founding Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence will provide visionary academic and strategic leadership for the School. The Dean will guide the establishment of SCAI as a world-class academic unit, responsible for academic excellence, faculty recruitment, research development, innovation ecosystems, and global partnerships. Working closely with the Provost and University leadership, the Dean will oversee the School’s growth in faculty recruitment, research programs, innovation, education, and industry engagement. The University is launching a global campaign to recruit 10 full professors, several of which will be associated with SCAI.

The Dean will directly report to the Provost of Nazarbayev University.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for the development and growth of the School.
• Establish SCAI as a globally competitive center of excellence in AI, computing, robotics data science and applied mathematics.
• Develop and implement a long-term academic and research strategy aligned with the University’s mission.

Academic Excellence

• Lead the development of innovative undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in computing and AI.
• Ensure the highest standards of teaching, curriculum design, and student learning outcomes.
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and adoption of AI in program delivery across NU’s academic schools.

Faculty Recruitment and Development

• Recruit and retain world-class faculty.
• Foster a collaborative academic culture that promotes research excellence and innovation.
• Support faculty development (including fellowships of Advance HE), mentoring, and research productivity.

Research and Innovation

• Develop major research initiatives in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, intelligent systems and applied mathematics.
• Promote interdisciplinary research programs and global collaborations.
• Attract significant research funding from government, industry, and international partners.

Industry and Global Engagement

• Build partnerships with global technology companies and research institutes.
• Promote technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and startup development.
• Position NU as a regional hub for AI innovation and digital transformation.
• Independently and jointly with research, industry and governmental partners, engage in developing AI tools to address national and regional priorities.

Institutional Leadership

• Contribute to the broader strategic leadership of Nazarbayev University.
• Strengthen NU’s global reputation and academic standing.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will be an internationally respected scholar and leader with a strong record of academic achievement in computing or artificial intelligence.

Required qualifications include:

• PhD in Computer Science or Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Applied Mathematics or a closely related field
• A distinguished research record suitable for appointment as Full Professor in a high-ranked research-intensive university
• Significant academic leadership experience (e.g., department chair, research director, associate dean, or dean)
• Demonstrated success in faculty recruitment, research development, and academic program building
• Experience in building industry partnerships and innovation ecosystems
• A strong commitment to international collaboration and academic excellence.

Experience in leading interdisciplinary AI research initiatives will be highly desirable.

Other Requirements

• Ability to travel internationally and organize working hours to meet the demands of the role.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and operate with a high level of professional integrity.

Why Join Nazarbayev University?

Nazarbayev University offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of a rapidly developing research university in a dynamic national context. The University provides:

• Competitive international salary and benefits package
• Research funding and startup support
• Modern research infrastructure and laboratories
• Opportunities to recruit outstanding international faculty
• A growing ecosystem for innovation and technology development
• A multicultural academic environment with English as the language of instruction.

Astana is a modern and vibrant capital city with excellent infrastructure, international schools, and a high quality of life.

Application Information

The position is open until May 15, 2026. Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter addressing qualifications and leadership vision for the new School.
• A curriculum vitae.
• Names and contact information for three professional references (at least one being a current or former supervisor).

Employment at Nazarbayev University is subject to verification of academic credentials and compliance with institutional policies. Nazarbayev University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds. The University is committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment that supports excellence in research and education.