Minor Programmes from AIFC Academy to Be Taught at AlmaU
On 21 August 2025, educational programmes developed by the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Academy were formally transferred to Almaty Management University (AlmaU) for integration into its academic curriculum as minor disciplines – supplementary specialisations offered as part of students’ individual learning pathways. AlmaU is among the first universities to adopt these programmes, which address key areas of modern finance and are designed to boost students’ competitiveness in the graduate job market.
The minor programmes were developed by the AIFC Academy with the support of Freedom Broker, through its corporate foundation, Freedom Shapagat. The collaboration is based on a memorandum of understanding signed during the Astana Finance Days 2024 forum.
The newly adopted minor programmes will equip students with skills and knowledge aligned with current labour market demands, better preparing them to address interdisciplinary challenges and enhancing their appeal to employers across the industry. Subjects covered include Derivative Securities – Options, Asset Management, Financial Market Regulation, and International Commercial Dispute Resolution, among others.
Balzhan Myrzabayeva, Chief Executive Officer of the AIFC Academy, stated:
“The AIFC Academy is committed to playing an active role in the development of higher education in Kazakhstan, and the transfer of our minor programmes forms part of that effort. By incorporating these programmes, students will be able to enhance their qualifications by gaining additional skills relevant to today’s financial sector.”
Timur Buldybayev, First Vice-Rector of AlmaU, noted that collaboration with the AIFC Academy enhances students’ readiness for the demands of today’s job market:
“AlmaU is always open to adopting new educational initiatives, and the transfer of minor programmes from the AIFC Academy marks a significant contribution to the development of higher education in Kazakhstan. These programmes will equip our students with additional competencies that are highly sought after in the financial sector, while employers, in turn, will benefit from a new generation of professionals ready to make a meaningful impact in the industry.”
Zhanna Kashenova, Director of Educational Projects at Freedom Broker, added:
“At Freedom Broker, supporting educational initiatives is an investment in the country’s human capital. We recognise that the future of the financial sector depends on the competitiveness of the next generation of professionals. The minor programmes introduced at AlmaU will equip students with the knowledge and skills in demand, helping to shape a cohort of professionals ready to take on the most complex challenges.”
The implementation of the minor programmes at AlmaU is set to begin in the upcoming academic year. Students enrolled in the Finance and Law programmes will be eligible to take these new minor disciplines, enabling them to deepen their expertise in key areas of the financial sector.
It is worth noting that minor programmes are short-term certificate courses that form part of a university`s general education offering. Their duration typically ranges from three to four months, depending on the course type and complexity.
Reference:
The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction offering a favourable legal and regulatory environment, along with a well-developed infrastructure for starting and operating a business, attracting investment, creating jobs, and supporting the economic development of Kazakhstan
Almaty Management University (AlmaU) is one of Kazakhstan’s first business universities, established in 1988. The university offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programmes, as well as internationally recognised MBA and DBA programmes. Today, AlmaU stands among the country’s leading universities, holding international accreditations, partnering with global institutions, and advancing modern educational and research initiatives.
In 2025, the university topped the National Ranking of Leading Humanities and Economics Universities, published by the Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (IQAA). AlmaU also gained international recognition with its debut in the QS Stars university rating system, earning an impressive four-star rating – a strong endorsement from global higher education experts.
Freedom Broker (JSC “Freedom Finance”) provides clients with brokerage services on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) and Astana International Exchange (AIX), acts as a market maker to support securities pricing, and offers debt and equity financing solutions, as well as financial consulting services.
Freedom Finance Global is a next-generation broker specialising in services for retail investors. The company is registered with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), licensed by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), and operates under elements of English law. Freedom Finance Global clients have direct access to trading on international financial markets – including the NYSE/NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, HKEX, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange – as well as local platforms such as KASE and AIX. The company also offers access to one of the Freedom Holding group’s most in-demand services: participation in initial public offerings (IPOs).
Freedom Finance Global is part of the international investment group Freedom Holding Corp., whose shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The Freedom Shapagat Corporate Foundation was established to streamline the selection and management of ESG projects for Freedom Holding Corp. The foundation focuses on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors as the core of its investment strategy.
