KAZAKHSTAN: BOLASHAK PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR CLAIMS INTEREST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002263 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARMENT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EEB/ESC, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SCUL SOCI KPAO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: BOLASHAK PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR CLAIMS INTEREST IN U.S. STUDY WANING, DESPITE CONTRARY DATA ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 13, CAO met with Aida Sagintayeva, president of the Center for International Programs, which is responsible for administering Kazakhstan's "Bolashak" program, through which the government funds up to 3,000 students to study abroad at any one time. Sagintayeva reported that Bolashak is looking to reduce its number of U.S partners and will soon implement a number of other changes, including approving programs instead of universities, emphasizing programs in science and medicine, and focusing on graduate students. She also claimed that interest in studying in the UNITED States in waning. Sagintayeva stressed that Bolashak is pleased with the cooperation it receives from the U.S. Embassy, but she asked for Embassy assistance in resolving some TOFEL issues. END SUMMARY. U.S. UNIVERSITIES EXPRESS UPRECEDENTED INTEREST IN KAZAKHSTAN ¶3. (SBU) CAO presented Sagintayeva with a list of 19 American universities that had recently traveled to Kazakhstan to participate in an international education fair and noted that these universities were very interested in recruiting Kazakhstani students. Sagintayeva barely glanced at the list before pushing it away and announcing that that Bolashak was "not interested" in relationships with any of these universities. (NOTE: The education fair, which was organized by the Bilim Educational Advising Center, took place at the State Museum in Almaty on November 7. It was the first fair to bring large numbers of U.S. universities to Kazakhstan. More than 1,600 students visited booths hosted by representatives of Arizona State University, Emporia State University, Florida Institute of Technology, Foothill & DeAnza Community Colleges, George Mason University, Johnson & Wales University, University of Miami, Ohio State University, Roger Williams University, University of Bridgeport, State University of New York at Buffalo, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Central Missouri, University of Evansville, University of Hartford, University of Iowa, West Virginia University, and Youngstown State University. END NOTE.) DECREASE QUANTITY, INCREASE QUALITY OF UNIVERSITY PARTNERS ¶4. (SBU) Sagintayeva explained that Bolashak is planning to decrease the number of universities with which it works in order to increase the quality of its university partnerships. The program currently works with 630 universities in 32 countries but plans to scale back to 150 universities in 22 countries. Sagintayeva stated that only 30-40 U.S. universities would remain on the list and that only the "best" programs of each of these universities would host Bolashak scholars. When pressed, Sagintayeva said that Bolashak makes its decisions about the "best" programs based on the New York Times Education Supplement and the Shanghai Jiao University rankings. She also said that starting in 2010, the Bolashak program would focus on funding graduate and Ph.D.-level study in the sciences and medicine. (NOTE: In the past, Bolashak approved specific universities but not specific programs of study. END NOTE.) ¶5. (SBU) Sagintayeva also said that Bolashak wants to work with U.S. universities in a new way. She indicated that Bolashak would like to receive commissions for placing students at specific universities in the same way that they do for placing students at specific English-language programs. In addition, she thought that Bolashak students should be able to receive tuition discounts -- for example, in-state tuition at U.S. public universities rather out-of-state rates. CONCERNS ABOUT U.S PARTNERS AND PROGRAMS ¶6. (SBU) Sagintayeva also complained about some of the relationships that Bolashak has with U.S. partner institutions. In particular, she raised the partnership with Texas A&M. In 2007-2008, Texas A&M University hosted 47 Bolashak students. However, Sagintayeva said all students had transferred with the ASTANA 00002263 002 OF 003 exception of the Master's degree students who will graduate this year. She complained that Texas A&M has poor accommodations, "disgusting" cafeteria food, provides no information to students about how to register for classes, and has a history of being late with payments. (NOTE: The Bolashak program funds a special Bolashak student adviser at Texas A&M. Other universities, such as Indiana, George Washington, and University of Texas at Austin, also reportedly have special American advisers for Kazakhstani students. END NOTE.) ¶7. (SBU) Sagintayeva also upbraided CAO about the FLEX program, through which approximately 100 Kazakhstani high-school students spend a year in the UNITED States living with American host families and attending American high-schools. While acknowledging that FLEX alumni make excellent Bolashak candidates, Sagintayeva complained about the living conditions for Kazakhstani students. She said she had met students who were not adequately fed, were pressured to take after school jobs, and were forced to sleep in the same room with their host siblings and their host siblings' girlfriends and boyfriends. CAO explained that host families undergo a substantial selection process and asked whether any of these students had ever raised their concerns with American Councils or the State Department. Sagintayeva replied that Kazakhstani students would never complain, that this is "not part of the Kazakhstani mentality." FEWER BOLASHAK STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES ¶8. (SBU) Sagintayeva said that Bolashak has seen a "marked decrease" in Kazakhstani students interested in studying in America and claimed that they prefer to go to the UNITED KINGDOM or China. When asked why this might be, Sagintayeva said that this was a "matter for the State Department to think about." (NOTE: Although official Bolashak statistics show a 5.5 percent decrease in the number of Bolashak scholars going to the UNITED States, the 2008 Open Doors report documents a 20.1 percent increase in the overall number of Kazakhstani students studying in the UNITED States during the 2007-08 academic year. END NOTE.) ¶9. (SBU) In general, Sagintayeva said that Bolashak enjoyed good relations with the U.S. Embassy, including the Consular Section. She did, however, inquire whether it would be possible for the TOFEL test to be offered more frequently, at more locations, and at a discounted rate for Bolashak students. CAO promised to raise this with American Councils, who administers the TOFEL exam in Kazakhstan. (NOTE: The TOFEL exam is currently offered only in Almaty. END NOTE.) ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: The year 2008 marks the 15th year of the Bolashak program, but the first large group of students -- approximately 640 strong -- will return from the UNITED States only next year. Per Bolashak regulations, students that have received funding from the Kazakhstani government must return to Kazakhstan for at least five years. (NOTE: according to government statistics, only 29 out of 4,500 students sent abroad have thus far failed to return. END NOTE.) How and where this large number of U.S. graduates will be employed is an open question. Sagintayeva admitted that it will be a "headache" to find employment for these returning students, particularly since neither Bolashak, nor any other arm of the Kazakhstani government, is tasked with job placement. END COMMENT. ¶11. (SBU) BIO NOTE: Aida Sagintayeva is a U.S. exchange program alumna and studied at George Washington University under the auspices of the Junior Faculty Development Program. Upon her return, she joined the Center for International Programs as a mid-level employee but was elevated overnight to become president of an organization with more than 100 employees and an annual budget of more than $125,000,000 (2008 figure). Some speculate that this move was the result of connections -- Sagintayeva's uncle is the current head of the Prime Minister's Chancery. END BIO NOTE. ASTANA 00002263 003 OF 003 HOAGLAND