KNRTU students Yaroslava Zhukova (Institute of Polymers) and Alina Khasanova (Institute of Petroleum, Chemistry and Nanotechnologies) spent early June in Almaty, Kazakhstan, participating in the international Farabi Summer School on Applied Chemistry. The school was hosted by the leading Central Asian university, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU). The program focused on advanced areas of applied chemistry, featuring intensive training in applied colloidal chemistry, analytical chemistry and ecology, modern trends in electrochemistry, and processing plant materials using supercritical technologies.

The intensive week included not only lectures by scientists from Romania, the USA, France, Kazakhstan, and Russia but also practical components: laboratory demonstrations, group discussions, Q&A sessions, and tours of KazNU’s modern research laboratories. Participants were particularly impressed by the opportunity for direct engagement with international experts and peers from diverse countries.

"For a week, I lived on campus, learned from leading professors worldwide, and worked with advanced laboratory equipment. We also visited the mountains with faculty and students, sampled national cuisine, and daily communication with international peers provided excellent language practice. The hospitality of our Kazakh friends was unforgettable. I immersed myself in the country’s culture and nature, and this trip offered a new perspective on the world," shared Yaroslava Zhukova, a student at the Institute of Polymers.

"Intercultural exchange with students became a key experience: we shared cultures, enhanced our English and soft skills. Immersed in an international setting for the first time, I realized language barriers vanish with the will to communicate. Faculty eagerly shared their expertise. During free time, we explored Almaty’s beauty. This week gifted me vivid memories, powerful motivation for growth, and broadened horizons. My advice: study, grow, travel, and strive for more—everything is achievable with desire and dedication!" added Alina Khasanova, a student at the Institute of Petroleum, Chemistry and Nanotechnologies.