KazNMU Launches Career Guidance Summer School: Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry
On August 17, 2026, the School of Pharmacy at Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) launched the «Career Guidance Summer School: Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry.» From August 17 to 21, high school students from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Chemistry and Biology in Almaty (NIS) are immersing themselves in the academic and professional environment, modern laboratory infrastructure, and pharmacy degree tracks. The program takes place at the «Pharmacy» Simulation Center under the leadership of Candidate of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor E.N. Kapsalyamova.
The key feature of the program is its practice-oriented format. The Summer School curriculum connects students’ existing knowledge of chemistry and biology with real-world pharmaceutical processes—from dosage form development to drug quality control. Over five days, students undergo an introductory cycle of hands-on work in pharmaceutical laboratories. They learn safety protocols and standard operating procedures in research environments, explore the principles of formulating various dosage forms, and master basic manufacturing, packaging, and labeling skills. A dedicated module focuses on drug quality control, introducing participants to accessible physicochemical testing methods and strategies for detecting counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
Throughout the program, students explore career tracks such as pharmacist, clinical pharmacist, and pharmaceutical manufacturing technologist. The intensive curriculum blends interactive mini-lectures with facility tours, laboratory testing, and independent student projects. This format provides high schoolers with a practical understanding of modern pharmaceutical operations and professional standards.
This initiative builds on a 15-year partnership between the university and NIS, which brings together motivated, academically prepared students from across Kazakhstan. Each year, NIS graduates pursue higher education at top universities globally and nationally, including KazNMU. Early exposure to the field helps students make well-informed decisions regarding their future education.
University professors, early-career researchers, and visiting professors from Europe have regularly delivered lectures, conducted workshops, and collaborated on research projects with NIS students. Notably, this partnership includes an experimental medicinal plant plantation established jointly at NIS as part of scientific research projects. Such collaboration demonstrates that the bridge between secondary and higher education can extend beyond admissions to encompass a shared research culture, scientific mentorship, and professional growth.
The «Career Guidance Summer School: Introduction to the Pharmaceutical Industry» at KazNMU serves as a compelling model of educational continuity—where career exploration begins in high school and the university becomes the launchpad for a student’s first practical step toward their professional future.
