International Cooperation: KAFU Leadership Meets with the President of REI (USA)

On March 26, 2026, an official meeting between the university’s leadership and the head of the international educational organization Research Exchange International (REI) was held at the Kazakh-American Free University.

The university delegation was hosted by KAFU First Vice President Zhassulan E. Baikenov and the university’s leadership.

REI President and CEO Douglas Erdman and Joyce Erdman were the university’s guests of honor.

The collaboration between KAFU and REI has been successfully developing since 2019, and the official memorandum signed in 2024 took this relationship to a new level. A key link in this partnership is the work of Professor Ronald Wiley and his wife, Jeanine Wiley, who have lived in Ust-Kamenogorsk for five years and serve as coordinators for REI projects throughout Central Asia.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the results of many years of collaboration and outlined plans for the upcoming academic year:

– The upcoming visit of US graduate students to KAFU for internships and training was discussed. 

* Participants noted the success of the Leadership Academy programs and visits by American faculty teams. 

* REI’s activities span eight countries (Central and Southeast Asia, Africa), and KAFU is recognized as one of the most effective platforms for implementing exchange programs not only in education but also in medicine and business.

This is Mr. Erdman’s first personal visit to Ust-Kamenogorsk. The purpose of the visit was to become familiar with the university’s infrastructure and discuss prospects for expanding volunteer programs and professional internships.

“The personal presence of REI’s leadership confirms the importance of our university as a key partner in the region. We value this trust and are ready to open new opportunities for our students and faculty,” noted KAFU First Vice President Zhassulan E. Baikenov.