It is my view that we can deliver a Cardiff education programme in Kazakhstan that remains true to our values and, indeed, communicates these values to the students.” A quote from Vice President Wendy Larner of Cardiff University in regard to the criticism targeted towards the campus that opened last month in Kazakhstan. But what are the criticisms and the concerns from the public and the UCU that represent the Cardiff University staff? According to Transparency International, corruption under education is an unfortunate habit that occurs occasionally in Kazakhstan.
Students are allegedly being able to pay bribes or obtain degrees through personal connections without having justified entitlement to them where nepotism culture is extremely toxic and is a significant problem in Kazakhstan, hence the controversy created due to Cardiff’s new campus opening. Due to information such as the prior point circling amongst online spaces, there has been an influx of criticism towards Cardiff University’s plan to establish a campus in the former Soviet Republic, criticism that has been raised with respect to the human rights record. Opening a campus in Kazakhstan does include concerns surrounding freedom of expression, political repression and civil liberties.
For example, according to Amnesty International there are issues surrounding gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+ rights and freedom of expression which violates the human rights of students who are wishing to seek equal opportunities of learning, something the Welsh campus is a proud ambassador of. Some have asked, does the move juxtapose the beliefs the institution proudly holds? Another area of criticism tends to come particularly after the announcement of cuts to existing courses at the University here in Wales, especially from the UCU who are currently planning to strike due to job losses and financial strain within the Wales Campus.
This opens discussions towards where the budget is being used and members of the public questioning its effectiveness. Some spectators online feel that Cardiff are acting ‘careless’ about the creative degrees that are homed here in Wales, arguing that they are often stepped on; due to the recent scandal regarding cutting degrees such as ‘modern languages’ amongst others, that were proposed to save a £30 million funding shortfall. Nevertheless, governments across Central Asia agree that enhancing the education system is vital for strengthening the economy.
Kazakhstan, as well as other Central Asian countries have been tackling to decrease the corruption by punishing the people who are involved in such activities, hiring those who are qualified, applying stricter rules and public audits. Yet, the corruptive elements are still the focus amongst critics online. Occasionally, the governing bodies in Kazakhstan bring the numbers of corruption cases that they have discovered to light, while news reporters are commonly who cover these scandals that have been exposed, making the journalists vulnerable to sharing the information; again, becoming a target for concerns regarding free speech.
A statement from Prof Larner (Vice-Chancellor) and Mr Younge (Council Chair) of Cardiff University demonstrated that their goal to continue with the Kazakhstan campus highlights their wish to be part of global higher education by initiating quality degree programs in variety of countries. The idea of international education is a new concept, and according to them, will allow the growth reputation of Cardiff University to grow worldwide and bring in a new form of income. Their aim is to create a global impact and allow new international education projects to soar, as they believe it will be a partnership that will benefit everyone.
Despite public concern, the move went ahead, and the decision was approved by the university’s council in March 2025, and the new branch officially opened in Astana in September 2025. However, public criticism seems to be remaining rife against the University, but those higher up in the University remain tough and hopeful on the decision. Responding to this article a Cardiff University spokesperson said: “We know that there are several places where our values and Kazakhstan’s may not completely align.
We know that there are several places where our values and Kazakhstan’s may not completely align.
We know there are concerns about freedom of association and assembly, religion and belief, independence of the judiciary, rule of law, and labour rights. We have explored these issues as part of our due diligence process, taking advice from the many international actors who already have an established presence in Kazakhstan, and the UK embassy in Astana. “We believe we can deliver a Cardiff education programme in Kazakhstan that remains true to our values and, indeed, communicate these values to the students. Academia is, after all, based on the free expression of ideas, even where those working together do not always agree.
We know that education broadens perspectives and enables dialogue and the exchange of ideas. There is much we can learn from the Kazakhs, and they can also learn from us. “Our efforts to develop TNE, not just in Kazakhstan, but in countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States, where we are also pursuing new opportunities, are integral to the stated ambitions of our strategy ‘Our Future, Together’, to develop reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationships that will allow us to work together across the globe.”