2025, June 23
Share this articleMeruyert Bizhanova, a 2023 graduate of Nazarbayev University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, continued her education at one of the Ivy League’s leading institutions — the University of Pennsylvania.
There, she enrolled in the Master’s program in Educational Leadership.
In 2025, upon completing her studies, Meruyert was honored with the most prestigious award for international students — the Penn Global Student Citizenship Award. This award recognizes foreign students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the values of global citizenship. In the 284-year history of UPenn, Meruert became the first student from Kazakhstan to receive this honor.
During her studies, Meruyert actively engaged in research on equity and inclusion, interned at the Center for Global Policy, participated actively in university life, and was elected President of the Student Government. The university’s official website also highlighted her contributions: “Meruyert very proudly represents her home country of Kazakhstan at Penn at every level.”
In April of this year, Meruyert received an invitation to pursue a PhD at the University of Oxford in the Doctor of Philosophy in Education program, which she is set to begin in October 2025.
We congratulate our compatriot and NU alumna on her outstanding achievements and wish her great success on her academic journey!
