For many, graduation marks the end of their academic journey and the beginning of the rest of their lives. So what will happen to the 300 KIMEP University graduates who collected their diplomas in May?
Some decided to go to graduate school, some applied to their dream jobs, and some just took a break to catch their breath, they said.
Laura Zhumabekova earned her degree in finance. She said her love of mathematics and her sisters who also studied finance at KIMEP, inspired her degree choice.
But she said she also wanted to have a plan.
“It shows that you are mature, organized, and constantly pushing yourself to develop,” she said.
“I chose finance because it opens up many different career paths, not just corporate finance or investments,” Zhumabekova said, “but also accounting, risk management, and more.”
Zhumabekova said she has a clear vision of what steps she will take next. She will spend the summer in the United States before returning to her current job in human resources at Mars, the candy creator, which has an office in Almaty. Eventually, she said she would return to school to earn a master’s degree.
Artem Kim, who majored in Information Systems in Business, was part of the pioneering class of the newly established program for that time.
“I picked this major because I wanted to do something with computers and tech, and that was the closest thing they had at KIMEP,” Kim said. He plans to pursue a master’s degree abroad to specialize in a specific area of computer science. Meanwhile, Kim will plan for two eventualities by applying for scholarships to finance his education and looking for a job at the same time.
“I think if you don’t have plans, it’s totally fine,” Kim said. “We chose our majors at 18, fresh out of school, when we had no idea what our future might be like. Society says that you should have it all sorted out by your senior year, but not everyone gets that dream internship at a big company.”
Kim said he is optimistic about the future of IT in Kazakhstan, noting a boom in the tech and fintech industries.
“There are many opportunities for people in IT,” he said. Despite the rapid development of his field, he said he believes in being adaptable and having a plan B.
Ayazhan Kaiypzhan, who majored in Public Relations, discovered her passion for the field after attending journalism courses in high school, she said.
“I chose this major because I really enjoyed those courses and thought it was something I wanted to continue doing,” Kaiypzhan said.
Initially uncertain about her post-graduation plans, Kaiypzhan decided to apply for a master’s program in marketing and an MBA at Lumsa University in Italy, she said.
“I’m the kind of person who enjoys planning things and cannot live without it,” she said.” It helps me avoid feeling lost and anxious.
Kaiypzhan said she decided to pursue a master’s degree due to her love for studying and her dream of living abroad.
“I feel like I would gain more knowledge and network opportunities if I continue my studies,” she said, adding she wanted to break away from the education system in Kazakhstan and try something new.
“I really enjoy planning events and want to either become an event manager with my own agency or a brand manager working for a big company abroad,” she said.
“I want to keep traveling and create my own loving family with a husband who inspires me and is inspired by me”.