Every year the program of School of Engineering is changing, and this changes have impacted the grading system. Most students agree that it was easier to get an “A” grade in previous semesters because an “A” was equated with 70%, and now an “A” is equivalent to a 85%. These changes surprised the students, but they were made to raise the standards of our School and our students to achieve the goal of becoming an internationally recognized and accredited school.

Every new academic year begins with arrival of new

students who have finished the UCL preparatory program or have been directly admitted to the School of Engineering. The Engineering School opened its doors for more than 170 students; the most newcomers entered Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department. The strong start of new academic year continued throughout the semester.

Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) - the society which involves many representatives of high qualified engineers and brings to them many benefits. A small group of our students led the movement to establish an SPE Student Chapter. The aim of this student group is to develop our skills as student engineers through activities such as participation in Quiz nights, conferences, and internships.

In the beginning of the first semester, our school hosted The 1st International Seminar on Nanomaterials and Advanced Energy Storage Systems (INESS – 2013); this conference was organized by Prof. Zhumabay Bakenov and his research group "Advanced Energy Storage Systems and Functional Nanomaterials". The seminar aimed to provide an opportunity to bring to Nazarbayev University the international experts in fields of Nanotechnology and Advanced Energy Storage Systems from Japan, Germany, Korea, Canada, Turkey, and UK and to discuss scientific and academic collaboration, and integration of the Kazakhstan scientists into global research society. The participants represented more than 10 universities and companies from around the world.

Updates

Issue #1

January 2014

ChemE Times

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT Chemical Engineers are “universal engineers” because their work scope is broad and includes not only engineering, but also chemistry. Therefore, the main goal of Chemical Department is to produce highly

qualified Chemical Engineers. Moreover, their knowledge should be appropriate and suitable for Kazakhstan industry to make it competitive in the international marketplace. Chemical Engineers generally can be divided into two categories: 1) ‘chemical process engineers’ – making design and

process; and 2) ‘chemical product engineers’ – development of substances for product. And it shows that Chemical Engineers have enough choices to work in and to enjoy their job.

Dr. Wazi Z Khan

PhD in Fuel and Energy

Engineering, University of

Leeds, United Kingdom.,

Professor and Head of the

Department, Nazarbayev

University

Prof. Dr.Zhumabay Bakenov

Ph.D. in Chemistry (Physical

Chemistry), Doctor of Engineering

(Chemical Engineering, Tokyo Institute

of Technology).

Associate Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev University

Dr Vassilis J. Inglezakis

Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in the

field of Pollution Abatement

Technologies, National Technical

University of Athens

Assistant Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev University

Dr. Sergey Spotar

PhD.

Associate Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev University

Prof. Dr.Moulay-Rachid Babba

Ph.D., University Henri

Poincaré.

Assistant Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev

University

Dr.Joseph A. Menicucci Jr.

Ph.D., Montana State University-

Bozeman

Assistant Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev

University

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Madina Tuiyebayeva -

Teaching Assistant

MSc, Chemical engineering

of inorganic Substances,

South Kazakhstan State

University named after

M.Auezov, Kazakhstan

Nazgul Zhexembayeva -

Teaching Assistant

MSc, Engineering and

Technology (Oil and Gas

Business)

Kazakh-British Technical

University, Kazakhstan

Madina Bekbauova-

Teaching Assistant

MSc, Chemical Engineering

University of Leeds, UK

Danara Basbayeva-

Teaching Assistant

MSc in Chemical Process

Technology (on maternity leave)

Aston University, UK

Ashirgul Kozhagulova -

Teaching Assistant

MSc, Petroleum

engineering

Heriot-Watt University,

UK

Prof. Wynter J. Duncanson

PhD., Boston University, Boston,

MA, USA

Assistant Professor, Chemical

Engineering, Nazarbayev

University

Prof. Raymond Whitby

PhD at University of

Sussex, UK

Associate Professor,

Chemical Engineering,

Nazarbayev University

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The PhD programme is currently under development and will soon be launched. The total duration of a programme is 3 and 5 years. The theme areas are expected to be in the fields of Environmental Engineering, Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Robotics and Mechatronics, Biomedical Engineering and Information & Communication Systems & Technologies (provisional titles). It is expected that each PhD student will spend between 6 and 12 months abroad at one of leading research institutions. We expect the first cohort of successful candidates to start their PhD studies sooner rather than later in 2014. Once the announcement is made, the candidates will be able apply. One of the important entry requirements is proficiency in English language, with IELTS score at least 6.5 (or its equivalent). Another one is a Masters degree. NU students or students from other English speaking universities are exempt from the certificate of English proficiency.

The student chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers was established at Nazarbayev University on November 6, 2013. The Society helps students to enhance, exchange, and

cumulate technical knowledge related to oil and gas industry applicable in Kazakhstan and worldwide and provides opportunities for student community to become professionally

competitive in the industry. NU SPE student chapter plans the following events during spring 2014 semester:

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Opportunities For students of Chemical Engineering Department seeking information on choosing a major, developing career plan, finding an internship or a job, exploring graduate school opportunities here are summer internship opportunities at the best international and Kazakhstani companies: Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery (Pavlodar) Atyrau Oil Refinery (Atyrau) KazPhosphate (Taraz) Ulba Metallurgical plant (Oskemen) Schlumberger (Atyrau) KPO (Aksai) NURIS (Astana) TCO (Atyrau) PSN KazStroy (Atyrau) Fluor Kazakhstan (Atyrau) PetroKazakhstan (Kyzylorda) ArcelorMittal Tubular Products (Aktau) and more companies will be coming

soon. 5

“Believe in yourself” Aisulu Aitbekova

Winner of Student Research Grant (fund amount 1 000 000 tenge) of the

Scientific competition organized by Chevron Munaigas andNazarbayev Uni

versity Research and Innovation System (NURIS) with the Project "Production of humic substances

from Zaysan brown coal"

“It was very difficult and at the same time exciting competition”

Tamirlan Seidakhmetov, Alibek Yesmagambetov and Yerzhan Sapenov

The Best Team in the television project "Intelligent Olympics".

Representatives of Kazakhstan at the international festival of Intellectual competition, which will be held in Thailand in February 2014.

Our students

Photos are provided by the students

"Human do not value two things: time and health.

Invest them wisely!“ Daulet Magzymov

President of Society of Petroleum Engineers’ NU

Student Chapter Exc-President of Nazarbayev

University Engineering Society

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Special thanks to Head of Chemical Engineering Department for the opportunity to create ChemEng Newsletter

Knowledge! More Knowledge! Every NU student has heard the word ‘Internship’, and I think that the most of our students know what it is. However, not all of students understand the importance and benefits of internships. This article provides good and short information that should be useful for every undergraduate student.

The Main Study Tips for the Future Exams

***Understand your study topics in your own words

Just memorizing is not effective, you also must be able to explain

by your words, to make sure that you understand the topic.

***Don’t be afraid to ask study questions

Asking ‘stupid’ questions is not embarrassing while you study, so

ask your teacher whatever you want.

***Quiz yourself

Test yourself in the exam conditions to find your

weaknesses.

***Get Creative with online study tools

Try many different ways to study, because you may find the easiest

and effective one.

***Set your study goals and create a flexible study

plan

In order to achieve your goals you need to know what actually

you want to achieve. So, make sure that you plan your

preparation to the exam.

Notes: *Usually deadlines for applications end in February, so the earlier start will be better way to find internship for summer. *Student may have an internship during the academic year if it does not negatively effect on his learning. *Student has an opportunity to go abroad for his internship(!) The information is taken from CAC Handbook.

Guide to Student Life

Many sources define an internship as an opportunity to apply the learned theoretical information in the actual work conditions, and to gain more skills to improve your knowledge. And another side of the benefits of the internships is to see your future work and to understand whether you make a right decision about future career path or wrong decision.

The most important requirement is your wish, because usually internships are not mandatory, so students should ask for internship on their own. Internships opportunities can be provided by the Nazarbayev University Career and

Advising Center (CAC), so feel free to ask them for help. Also, student that wants to get internship must be in good

standing, which includes both academic and non-academic aspects of life.

Source: http://www.ablsaccreditation.co.uk/images/ABLS_homeImg2.jpg

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Editorial Board: Wynter J. Duncanson

Madina Bekbauova Danara Basbayeva

Assel Bukayeva