Working hours: 9.00 am 7.00 pm, 4 Abai Avenue, Almaty, 050010
Welcome to the College of Social Sciences (CSS) — where innovation meets tradition. At CSS, we prepare future leaders who think critically, act ethically, and embrace change in a world shaped by digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Whether you are a new student, a current learner, or a parent or partner, CSS provides a supportive and forward‑thinking academic environment. Our programs in International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Journalism, and Economics combine theory, research, and real‑world application.Students can explore opportunities through:
At CSS, we believe that social sciences must evolve with technology. Our courses integrate AI‑driven analysis, digital ethics, and data literacy — empowering students to shape the societies of tomorrow. Join us and be part of a community where knowledge meets innovation.
“Dear Friends,
We prepare students for rewarding careers and leadership roles in finance, business, economic development, politics, international relations, public administration, public policy, journalism, and public relations. Our faculty is unique in Kazakhstan because it comprises Kazakhstani scholars and professors from many other countries. They give our students an international perspective of Kazakhstan which they can get nowhere else – an edge that helps them succeed when they move into the job market. If you want a first-class international education, if you want a vibrant academic environment, if you want to be among tomorrow’s leaders, if you want to make an important contribution to local and global society: Enroll in one of the four departments in the College of Social Sciences!” Jason Gainous, CSS Dean
The College promotes understanding about society, its structure, its relationship to both the state and the marketplace, and the means by which information is disseminated throughout society. The College accomplishes its purpose by:
The goal of the College is to aid in the building of civil society in Kazakhstan and, through our graduates who move beyond its borders, in Central Asia and the World. The College strives to play a significant role in promoting societal and political liberalization throughout the region, thereby contributing to the quality of people’s lives both materially and culturally. The Strategy for achieving the mission is to develop and disseminate knowledge of diversified human economic, social and political experience relevant to Central Asia. We recognize that life is complex and that not all the situations our graduates will face will be easily understood. That’s why we prepare them to think analytically and critically about past and present human experience at the individual, group national and global level. That is also why we provide our students with the values, the basic analytical knowledge and techniques, and the employment-relevant and problem-solving skills they needed to be able to address both the anticipated and the unknown challenges that lie ahead in the twenty-first century. Our students are prepared for a wide variety of graduate programs in the social sciences and for career opportunities in business, journalism, government, social services and education. We want all our students to experience a vibrant academic community, one in which they have opportunities:
The College is headed by the Dean, who is appointed by the President and who reports to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs. He is assisted by:
This group constitutes the College Executive Committee (Chairs meetings), which advises the Dean on College policy and operational issues The key policy-making body is the College Council, which comprises the Dean (Chair), the other College office bears, elected faculty represented and student representatives nominated by the KIMEP Students Association, with observer status given to representative of other Colleges nominated by the respective Deans. There are four standing College Committees, membership is by departmental nomination;
Dean, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
- Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Florida, USA
Research interests:
Digital media, political behavior, comparative politics, and the impact of the internet and social media on democracy in the United States and Central Asia.
Professional experience:
Dr. Gainous is the author of numerous publications, including three books with Oxford University Press, such as Tweeting to Power: The Social Media Revolution in American Politics. He has taught at the University of Louisville, Duke Kunshan University, and the University of Sharjah. He frequently serves as a media commentator, has received multiple teaching and research awards, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Technology & Politics.
Email: j.gainous@kimep.kz
Office: 505/ac
Associate Dean, Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
D.Sc. (Historical Sciences), Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, Kazakhstan
Research interests:
Nationalism and nation-state building processes in modern Central Asia
Professional experience:
Associate Professor, Department of International Relations and Regional Studies at KIMEP University; previously taught in the Department of History at Kazakh National University.
Email: dgulnara@kimep.kz
Office: 512/ac
Department of the Political Science and International Relations
Chair of the Department of the Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations, University of Tampere
Research interests:
Political economy of natural resources, institutional development, post-Soviet institutions, discourse analysis
Professional experience:
Chair of the Department of Political Science & International Relations/College of Social Sciences; former journalist.
Email: nygmet@kimep.kz
Office: 111/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations
Education:
MA in Political Science, University of Louisville, USA
Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs, University of Georgia, USA
Research interests:
Public opinion, authoritarian politics, political participation, media and politics
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & International Relations; published in peer-reviewed journals.
Email: a.bekmagambetov@kimep.kz
Office: 129/aс
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in Political Science, Duke University
Research interests:
International economics and business topics; publications in economics and business journals
Professional experience:
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science & International Relations/College of Social Sciences.
Email: j.teng@kimep.kz
Office: 123/ac
Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in Political Science, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Research interests:
International relations, Chinese foreign policy, geopolitical analysis
Professional experience:
Professor and Director of China and Central Asian Studies Center; previous leadership roles at Fudan and Wuhan Universities.
Email: zhangxiaotong@kimep.kz
Office: 113/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in Politics and Sociology, University of Oxford
Research interests:
Post-communist transitions, democratization, Central Asian state building, protest mobilization
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations/College of Social Sciences; visiting research fellow at University of Michigan and Sciences Po.
Email: nurseit@kimep.kz
Office: 119/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in International Relations, International University of Japan, Japan
Master of International Law and Economics, World Trade Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland
B.A. in International Relations, Suleiman Demirel University, Kazakhstan
Research interests:
Role of norms (ideas, identity, and culture) in constraining and strengthening region-building processes in Eurasia
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations; visiting scholar at George Washington University’s Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies.
Email: a.karabayeva@kimep.kz
Office: 117/ac
Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations
Education:
Ph.D. in Politics and International Relations, University of London, UK
MSc in International Relations (with Merit), University of London, UK
Additional postgraduate studies in European Studies and International Relations
Research interests:
Diplomacy, public diplomacy, foreign policy analysis, Turkey and Europe relations
Professional experience:
Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations/College of Social Sciences.
Email: s.gulmez@kimep.kz
Office: 121/ac
Department of Media and Communications
Chair of the Department of Media and Communications
Education:
M.F.A. Cinema-Television, University of Southern California
Research interests:
– Media, film production and communications
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor in Media and Communications; active in film festivals and professional associations US and internationally.
Email: c.russing@kimep.kz
Office: 413/415/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communication
Education:
Ph.D. in Media and Communication Studies (exact university details are not always specified in the public profile)
Research interests:
Media and communication studies
Journalism and digital media
Media culture and society
Contemporary communication practices
Professional experience:
Associate Professor, Department of Media and Communications, College of Social Sciences, KIMEP University
Extensive teaching experience in media studies and communication
Active involvement in academic leadership, curriculum development, and faculty coordination within the College of Social Sciences
Email: mfilipov@kimep.kz
Office: 411/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communications
Education:
B.A. in Journalism, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan (2000)
M.A. in Translation Theory, Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages, Kazakhstan (2002)
M.A. in Journalism and Public Affairs, American University, Washington, DC, USA (2004)
Ph.D. in Political Communication, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan (2008)
Research interests:
Journalism and media studies
Political communication
Media, culture, and society
Communication processes in post-Soviet contexts
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communications, College of Social Sciences, KIMEP University
Former editor and media practitioner
Teaching experience in journalism, media studies, and political communication
Currently on academic leave for further doctoral studies in Journalism Studies at the University of Maryland, USA
Email: sholpank@kimep.kz
Office: 406/ac
Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communications
Research interests:
Communication and journalism education
Professional experience:
Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication/College of Social Sciences; experienced journalist and former editor, visiting scholar roles, member of European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA).
Email: saltanat@kimep.kz
Office: 408/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communications
Education:
Ph.D. candidate, Wayne State University, USA
M.A., Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
Research interests:
Perceptual biases in mass media, including Hostile Media Effect and Third-Person Effect; challenges faced by new journalists
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor and Chair, Department of Media and Communications/College of Social Sciences; former journalist with 30+ years of experience including bureau chief and editorial roles.
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communications
Education:
Ph.D. in Journalism Studies, Cardiff University, UK
M.A. in Communication, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
B.A. in Public Relations, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
Research interests:
Media, communication, culture, and society; corporate and management studies in communication context
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of Media and Communications/College of Social Sciences.
Email: a.adzmi@kimep.kz
Office: 409/ac
Professor, Department of Media and Communications
Education:
- Ph.D. in Communications and Film Studies.
Research interests:
Public relations, creative industries, intercultural communications, global cinema, transnational film markets, and cultural representation.
Professional experience:
Dr. Kerry has over 20 years of international academic and professional experience. She has taught at Canadian University Dubai, Wright State University’s Tom Hanks Center of Motion Pictures, the American University of Armenia, and KIMEP University. She has published extensively, served as a juror for international film festivals, and co-produced creative industry projects. She is also an active member of New York Women in Film & Television and the Middle East Public Relations Association.
Email: l.kerry@kimep.kz
Office: 412/ac
Department of Public Administration
Chair of the Department of Public Administration
Education:
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
Research interests:
Healthcare systems, migration and integration, academic diaspora
Professional experience:
Professor, Department of Public Administration/College of Social Sciences; numerous publications.
Email: famagoh@kimep.kz
Office: 137/ac
Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration
Education:
Ph.D. in Public Administration, Rutgers University, USA
Research interests:
Digitalization and policy implementation, sustainability, administrative burden, public sector digital transformation
Professional experience:
Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration/College of Social Sciences; multiple articles in public administration journals.
Email: srinivas.yerramsetti@kimep.kz
Office: 139/ac
Senior Researcher, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration
Education:
Ph.D. in Public Policy from Nazarbayev University
M.A. in Public Administration, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Research interests:
Regulatory impact assessment, good governance reforms, strategic trade controls, sanctions
Professional experience:
Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor at the Department of Public Administration; worked with USAID, ADB and U.S. Department of State EXBS Program on strategic trade controls in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.
Email: a.shaikenova@kimep.kz
Office: 104/115/ac
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration
Education:
MPhil (Master of Philosophy)
Research interests:
Development and functioning of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan and Central Asia
State–NGO cooperation and civil society development
Professional experience:
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration, College of Social Sciences, KIMEP University
Author of academic publications on NGO development and public sector–civil society interaction, including works on the evolution of NGOs in Kazakhstan
Email: alia@kimep.kz
Office: 143/ac
Professor, Department of Public Administration
Education:
- Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Potsdam, Germany
Research interests:
Sustainability, development, agrarian transformations, mobility, trade, and social-ecological systems with a regional focus on Central Asia, China, and Mongolia.
Professional experience:
Dr. Alff has held teaching and research positions at Freie Universität Berlin, the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, and the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, where he served as Deputy Head of the “Agrarian Transformations & Social-Ecological Complexities” research group. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Mongolia and is an active member of several international academic networks.
Email: h.alff@kimep.kz
Office: 135/ac
Professor, Department of Public Administration
Education:
Ph.D. in Sociology, The University of Nottingham, UK
M.A. in Public Administration, The University of Nottingham, UK
B.A. in Public Management, KIMEP, Kazakhstan
Research interests:
Sociology, social stratification and inequality, issues in public administration
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration/College of Social Sciences; teaches sociology and public administration courses.
Email: u.kazybekova@kimep.kz
Office: 141/ac
Department of Economics
Chair of the Department of Economics
Education:
Doctorate in Economics
Research interests:
International trade, economic growth, economic integration and development in transition economies
Professional experience:
Chair/Assistant Professor, Department of Economics/College of Social Sciences; publications on customs union formation and transition economies.
Email: madumarov@kimep.kz
Office: 209/ac
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Ph.D. in Economics, University of Georgia, USA
Research interests:
Monetary economics, macroeconomics, financial markets
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor in the Economics Department; industry experience in electricity and financial markets.
Email: d.porter@kimep.kz
Office: 213/ac
Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Doctor of Science
Research interests:
Mathematics/economics theory topics (publications in mathematical research)
Professional experience:
Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics/College of Social Sciences.
Email: kanat@kimep.kz
Office: 221/ac
Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Ph.D. in Economics
Research interests:
Microeconomics and production theory
Economic education
Applied economics and teaching methodology in economics
Professional experience:
Professor, Department of Economics, College of Social Sciences, KIMEP University
Extensive teaching experience in economics at undergraduate and graduate levels
Known for long-term academic contribution to economics education at KIMEP
Actively involved in curriculum development and academic mentoring of students
Email: naqvi@kimep.kz
Office: 215/ac
Associate Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Doctorate in Economics
Research interests:
Game theory, public economics, economic analysis of institutions
Professional experience:
Associate Professor, Department of Economics/College of Social Sciences; taught at European and U.S. institutions.
Email: gpech@kimep.kz
Office: 219/ac
Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Ph.D. in Development Economics, University of Manchester, UK
Ph.D. in Mathematics, Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi, Kazakhstan
Research interests:
Development economics, poverty, labour supply and social welfare research
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor and Research Director, Department of Economics/College of Social Sciences.
Email: almak@kimep.kz
Office: 211/ac
Professor, Department of Economics
Education:
Ph.D. in Economics, Florida International University, USA
Research interests:
Intersection of economics of education and agricultural economics
Professional experience:
Assistant Professor, likely in Economics/College of Social Sciences at KIMEP University.
Email: a.tamipatino@kimep.kz
Office: 217/ac
Administrative Manager
Email: zdinara@kimep.kz
Tel: 270-43-40 Ext: 3471
Office: 502 / Valikhanov bld
Program Manager / Internship Coordinator
Email: css_internship@kimep.kz / zhamilya@kimep.kz
Tel: 270-42-11 Ext: 3233
Office: 509 / Valikhanov bld
Media Lab Coordinator, Department of Media and Communications
Email: z.suleimen@kimep.kz
Office: 403-405 / Valikhanov building
Program Manager
Email: css_coordinator@kimep.kz
Tel: 270-42-12 Ext: 3266
Office: 507 / Valikhanov bld
Marketing Officer
Email: y.saulebay@kimep.kz
Office: 501 / Valikhanov bld
Executive assistant
Email: a.honay@kimep.kz
Office: 503
Administrative Coordinator
Email: d.markus@kimep.kz
Office: 504
