MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISCIPLES ESCOFFIER INSTITUTE

On October 24, 2025, Chairman of the Board – Rector of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University Bolat Tilep welcomed a delegation from the world-renowned Disciples Escoffier Culinary Institute. The meeting focused on implementing joint projects in the fields of education, nutrition, and gastronomic tourism, as well as exploring new international opportunities between Abai University and the Disciples Escoffier Institute.

From Abai University, the meeting was attended by Chairman of the Board – Rector Bolat Tilep, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Banu Narbekova, Vice-Rector for Strategy and Internationalization Aigul Iskakova, as well as heads of structural divisions and university partners. The Disciples Escoffier delegation was led by Director Bertrand Guerrier, accompanied by Yerzhan Pazilov, member of the Expert Council on Gastronomic Tourism and Hospitality of the Astana Development Center and Director of the “IBIS Astana” hotel. The meeting was also attended by Agnès Bousset, Coordinator of Dual Degree Programs at the Embassy of France.

During the discussions, the parties addressed the implementation of joint programs aimed at developing professional education, nutrition, gastronomic tourism, and the hospitality industry, as well as expanding opportunities for academic mobility and internship exchanges for students and faculty. Yerzhan Pazilov proposed establishing cooperation between the two universities in the “Restaurant Management” specialty, emphasizing the decreasing number of experienced professionals in this field and the importance of passing expertise on to younger generations.

Representatives of Disciples Escoffier noted that similar programs are successfully operating in Hong Kong, Romania, Mauritius, and France, and introducing this experience in Kazakhstan would offer significant opportunities to elevate the country’s gastronomy and hospitality industries to an international level.

Currently, Abai University collaborates with more than 160 leading universities worldwide. Establishing a partnership with the Disciples Escoffier Culinary Institute within the framework of the “B093(KZ-FR) – Restaurant Management and Hospitality Business” program, implemented through the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute and the branch of the University of Lorraine at Abai University, will enable students to deepen their professional expertise and receive education that meets international standards.