Office in Almaty
University Alliance Ruhr strengthens commitment in Central Asia
- von Jens Wylkop (RUB)
- 27.04.2026
The University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) is further expanding its activities in Central Asia. To this end, the Liaison Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia has set up a new branch office in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan. With this step, Ruhr University Bochum, the TU Dortmund University and the University of Duisburg-Essen are strategically strengthening their presence in the region and creating new perspectives for research, teaching and academic exchange. The branch office has started work and will be officially opened in October 2026.
The office is located at the State Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is part of a trilateral cooperation between the UA Ruhr, the Academy and the German-Kazakh University (DKU). The aim is to sustainably expand and institutionalize scientific cooperation with partner institutions in Central Asia.
Stronger regional presence
"The opening of the office will provide our UA Ruhr liaison office with local support in Kazakhstan. This means that the strategically important and geographically extensive region of Eastern Europe/Central Asia can be supported even more intensively in future," says Elena Resch, Director of the Liaison Office. At the same time, the existing commitment of the Liaison Office in the entire Eastern European region will continue unchanged from Bochum.
Cooperation with Central Asia is becoming increasingly important. The topics reflect the common strategic interests of Germany and the Central Asian states:
- Energy and sustainability
- Raw materials and resource management
- Climate protection and environmental research
- Digitalization and artificial intelligence
- Water and environmental management
- Health research
- Mobility and infrastructure
- Education and university development
To further intensify cooperation, the UA Ruhr is planning an online event with leading universities in Central Asia in September 2026. The aim is to initiate new collaborations and expand existing partnerships.
UDE builds connections in water research
The University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is focusing on collaboration in water research. Scarcity and competing demands are turning water into a key resource in the region. UDE contributes expertise in membrane technologies, modelling and monitoring of water bodies, as well as in hydraulics and morphology. Its local partners bring extensive experience in cross-border water governance.
The focus is on developing joint solutions for drought and low-water conditions. Initial contacts were established in 2025 in Kazakhstan with the German-Kazakh University in Almaty and East Kazakhstan Technical University in Öskemen, where water research centres are planned.
This exchange is now being intensified through STEM camps for students in June and the launch conference “Water” in October 2026.
Picture: The office's new branch is located at the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan.