Pre-Departure Orientation Session for Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Students 2026

On 20 July 2026, a Pre-Departure Orientation Session for students selected for the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EMJM) 2026 programmes was held at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was organised by the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan in a hybrid format.

The session brought together 50 participants, including 10 newly selected EMJM students, 2 current EMJM students, and 1 EMJM alumna who attended the event in person, 9 representatives of European diplomatic missions and the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan, as well as 28 participants who joined online from different regions of Kazakhstan.

The main objective of the event was to provide comprehensive support to students before the start of their EMJM studies.

The event aimed to achieve the following objectives:

• to provide students with up-to-date information necessary for safe travel, successful adaptation in the countries where the programmes are implemented, and a smooth start to their studies;
• to facilitate the development of professional connections and interaction between newly selected EMJM participants, current students, and programme alumni;
• to provide students with necessary informational and organisational support during the pre-departure preparation stage.

Welcome remarks were delivered by H.E. Aleška Simkić, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan; H.E. D. Luis Francisco Martínez Montes, Ambassador of Spain to Kazakhstan; and H.E. José de Castro Ataíde Amaral, Ambassador of Portugal to Kazakhstan.

The event was also attended by representatives of the diplomatic missions of European countries:

Mr. Ramazan Yıldız – First Secretary, Head of the Culture and Press Section at the Embassy of Germany;

Mr. Zoltán Kövecses – Third Secretary, Trade Attaché and Consul at the Embassy of Hungary;

Mr. Sébastien de Courtois – Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor at the Embassy of France.

Following the welcome remarks, Laura Paluanova, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan, delivered a presentation on the EMJM programme and provided statistical data on scholarship recipients.

During the event, participants received practical information essential for preparing for their studies in Europe, including guidance on visa procedures, travel arrangements, academic requirements, health insurance, accommodation, financial matters, and various aspects of student life.

The presentations delivered by EMJM alumna Amina Bexultanova and current EMJM students Gaziza Zhakiyanova and Maral Shagatay attracted particular interest. They shared their personal study experiences, provided practical recommendations, and answered questions from the newly selected students.

An important part of the programme was the Q&A session, during which participants had the opportunity to receive clarifications on various aspects of relocation preparation and the start of their studies. Following the official part of the event, a networking session was organised, providing participants with an opportunity to get to know each other, interact with EMJM alumni, current EMJM students, and representatives of diplomatic missions in an informal setting.

The organisation of the Pre-Departure Orientation Session marked an important stage in preparing EMJM 2026 students for the start of their studies at European universities. The session contributed to increasing students’ awareness, supporting their successful adaptation, and facilitating their integration into the academic environment of the programme destination countries.

Presentations from the event are available here.

Photos from the event are available here.

The recording of the event is available here.