ISSAI Summer Research Program (SRP)

An intensive six-week research program at the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI), Nazarbayev University, designed for high school students interested in artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies. Participants attend lectures and practical workshops and work on research projects under the supervision of ISSAI researchers and mentors. In 2026, tracks included AI Agents, AI Avatars, Audio-Visual Models, Speech Recognition, Mobile Applications, Software Engineering, and Robotics.

Hands-on AI research experience; direct work with ISSAI researchers; access to supercomputing infrastructure and Nazarbayev University robotics laboratories; real research projects; development of programming, machine learning and scientific communication skills; final project presentation; certificate of completion.

High school students in Grades 9–12 with a strong interest in AI, Data Science, Robotics and related fields. Previous programming or AI experience is not required — the 2026 program accepted students with different levels of prior experience. Selection is competitive. In 2026, ISSAI received more than 1,200 applications and selected 77 participants. International students can participate; the 2026 cohort included high-school students from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.