In the early 1950s, when the coal industry began to develop intensively in Kazakhstan, the problem of training engineering personnel became acute. In this regard, in 1953, the Karaganda mining Institute was organized, which became the first specialized university in the central Kazakhstan region. In 1958, in the context of the increased need of the mining and metallurgical industry, energy, mechanical engineering, transport, communications and construction for new engineering specialties, it was transformed into the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute. At that time, the university was the first and only polytechnic institute in Kazakhstan.
The total area of buildings and structures of the Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University is more than 96 thousand square meters.
The university campus consists of 7 educational and laboratory buildings, 185 laboratories, 1 sports complex, 3 comfortable dormitories, the youth palace, and the sports and health camp «Polytechnic» in the resort area of Karkaraly.
The educational, scientific and industrial base of the university includes:
- 5 research institutes (Research Institute «Kazakhstan Welding Institute» – member of the club «International Welding Institute», Research Institute «Kazakhstan Multidisciplinary Institute for Reconstruction and Development», Research Institute «New Materials», Research Institute «Industrial Ecology», Research Institute «Patriotic Education»), 185 laboratories, 70 computer classes, 88 interactive classrooms.
- 6 centers of working professions («Mining», «Mechanical engineering», «Welding», «Construction», «Power engineering», «Telecommunications»);
- 4 small enterprises («Elat» LLP, «Pnevmopodem» LLP, «Alternative» LLP, «Temir men Mys» LLP);
- 7 engineering competence centers equipped with equipment and software systems from transnational corporations TOTAL, FESTO, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Leica Geosystems, Epam Systems and FLUOR;
- IT Competence Center (6 laboratories of IT companies: WTO, ABI, Wooppay, X-net, Gexabyte, ERP-company and CISCO Network Academy);
- 4 scientific and educational complexes («Industry 4.0», «Digital Engineering», «Nanotechnology in Metallurgy» and «Bioengineering»);
- Business Skills Park (coworking center, business incubator offices and other infrastructure for the development of entrepreneurial skills and start-ups on an area of 300 m2).
The laboratory complex also includes an accredited Testing Laboratory of the engineering profile “Integrated Development of Mineral Resources” and 5 world-class educational and scientific laboratories.
The University’s digital campus includes:
- «Upgrade сenter» for monitoring, analysis and management of university activity processes;
- International сenter for materials science; – automated information system «Univer»;
- licensed software for educational processes and scientific research;
- digital library;
- electronic document management system «Directum»;
- video surveillance system and access control using chip cards.
In the period 2018-2020, the computer equipment and technical and technological equipment of the classroom fund were radically modernized. Thus, over the course of 3 years, the computer park and office equipment were updated by 90% with Windows 10 and Microsoft Office installed. More than 3,000 modern workstations are installed in the buildings. All workstations installed at the university use the MS Windows operating system, are connected to local area networks and have access to the Internet. The server equipment has been updated by 80%, which significantly reduced the response time to the university’s information systems. Hard drives for RAID server arrays have been upgraded and more than 20 uninterruptible power supplies have been installed. The university’s computer network includes a significant number of servers and network equipment. All university buildings have wireless access points that cover 100% of classrooms and the surrounding campus area.
The following services are deployed on the corporate network:
- Wi-Fi network of about 500 points in the university buildings and dormitories;
- television broadcasting of programs in the university buildings and dormitories;
- video surveillance in educational computer rooms, libraries and dormitories.
To implement distance learning at Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, students are provided with access to a number of information platforms, such as the Univer 2.0 information system, MOODLE, ZOOM, Cisco Webex, as well as a system for certification of digital educational resources.
Over its long history, the university has trained over 100,000 highly qualified specialists. among the university’s graduates are many prominent political and government figures, heads of large industrial enterprises in Kazakhstan, near and far abroad.
Rectors
- Nurmukhamedov Yunus Kadyrbaevich – PhD, associate professor (1953-1955).
- Saginov Abylkas Saginovich– Academician of the academy of sciences of the Kazakh SSR, D.Sc, professor, twice laureate of the state prize of the Kazakh SSR (1955-1987).
- Lazutkin Alexander Grigorievich – Corresponding member of the national academy of sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, D.Sc, Professor (1988-1993).
- Piven Gennady Georgievich – Academician of the IAH ES, (IAI) Engineering academy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Academy of Natural Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, D.Sc, Professor (1994-2008).
- Gazaliev Arstan Maulenovich – Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, D.Sc., Professor, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2008-2016).
- Ibatov Marat Kenessovich – Honorary academician of the national academy of sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, academician of the Kazakh national academy of natural sciences and the national academy of sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, D.Sc, Professor, laureate of the state prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2016-2024).
- Sagintayeva Saule Savetovna – Chairman of the Board – Rector of the NPJSC «Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University», Academician of the international academy of sciences, D.Sc., Candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, Professor of Mathematics (2024 to the present).
Government awards and other incentives of KSTU (1953-2025)
In 1958
The KPTI team was awarded the government award « MEMORIAL RED BANNER» for the first time by the central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan and the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR for their success in their work.
In 1964
For its success in harvesting virgin lands, the institute was awarded the «Memorial Red Banner» of the central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan and the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR.
In 1967
The central committee of the young communist league of Kazakhstan and the ministry of agriculture of Kazakhstan awarded the student construction team of the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute with the Red Banner, «Student virgin land construction of 1967».
In 1968
The Ministry of agriculture of the Kazakh SSR and the Kazakhstan headquarters of the special operations forces awarded the best special operations forces of the Karaganda region to the special operations forces of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute Red Banner «Student Virgin Land Construction Project of 1968».
In 1969
The Presidium of the supreme council of the Kazakh SSR awarded the Karaganda polytechnic Institute with the «Certificate of honor» of the supreme council of the Kazakh SSR for services in the formation and organization of work of student construction teams in Kazakhstan.
1970
The central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the presidium of the supreme council of the Kazakh SSR, the council of ministers of the Kazakh SSR and the Kazakh council of trade unions awarded the staff of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute with the «Certificate of Honor» in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Kazakh SSR.
In 1972
Karaganda polytechnic Institute was awarded the high award of the central committee of the CPSU and the presidium of the supreme soviet of the USSR, the council of ministers of the USSR and the All-Union central council of trade unions «Jubilee Honorary Badge» for achieving the highest results in the all-Union competition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the USSR.
In 1976
The presidium of the supreme soviet of the USSR awarded KPTI for the achievements in training specialists for the national economy and carrying out scientific research in the 9th five-year plan «Order of the Red Banner of Labor» (18.02.1976).
In 1976
KPTI is listed in «Golden Book of Honor of the Kazakh SSR» for high performance at work (05/21/76).
In 1979
The central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, the Kazakh council of trade unions and the central committee of the young communist league of Kazakhstan were awarded the Challenge Red Banner (20.02.79) for achieving the highest results in the Republican competition for training specialists, improving the educational process, increasing the effectiveness of scientific research and improving ideological and educational work in the team.
In 1979
«The Ministry of higher and secondary specialized education of the USSR and the central committee of the trade union of workers in education, higher education, and scientific Institutions awarded the team of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute with an honorary certificate and a cash prize».
In 1979
The central committee of the CPSU, the council of Ministers of the USSR, the all-union central council of trade unions and the central committee of the all-union Leninist young communist league award the staff of the Karaganda order of the Red Banner of Labor «Crossing Red Banner» for achieving the highest results in the all-union social competition, for increasing production efficiency and quality of work, and for successfully fulfilling the economic and social development plan for 1979.
In 1980
The Ministry of defense and the specialized forces of the USSR, the central committee of the trade unions of education workers of the higher schools and scientific Institutions awards the staff of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute the order of the Red Banner of Labor «Crossing Red Banner» with the first cash prize.
In 1980
The сentral сommittee of the young communist league of Kazakhstan presented «The Challenge Red Banner» to the best district student construction team” KPTI «Polytechnic-80».
In 1981
By the resolution of the central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the presidium of the supreme council and the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, KPTI was included in the «Golden Book of Honor of the Kazakh SSR» for high performance in fulfilling five-year plan assignments.
In 1982
The central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, the FedtraUniKaz and the central committee of the young communist league of Kazakhstan awarded the team of the Karaganda order of the Red Banner of Labor Polytechnic Institute – the winner of the Republican competition «Crossing Red Banner» and a diploma for great achievements in training highly qualified specialists for the national economy of the Republic.
In 1984
The Ministry of higher education of the Kazakh SSR and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the trade union of education workers and higher schools and scientific Institutions awarded the staff of the Karaganda order of the Red Banner of Labor Polytechnic Institute with the «Transitional Red Banner» for success in training highly qualified specialists for the national economy of the country, and exceeding obligations among the universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 1983.
In 1984
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Virgin Lands and the 25th anniversary of the SSO movement, for high performance in work, production and socio-political activities, the SSO «Polytechnic» is awarded an honorary «Red Banner» of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR.
In 1988
The central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, the FedtraUniKaz and the central committee of the young communist league of Kazakhstan awarded the team of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute the order of the Red Banner of Labor – the winner of the Republican competition for the best results in conducting fundamental and applied research, creating and implementing new generation technology in 1988, the «Crossing Red Banner».
In 1988
The Ministry of education of the Kazakh SSR and the RK trade union of Public education and science workers awarded the staff of the Karaganda order of the Red Banner of Labor polytechnic Institute with the «Certificate of Honor» for achieving high results in the training and education of future specialists in accordance with the requirements of the restructuring of higher education.
In 1989
Central committee of the communist party of the Kazakh SSR, council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, FedtraUniKaz, central committee of the LCUYK.
Kazakhstan awarded the team of the Karaganda Order of the Red Banner of Labor polytechnic Institute – the winner of the Republican socialist competition for the best results in conducting fundamental and applied research, creating and implementing new generation technology, highly efficient technological processes, highly productive varieties of agricultural crops and animal breeds in 1989 «The Challenge Red Banner».
In 1989
The central committee of the communist party of Kazakhstan, the all-union central council of trade unions and the central committee of the Leninist young communist league of Kazakhstan award the command staff of the special forces units of the Karaganda polytechnic Institute the «Crossing Red Banner» for successful preparation for the third work term.
In 1989
The presidium of the board of the union of scientific and technical organizations of the USSR awarded the staff of the Karaganda order of the Red Banner of labor polytechnic Institute with the «Certificate of Honor» for 1st place at the «Fair» of scientific and technical workers and ideas in 1989.
In 1998
The Kazakhstan multidisciplinary Institute of reconstruction and development (KazMIRD) was established.
In 2002
International association for the promotion of Industry (SPI) of Paris awarded KSTU, the winner of the International program «SPI Gold Medal» «For dynamic development, high quality of goods and services».
In 2004
The university was the first in Kazakhstan to undergo a certification audit for compliance of the quality management system of education with the requirements of the international standard IQO 9001:2000. KSTU was approved as a basic university for 7 out of 32 technical specialties of the new classifier of 2004.
In 2005
The International foundation for excellence in business practice (Switzerland, Geneva) awarded KSTU with a gold medal. The university became the winner of the International award badge of Honor «Leader of the national economy 2006».
In 2007
The engineering testing laboratory for the integrated development of mineral resources (ILIP KORMS) was created.
In 2008
The international image program «Leaders of the 21st сentury» (Russia) awarded KSTU with the international award «Millennium Award» – «For Services to Humanity».
In 2008
KSTU became a laureate of the International prize «Golden Phoenix» for its contribution to strengthening international relations in the field of science, education and business national committee of the european business assembly (Oxford, UK)
In 2009
The university signed the Magna Charta of Universities, switched to a 3-stage education system, and successfully passed institutional accreditation.
In 2009
The Kazakh-Belarusian scientific, innovative and educational center in the field of mechanical engineering was created on the basis of KSTU.
In 2009
The association of student organizations «Zhas Orda» was created
In 2010
The Kazakhstan institute of welding was established on the basis of the university, which in 2011 became a member of the International Institute of welding club.
In 2010
The research Institute «New Materials» of KSTU was established.
In 2012
Confucius Institute opened with partner university Shihezi University (China)
In 2014
The 9-storey dormitory «Armandastar ordasy» was commissioned.
In 2016
Methane energy laboratory (ME) has been created
In 2017
With the support of Kazpromavtomatika, the grand opening of the educational center «KSTU-Mitsubishi-Electric-Kazpromavtomatika» took place at the faculty of power engineering, automation, and telecommunications
In 2018
Opening of the scientific and educational complex «Bioengineering»
June 29, 2020
The state re-registration of the university into the NPJSC «Karaganda Technical University» was completed.
In 2020
A group of university scientists was awarded the Al-Farabi State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the development and successful implementation of science-intensive import-substituting technologies in production.
In 2021
The Kazakhstan branch of the International competence center in mining engineering education at UNESCO was opened.
February 18, 2022
By decree of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 67, Karaganda Technical University was renamed in honor of Abylkas Saginov.
In 2022
The University was ranked 651+ in the international QS world university rankings
In 2024
It entered the group of 801+ best universities in the world according to QS world university rankings and took 251–260 place in QS Asia, confirming its competitiveness in the Asian region.
As of today:
- 7 engineering competence centers equipped with equipment and software systems from transnational corporations TOTAL, FESTO, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Leica Geosystems, Epam Systems and FLUOR;
- IT Competence Center (6 laboratories of IT companies: WTO, ABI, Wooppay, X-net, Gexabyte, ERP-company and CISCO Network Academy);
- 4 scientific and educational complexes («Industry 4.0», «Digital Engineering», «Nanotechnology in Metallurgy» and «Bioengineering»);
- Business Skills Park (coworking center, business incubator offices and other infrastructure for the development of entrepreneurial skills and start-ups on an area of 300 m2).