This information paper consolidates the Schools and Research Areas of the Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation (KazNUWMI) and aligns them with internationally benchmarked ways of presenting doctoral program information. It also compiles the national admissions timeline, language requirements, and document checklist relevant for 2025 intake cycles.
Focus: Planning, design, development, and management of water resource systems, including dams, reservoirs, and distribution networks. Trains specialists in hydraulic structures, river basin management, and sustainable water use technologies.
- Hard-core engineering: Structural design, hydraulic modeling, flood control, and water resource assessment.
- Soft-core solutions: Nature-based approaches (e.g., wetlands, green infrastructure) for sustainable water management.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s degree in Civil/Environmental/Hydraulic Engineering (or closely related field).
- Foundations in fluid mechanics, hydrology, structural mechanics, and applied mathematics.
Hard Skills Gained
- Hydraulic modelling (1D/2D/3D), sediment transport, dam and reservoir design.
- Flood risk analysis, river basin planning, and decision-support systems.
- Numerical methods and scripting for water systems (MATLAB/Python).
Soft Skills Gained
- Systems thinking under uncertainty; stakeholder engagement for basin planning.
- Technical writing for design reports; interdisciplinary teamwork.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- Water agencies and basin authorities; national hydromet services.
- Dam/reservoir and levee design firms; flood risk consultancies.
- International development (flood resilience, climate adaptation).
Focus: Application of geospatial technologies, satellite imagery, and AI tools for water management, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.
- Remote sensing: Water resource mapping, groundwater detection, and climate adaptation.
- AI-driven systems: Predictive modeling, smart decision support, and real-time monitoring.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Geomatics/Remote Sensing, Computer/Data Science, or related engineering.
- Background in statistics, machine learning, and geospatial data processing.
Hard Skills Gained
- Multi-sensor RS (optical, SAR, LiDAR, GRACE/INSAR) for water monitoring.
- Deep learning for land/water mapping; change detection and early warning systems.
- Cloud-native geospatial (GEE), Python ML stack, and MLOps fundamentals.
Soft Skills Gained
- Data ethics and privacy-by-design; cross-functional collaboration.
- Visualization and storytelling with maps and dashboards.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- Space/earth observation startups; environmental analytics; disaster risk platforms.
- Government RS centers; consulting in water/land monitoring.
Focus: Addresses water governance, policy development, institutional frameworks, and risk management. Prepares leaders in water administration, regulatory affairs, and occupational safety.
- Transboundary water management: Conflict resolution and cooperative governance.
- Disaster resilience: Flood/drought risk mitigation and water security strategies.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Public Policy, Environmental Management, Law, Economics, or Engineering.
- Background in policy analysis, statistics, and institutions of water governance.
Hard Skills Gained
- Water law and regulation; tariffs and cost recovery; transboundary water governance.
- Risk management and safety; decision analysis and policy evaluation.
- Strategic planning and performance management in public utilities.
Soft Skills Gained
- Diplomacy and mediation; stakeholder mapping; ethics and integrity.
- Policy writing and executive communication.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)-
Ministries, river basin commissions, regulators; international water law.
- Utility governance and reform; donor-funded policy programs.
Focus: Trains specialists in renewable/conventional energy systems, emphasizing hydropower and energy efficiency in water management. Covers sustainable energy for urban/rural water infrastructure.
- Hydropower optimization: Small-scale hydro projects and grid integration.
- Energy-water nexus: Desalination, cooling systems, and industrial reuse.
- Oil and Gas extraction and services.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Energy/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related.
- Background in thermodynamics, power systems, and energy–water nexus.
Hard Skills Gained
- Hydropower design and optimization; SCADA integration and grid interfacing.
- Energy efficiency in water infrastructure; desalination and industrial reuse.
- Techno-economic analysis and lifecycle carbon accounting.
Soft Skills Gained
- Stakeholder negotiation at water–energy interfaces; safety culture.
- Innovation framing and business case development.
Fields of Activity - (Career Paths)
- Hydropower utilities and IPPs; water–energy project developers.
- Industrial water/energy management; energy auditing for utilities.
Focus: Development and management of water-related infrastructure (pipelines, storage, conveyance systems) and logistics for water projects. Addresses disaster resilience and sustainable infrastructure planning.
- Operation & maintenance: Lifelong infrastructure management.
- Smart logistics: Technology-driven solutions for efficient water distribution.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Civil/Industrial Engineering, Architecture, or Infrastructure Planning.
- Background in infrastructure systems, O&M, and risk management.
Hard Skills Gained
- Infrastructure planning and lifecycle asset management.
- Pipeline/storage/conveyance design; building information modelling (BIM) basics.
- Disaster risk reduction and logistics for water operations.
Soft Skills Gained
- Operational leadership; procurement and contract administration.
- Lean operations and continuous improvement.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- Water utility O&M; infrastructure authorities; logistics for emergency water supply.
- PMC/Owner’s Engineer roles for capital delivery programs.
Focus: Prepares professionals in modern drinking water supply systems, wastewater management, and public health engineering. Emphasizes sustainable urban/rural water services, sanitation infrastructure, and innovative treatment technologies.
- Centralized systems: Large-scale treatment plants, pipeline networks, and smart water distribution.
- Decentralized systems: Community-based solutions (rainwater harvesting, on-site sanitation) for underserved areas.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Environmental/Civil Engineering, Public Health Engineering, or related.
- Background in water chemistry/microbiology and mass transfer.
Hard Skills Gained
- Design of drinking water and wastewater treatment (conventional & advanced).
- Urban water systems modelling (EPANET/SWMM) and decentralized WASH solutions.
- Water quality monitoring, lab methods, and risk-based asset management.
Soft Skills Gained
- Public health risk communication; community engagement for WASH.
- Project management across utilities, regulators, and contractors.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- Municipal utilities; EPC contractors; regulators and health agencies.
- Humanitarian WASH; industrial water reuse and zero-liquid-discharge.
Focus: Efficient agricultural water use, including irrigation system design, water-saving techniques, and integrated water management for food security. Specializes in climate-resilient irrigation and sustainable land use.
- Water transfer & dam construction for irrigation schemes.
- Automation & sensors: IoT, precision agriculture, and real-time irrigation optimization.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Agricultural/Civil/Environmental Engineering or Agronomy.
- Background in soil–water–plant relations, hydrology, and GIS/RS basics.
Hard Skills Gained
- Irrigation network design (surface, sprinkler, drip) and on-farm hydraulics.
- Precision agriculture (sensors, IoT), evapotranspiration estimation and scheduling.
- Salinity management and water–energy–food optimization models.
Soft Skills Gained
- Farmer-centered design; participatory planning with water user associations.
- Data-informed decision-making and extension - communication.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- Irrigation authorities and agri-water projects; FAO/IFAD programs.
- Agri-tech, sensor/automation vendors; land reclamation and drainage.
Focus: Integrates hydrological processes, water ecosystems, and environmental sustainability. Expertise in watershed management, water quality monitoring, ecosystem protection, and climate adaptation.
- Hydrological modeling: River basin analysis, flood/drought forecasting.
- Ecosystem restoration: Aquatic biodiversity conservation and resilience strategies.
Recommended Academic Background
- Master’s in Hydrology, Environmental Science/Engineering, Earth/Climate Science.
- Quantitative background (statistics, remote sensing, GIS).
Hard Skills Gained
- Hydrological and ecohydrological modelling; flood/drought forecasting.
- Water quality modelling; aquatic habitat and ecosystem restoration design.
- RS/GIS for watershed analysis; Python/R for data analytics.
Soft Skills Gained
- Science-to-policy translation; multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Ethics and stewardship mindset; communication with communities.
Fields of Activity (Career Paths)
- River basin organizations; conservation NGOs; environmental regulators.
- ESG/impact assessment consultancies; climate adaptation planning.
- Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): low-cost purification, decentralized treatment, IoT monitoring.
- Sustainable Water Infrastructure & Resilience: AI-optimized dams, sediment/natural infrastructure, pipeline monitoring.
- Precision Water Management for Agriculture: satellite-guided irrigation, salinity and nutrient recovery.
- Hydrology and Ecosystem Restoration: eco-hydrology, restoration of degraded basins (e.g., Aral Sea), pollution bioremediation.
- Water–Energy–Food Policy Nexus: cooperative transboundary governance and allocation.
- AI & Remote Sensing Water Solutions: multi-sensor integration, forecasting, early warning systems.
