2+2 Experience

Student Exchange Program between IITU, Kazakhstan and UNITEN, Malaysia        

Since the International IT University has been opened one of the it's primary direction is to establish a steady communications and collaboration with foreign universities. And University Teanga Nasional, which is in Malaysia, has become one of the first international partners of our university. If I am not mistaken, since early 2010 many meetings have been conducted in order to achieve understanding between both sides and negotiate all pros. and cons. of their collaboration.

But despite anything, both sides came to proper understanding. The first result was yearly summer practice, where students of both universities are able to have two weeks experience in another university and country, gain knowledge, enjoy the time and get certificates, which is also important. And secondly, a very big effort was done in order to create so called "Student Exchange Program 2 +2", which roughly means that any student, who joins this program can graduate in four years with two certificates in degree, by studying two years in own university and another two years abroad. The final signing of agreement was done in January 24, 2012 during the official meeting at IITU in Kazakhstan where both sides "double recognized" each other and agreed on "2+2 Program". 

Meeting of Double Recognition, IITU 

So, the program officially started ...  But the announcement to the applicants was made earlier, so that everyone could decide whether to join or not. Surprisingly, but the number of students willing to study abroad and take advantage to get a "double diploma" was only seven. Three of them from IT Management- Amir Sadenov, Yelnur Muratova and Gaukhar Smagulova; two from  Information Systems - Shnara Amangaliyeva and Askar Alinkhanov; Magzhan Kairanbay and me from Computer Science and Software Engineering. 

College of Information Technologies, Uniten

But, many constraints and issues existed on the moment of our application. Private sponsorship, high tution and international fees, problem with state scholarship, credit transfer and visa had become our headache and didn't allow us to sleep well. Fortunately, we met those challenges and overcame all difficulties. 

With local students, Kuantan

Generally, program offers four courses in IT - Information Systems, Graphics and Multimedia, Software Engineering and Systems and Networking; and few courses for students from ITM, i think those are Finance and Human Resources. Everyone can choose by his/her own, but should consider currently taking course in IITU, so that the credit difference is not going to be so big, otherwise will be difficult to manage to finish degree on time. By the way, the duration of your study in Malaysia is not fixed, since the flexibility of the credit system at Uniten, you can take more subjects, unless your GPA allows, and finish earlier or take less subjects and extend your study for long long time. 

One drawback of the program is money. Very expensive to study. If not this disadvantage I would say the program is great, very beneficable in terms of real two certificates in degree, one from IITU and second from Uniten. The most I like is that you finish all basic subjects in Kazakhstan, come to Malaysia and study all  important core subjects, pay only for credits you take and graduate from two universities almost at the same time. So, the conclusion is if you have ability to join the program just take the study in Malaysia as your advantage. 

Later I will share more detail information about rates, credit transfer process, studying and living conditions in general.

 Best regards!

Alibek SABRALIYEV

    tel:  +601116268776 

email:  a.sabraliyev@gmail.com

Bachelor of Computer Science(SN)

Exchange Program Student IITU - UNITEN