Under the leadership of Rector Darkhan Berikovich Akpanbetov, the International Engineering and Technological University (METU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Smart Systems, AI and Cybersecurity Research Centre (SSAICS) at the British Staffordshire University.

The SSAICS laboratory is recognized as one of Europe’s leading research centers in digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. It is headed by world-renowned Professor Elhadj Benkhelifa, Professor of Computer Science and Digital Innovation, Head of the Professoriate, and member of the University Research Ethics Committee at Staffordshire University.

The MoU opens opportunities for:

• Joint research projects in AI and intelligent systems;

• Academic mobility for students, graduate students, and faculty members;

• International conferences, workshops, and research internships;

• Collaborative publications and global innovation initiatives.

Rector Darkhan Berikovich Akpanbetov emphasized that this partnership with Professor Benkhelifa and the SSAICS laboratory will become a powerful catalyst for developing Kazakhstan’s scientific potential in digital technologies:

“METU is striving to make Kazakhstan a regional hub of technological innovation. Collaboration with leading global universities provides our students and researchers with new opportunities for international integration,” the Rector noted.

Professor Elhadj Benkhelifa highlighted Kazakhstan’s impressive pace of digital transformation and METU’s strong potential for contributing to global research initiatives.

The signing of this memorandum marks a new era of international scientific collaboration, uniting the efforts of the two nations toward an innovative and secure digital future.