The latest issue of AMBA & BGA’s Business Impact magazine (Issue 5, 2025) has been published, featuring an article by Professor Joep Konings, Dean of Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business (NUGSB). His contribution was selected as one of only three cover stories, highlighting the theme of partnerships in global business education.
In the article, Dean Konings reflects on the evolution of NUGSB’s long-standing collaboration with Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and its transformation into a globally recognised, research-driven institution. What began as an ambitious initiative more than a decade ago has grown into a business school that stands confidently on its own — accredited by AMBA and BGA, and acknowledged among the top five business schools worldwide founded within the last 20 years by UT Dallas research rankings.
Dean Konings notes that NUGSB’s success is rooted in a deliberate “graduate-first” approach that set it apart from most business schools:
“While many business schools start with undergraduate programmes, we took the opposite route. By beginning with graduate programmes — the EMBA, MBA, and MSc in Finance — we built a strong alumni network of leaders from day one. This ‘graduate-first’ approach created a foundation of experience and influence that now benefits every new generation of students.”
He also shares his perspective on the School’s next chapter, emphasising NUGSB’s growing international presence and new global alliances:
“At the same time, the school is moving confidently into its next chapter and forging new global alliances, most notably with HKUST and the aforementioned joint degree initiative [the upcoming BBA in Eurasian Business, launching in 2026] that is set to offer students cross-regional opportunities.”
This upcoming joint Bachelor’s degree with HKUST Business School (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) represents another milestone in NUGSB’s mission to provide world-class education that bridges East and West. The programme will give students a unique opportunity to gain international exposure, study across regions, and build networks in both Central Asia and Asia-Pacific — preparing a new generation of globally minded business leaders.
Through these partnerships, research excellence, and expanding educational portfolio, NUGSB continues to play a pivotal role in driving business and economic transformation across Central Asia.
Read the full article in AMBA & BGA’s Business Impact magazine, Issue 5 (2025).
In the article, Dean Konings reflects on the evolution of NUGSB’s long-standing collaboration with Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and its transformation into a globally recognised, research-driven institution. What began as an ambitious initiative more than a decade ago has grown into a business school that stands confidently on its own — accredited by AMBA and BGA, and acknowledged among the top five business schools worldwide founded within the last 20 years by UT Dallas research rankings.
Dean Konings notes that NUGSB’s success is rooted in a deliberate “graduate-first” approach that set it apart from most business schools:
“While many business schools start with undergraduate programmes, we took the opposite route. By beginning with graduate programmes — the EMBA, MBA, and MSc in Finance — we built a strong alumni network of leaders from day one. This ‘graduate-first’ approach created a foundation of experience and influence that now benefits every new generation of students.”
He also shares his perspective on the School’s next chapter, emphasising NUGSB’s growing international presence and new global alliances:
“At the same time, the school is moving confidently into its next chapter and forging new global alliances, most notably with HKUST and the aforementioned joint degree initiative [the upcoming BBA in Eurasian Business, launching in 2026] that is set to offer students cross-regional opportunities.”
This upcoming joint Bachelor’s degree with HKUST Business School (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) represents another milestone in NUGSB’s mission to provide world-class education that bridges East and West. The programme will give students a unique opportunity to gain international exposure, study across regions, and build networks in both Central Asia and Asia-Pacific — preparing a new generation of globally minded business leaders.
Through these partnerships, research excellence, and expanding educational portfolio, NUGSB continues to play a pivotal role in driving business and economic transformation across Central Asia.
Read the full article in AMBA & BGA’s Business Impact magazine, Issue 5 (2025).