Kazakh millionaire Berik Kaniyev and his wife have established a scholarship to study at Duke University in the U.S., allowing one citizen of Kazakhstan each year to complete their education at the Fuqua School of Business free of charge. Among the prominent graduates of the institution are Tim Cook, Melinda Gates and David Rubenstein.
The presentation of the Berik and Bayan Kaniyev Foundation and its eponymous scholarship took place at the library — bearing the name of Seraly Kaniyev, the businessman’s father, since 2024 — at the Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University. The new scholarship is intended to open the gates to one of the world’s leading universities. The choice was motivated by Kaniyev himself, who graduated from the Fuqua School of Business in 2005.
«I learned about the program from one of my American colleagues, whom I worked with. He highly recommended Duke, and after checking it out, I decided to enroll. The education was successful, and ever since, I have been actively keeping in touch with the university and its alumni,» Kaniyev said.
The event was also attended by alumni of other prestigious American schools. The guests included businesswoman Gaukhar Kapparova, the spouse of late tycoon Nurlan Kapparov, and Aika Alemi, director of the creative industry incubator.
In addition, Alemi is the first Kazakhstani in history to graduate from the Fuqua MBA program, in 1998. Today, tuition at the business school starts at $81,000. It is worth noting that the scholarship covers Master’s programs, not Bachelor’s.
«When admissions review applicants to top schools, they’re not just looking at intelligence, test scores or English proficiency. They’re looking for thrust — the drive that grows upward and forward. They’re looking for future ambassadors. You can find knowledge on Google, but the school wants you to stand on these stages and inspire other people to do great things later on,» Alemi said.
The Kaniyevs also emphasized that it is the university — not the foundation — that decides who receives the scholarship.
Berik Kaniyev is a Kazakh businessman and chairman of Lancaster Group. In 2024, he ranked 73rd in the list of the richest businessmen in Kazakhstan, according to Forbes, with his fortune then estimated at $64 million.
