Report on the Visit of D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University Delegation to UCL Institute of Archaeology
Report on the Visit of D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University Delegation to UCL Institute of Archaeology
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The UCL Institute of Archaeology (IoA) had the pleasure of hosting a high-level delegation from D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, Kazakhstan, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international research collaboration between the United Kingdom and Central Asia. The visit was motivated by the internationally visible research activities and recent discoveries generated by the DREAM project — Discovering the (R)Evolution of Eurasian Metallurgy: Social and Environmental Impact of the Bronze Age Steppes Metal-Driven Economy — hosted at University College London.
The DREAM project is a major interdisciplinary research initiative focused on the Bronze Age of the Eurasian steppes, with a particular emphasis on Kazakhstan. Through long-term fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and close collaboration with local partners, the project has significantly advanced understanding of Bronze Age metallurgical economies, social organisation, and mobility patterns across Central Eurasia.
Among the most significant outcomes of this collaborative research are new insights into the so-called nomadic city of Semiyarka, a large and complex Bronze Age settlement that challenges traditional models of steppe mobility and urbanism. In parallel, joint research on Bronze Age tin-bronze workshops in Kazakhstan has brought to light exceptionally rare and globally important evidence for early tin metallurgy, positioning Kazakhstan as a key region for understanding the emergence and circulation of bronze technologies worldwide.
DREAM Project members, the Director of the Institute of Archaeology, and the DeVice-Dean of Global Engagement meet with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of CulSchience and Higher Education representatives and faculty from D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University.
Delegations and High-Level Representation
The visiting Kazakh delegation reflected the strategic importance of this partnership and included senior leadership and ministerial representation:
Saule Rakhmetullina, Chairman of the Board and Rector, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
Samgat Yermekbayev, First Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and Strategic Development, and Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Zhadyra Konurbayeva, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation
Ulan Nessipkaliyev, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development
Aidos Kamatayev, Acting Head of the International Cooperation Office
Alibek Razakov, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The presence of senior university leadership alongside ministerial representation was warmly welcomed and underscored Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to expanding international research partnerships, capacity building, and scientific diplomacy.
UCL Delegation
The UCL delegation included:
Professor Pushpa Arabindoo, Vice-Dean (Global Engagement), Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences, Associate Professor
Professor Kevin MacDonald, Director, UCL Institute of Archaeology
Dr Miljana Radivojević, Principal Investigator of the DREAM project, Associate Professor
Dr Atena Ungureanu, DREAM Project Fellow
Dr Chris Stevens, DREAM Project Fellow
James Pang, Building Manager, UCL IoA
Dr Miljana Radivojević and Professor Kevin MacDonald, Institute of Archaeology
Ulan Nessipkaliyev and Zhadyra Konurbayeva, D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
Alibek Razakov, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Strategic Dialogue and Memorandum of Understanding
Formal discussions centred on the future development of collaborative research, teaching, and training activities. Professor Pushpa Arabindoo emphasised UCL’s strategic commitment to Asia as a core component of its global engagement agenda, highlighting the importance of sustained scholarly exchange, co-created research agendas, and the mobility of early-career researchers and students.
A key milestone of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UCL Institute of Archaeology and D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University. The MoU establishes a framework for expanded cooperation, including:
Joint research within the DREAM project activities
Co-organised summer schools and specialist training programmes
Collaborative dissemination through conferences and publications
Professor Kevin MacDonald and Dr. Saule Rakhmetullina signing the Memorandum of Understanding
Professor Kevin MacDonald and Dr. Saule Rakhmetullina signing the Memorandum of Understanding
Professor Kevin MacDonald and Dr. Saule Rakhmetullina with the gift from D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
Professor Kevin MacDonald and Dr. Saule Rakhmetullina with the gift from D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
Laboratory Tour and Future Research Plans
Following the MoU signing, the delegation was given a guided tour of the UCL Institute of Archaeology’s laboratories. During the visit, DREAM project researcher fellows demonstrated how archaeological materials from Kazakhstan are analysed using state-of-the-art scientific techniques, including metallurgical, archaeometric, and environmental methods. These discussions highlighted the value of integrated field-to-lab workflows and the importance of shared standards and protocols in international research.
A particularly exciting outcome of the visit was the agreement in principle to co-organise an international conference on Bronze Age tin and early metallurgy, proposed to take place in Ust-Kamenogorsk (Ust-Kam) in 2027. This event is envisioned as a flagship outcome of the DREAM project, bringing together scholars from Kazakhstan, Europe, and beyond to address one of the most pressing questions in Eurasian archaeology: the origins, organisation, and circulation of tin bronze technologies.
The significance of the visit and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding was also formally recognised at the national level in Kazakhstan. News of the agreement and the high-level discussions held at UCL was published on the official website of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, underscoring the strategic importance of this partnership for international research collaboration and academic exchange.
🔗 https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/sci/press/news/details/1143948?lang=ru
The meeting was also featured on DK News, an international news agency registered with the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan. You can read the article here:
🔗 https://dknews.kz/ru/dk-life/381357-uchenye-kazahstana-i-velikobritanii-obedinyayutsya
It was also features on The Astana times, a leading English-language online news platform based in Kazakhstan, focusing on political, economic, and business news for international audiences, diplomats, and expats. You can read the article here:
The visit marked a significant step forward in deepening collaboration between UCL Institute of Archaeology and D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University. It reinforced shared research priorities, mutual trust, and a strong commitment to long-term partnership. Building on existing successes, including groundbreaking discoveries such as Semiyarka and the study of Bronze Age tin workshops, both institutions expressed enthusiasm for expanding cooperation in research, training, and international knowledge exchange.
The DREAM project continues to act as a catalyst for these developments, demonstrating how sustained collaboration can generate globally significant discoveries while strengthening institutional and scholarly ties across regions.
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