Where to study to get into Big Tech — programs and opportunities at Digital College

Yerasyl Mamyrbekov, Director of Digital College

What is Digital College

Digital College is a modern IT college established on the basis of the Almaty College of Communications. Our educational program combines the technical heritage of the institution with current digital skills. We believe that this approach helps prepare students for the real challenges of the market.

We focus on practice-oriented learning, a project-based environment, and a flexible educational track. Students can choose their IT specialization from their first year and further develop through real-world cases: classes are conducted in the format of workshops, team assignments, and project sessions. Instead of traditional grades, students build a portfolio.

Thus, students have the opportunity to develop their own projects with mentor support and funding opportunities, as well as build their career paths through internships and the career center while still studying.

Our goal is to give young people the opportunity to understand themselves, consciously choose a profession, and become a sought-after specialist or entrepreneur in the digital environment. We strive not just to teach, but to support learners throughout their entire journey: from the first year to their first income, job offer, or startup launch.

Digital College Educational Programs

First and second years: basic training and immersion into digital professions

At the beginning, students study 10 key IT directions, gaining a general understanding of opportunities in the digital world. This gives them the chance to try themselves in different fields and consciously choose their future specialization. Among the directions are:

— programming
— UI/UX design
— Data Science and analytics
— Game Development
— mobile development
— DevOps and automation
— Product Management
— Digital Marketing
— basics of AI and machine learning
— cybersecurity.

Third year: in-depth study of a specialization

In the third year, students can choose one direction to study it more deeply. Alongside this, emphasis is placed on developing soft skills: teamwork, project thinking, time management, and creative approaches to problem-solving.

Fourth year: career, startup, or study abroad

The final year focuses on the practical application of knowledge:
— internships in IT companies
— development of a personal project with funding opportunities
— support for admission to foreign universities.

Learning is conducted in a project-based format, involving experts and team practice.

If we talk about what distinguishes Digital College from other educational institutions, it is the practice-oriented approach:

— 70% of learning is practice, 30% is theory
— courses are taught by active IT specialists and entrepreneurs
— there are official partners: Apple & Authorized Training Center and Samsung Campus
— support for student startups at all stages
— a unique neuro-profiling program
— modern infrastructure.

It is important to note that Digital College has received state accreditation in Kazakhstan. All graduates receive a state-recognized diploma of secondary technical education, as well as certificates in the studied IT directions.

Additionally, students can undergo certification from leading global IT companies such as Meta, Microsoft, Cisco, Figma, Unity, Adobe, and others. These documents can be added to resumes or online profiles and further increase the chances of employment in large companies.

We help students at all stages of certification preparation — providing recommendations, educational materials, and mock tests.

About the new direction

Recently, we launched the Digital Premium program — a new, enhanced program for students who want not just to study, but to gain real experience, build a portfolio, and enter the career track during their studies.

We are proud to have created an educational environment of a new level, as close as possible to the conditions of the IT industry. We want it so that graduates do not search for jobs, but employers search for them.

Who is Digital Premium suitable for:
— students who are looking for their calling and want practice, not abstract theory
— teachers who want to implement modern teaching methods
— companies interested in preparing young specialists.

Cooperation within the project may be interesting for:
— IT companies and startups
— HR agencies and recruiters
— product managers and AI experts
— career guidance specialists
— educational platforms and EdTech experts.

We are looking for new teachers and mentors who share the philosophy of a practice-oriented approach and are ready to share knowledge with the next generation of IT specialists.

We would be glad to see among our partners everyone who shares our values and wants to develop the field of digital education.

Partnerships and international cooperation

We are also building a network of partners in Kazakhstan and abroad to provide students with access to exchange programs, double degrees, internships, and further study overseas. Agreements are already in place with a number of international universities, including: Coventry University, UK; Instituto Marangoni, Italy; Anhui International Business College, China; Hebei Art Institute, China; Xiamen University, China; and others.

We also have partnership agreements with a number of local companies where students complete internships and practical training.

And we continue to look for partners in Kazakhstan and beyond — companies that can provide internships and practical training, share real tasks in the format of mentoring, conduct guest lectures, and participate in the development of educational cases.

Opportunities for students

At Digital College, we create an environment where students develop as professionals and individuals. From the first year, neuro-profiling is conducted. Students participate in hackathons, competitions, international exchanges, and online programs, receive assistance with admission abroad and international certification.

The infrastructure of Digital College is not just traditional classrooms, but a modern digital environment, fully adapted to the needs of the new generation of students. The educational process takes place in iMac classrooms and conference halls. In the new student dormitory, Apple and Samsung laboratories will open. Soon, a coworking zone for work outside the schedule and project implementation will become operational. Each floor has chill zones, and the campus features a coffee shop, cafeteria, and studios for filming and product testing. Access is via a Face ID system.

We strive to build a sustainable network of career partners so that every Digital College graduate has the opportunity to start their career as quickly and effectively as possible.

On August 5, an open lecture by Dana Shayakhmet — an expert in the field of the creative economy — will take place. The topic of the lecture is: “What to be in the world of creativity and IT?” Participants will receive career guidance using a neuro-tracker and a personal consultation on choosing a profession.
To register, please write to Instagram.