Tech Orda. How the program works and who can become its participant

Alya Baltabaeva, city — Astana, Head Manager of the Astana Hub Financing Programs Office

About Me

I am the Head Manager of the Astana Hub Financing Programs Office. The Tech Orda program has been running for three years, and applications are currently open for participation.

My experience in the field of education and innovation is about 15 years. Currently, I am involved in monitoring and processing applications for the program.

About the Program

The Tech Orda program was launched in 2021. Over this time, approximately 10,000 people have completed the training. It is designed for all citizens of Kazakhstan aged 18 to 45. This is a state initiative that allows individuals to master IT fields and gain new knowledge. The program is suitable for both students and professionals who wish to develop and build a career in IT.

Special attention is paid to such relevant areas as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. A distinctive feature of Tech Orda is the state grant of 400,000 tenge: participants independently choose an online school, submit an application, and complete the training free of charge — without obligations, repayment requirements, or refunds. Over the years of operation, the program has shown high results: graduates gain valuable contacts, meet the IT community and instructors, participate in Astana Hub events, and become more competitive in the market. Many find employment in the public sector or business, while some launch their own startups.

Applications are accepted until September 21. The age limit is from 18 to 45 years. The grant is provided once and only for one course.

To participate, you need to create a personal account, obtain an electronic digital signature, and submit up to five applications simultaneously. Next, a three-stage selection process takes place, which lasts about 15 days: first, application moderation, then contact with schools — interviews or requests for additional information. All notifications are sent to the personal account and via email. Candidates can accept the grant, join the waiting list, or decline the course.

The grant covers up to 400,000 tenge for online or hybrid learning and up to 500,000 tenge for offline format. Candidates can receive invitations from multiple schools at once. In this case, it is important to prioritize and choose the most suitable course. Each round lasts two to three days. If a candidate agrees to study at one school, the other applications move to the waiting list.

All information about applications, schools, and courses is available on the Astana Hub website, as well as in the program's Telegram channel.

IT Schools and Directions

Astana Hub announces the recruitment of schools, after which a set of selection criteria is applied.

The school must have a developed syllabus, educational space, and necessary conditions for teaching.
A qualified teaching staff is important.
If the school already has a track record, graduate outcomes are taken into account.

Next, a special commission evaluates the school according to established criteria, makes a decision, and accredits it. Only after accreditation can the school participate in the competition for quotas.

Selection and Training Process

The selection by Astana Hub does not involve strict requirements for professional experience. The main condition is to be a citizen of Kazakhstan and be between the ages of 18 and 45. At the same time, each school has its own minimum requirements: this is not IELTS or other international tests, but an interview at the beginning of training or quota testing. These are the two main methods of knowledge verification to receive the grant.

Special education or IT experience is not required. The program is designed for beginners and aims to provide new knowledge and motivate professional growth.

You can apply to multiple schools and programs at once. To do this, you need to create a personal account on the Astana Hub website, review the terms, and select up to five most interesting courses. The grant is awarded for only one course — the one that will be your priority.

Students receive support throughout the entire training. A strong and competitive IT community is formed, which is confirmed by graduate reviews. Job fairs are also held with the participation of leading companies, which invite graduates after completing the program. There are successful examples of participants who completely changed their profession and moved into IT.

Results and Figures

Currently, approximately 10,000 people have completed the program. The program has been operating since 2021, and the employment rate of graduates is about 88%.

The dynamics of graduates' salaries are also monitored. Practice shows that those who already had professional experience and upgraded their skills through the Tech Orda program demonstrate particularly good results. Participants gain more confidence in their abilities, better understand their strengths, and become more attractive to employers. According to the program data, the average salary of graduates is around 500,000 tenge per month.

Future of the Program

We are ready to continue development, follow modern trends in IT, education, and innovation, and form a pool of schools and practice-oriented courses in accordance with market demands. Our goal is to increase human capital and the level of knowledge in the IT field, so forecasts for the program remain positive.

As for the expansion of quotas, there is no exact answer yet. However, it can be said that in the future, the focus will most likely be on artificial intelligence and other in-demand specialties needed by the market, large companies, and stakeholders. An increase in the number of courses and an expansion of their content are expected.