PARTNERSHIPS
Yet, a foundation of mutual trust and commitment was just as important. Shared goals, regular engagement and transparent dialogue allowed the partnership to grow stronger over time and to weather the inevitable challenges of establishing a new institution in a dynamic environment. Adaptability to the local context was another essential ingredient. While drawing inspiration from Fuqua’s global models, faculty localised teaching materials and developed case studies that reflected Central Asian realities, ensuring immediate relevance for the region’s students and businesses. Together, these principles created a blueprint for cross-border collaboration that accelerated NUGSB’s maturity and laid the groundwork for its long-term sustainability. While next year marks the conclusion of NUGSB’s formal partnership with Fuqua, collaboration with the US institution will continue through joint research to sustain intellectual momentum. 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 that is set to offer students cross- regional opportunities. With its strong research base, growing alumni network and expanding portfolio of degree and executive education programmes, NUGSB is now positioned to fulfil its mission of reaching beyond education to prepare leaders, shape businesses and drive Central Asia’s economic and societal transformation. A case study in transformation NUGSB’s partnership with Fuqua is a compelling demonstration of how an intentional and carefully planned collaboration can create lasting impact. In just over a decade, what began as a bold experiment has evolved into a research-driven, internationally accredited business school with its own identity and a growing global reach. From programme design and governance to teaching methods and research culture, the Fuqua influence remains woven into NUGSB’s foundations, yet the school has matured into an institution capable of charting its own course. As NUGSB looks ahead to new partnerships and innovations, its journey offers an instructive lesson for the global AMBA & BGA community: that the true measure of a successful collaboration is not perpetual dependence, but the ability of the new institution to stand confidently on its own and – ultimately – to join the ranks of global partners in its own right.
Jozef (Joep) Konings is dean of Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business (NUGSB) in Astana, Kazakhstan. Trained at the London School of Economics, Konings has held appointments at universities in Europe and the US and served as adviser to the former president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, during the global financial crisis. His published research has focused on international finance, firm dynamics and globalisation
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Business Impact • ISSUE 5 • 2025
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