Aliya Kuantayeva

Sälemetsiz be. Hello. Hallo. Olá. Salut.

I opened with these warm greetings—in Kazakh, English, and the three native languages of our consortium universities—to introduce my journey.

My name is Aliya Kuantayeva, and I am from Kazakhstan. In 2020, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Language Education (English and German) from Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages in Almaty.

Growing up in an international school and completing an exchange program in South Carolina, USA, broadened my perspective early on. While in the U.S., I volunteered on a project on African-American history, collaborating with the International African American Museum in Charleston. This was the beginning of my passion for international exposure and cultural understanding.

Back in Kazakhstan, taking part in international fairs and conferences, assisting with organization and translation for African delegations in Astana and Almaty as a volunteer opened new doors for me too. My passion for African culture grew further as I became involved with the Afro Dance and Kizomba communities in Almaty back in 2019. Furthermore, being selected as a participant in an international program under the Iacocca Institute and Lehigh University in Pennsylvania further fueled my desire to gain new skills and knowledge through various and globally valuable projects in 12 African countries that immersed us, all the participants, in distinctive business and cultural environments letting us use and gain skills in entrepreneurship, leadership and development cooperation.

It is an honor and a gift to have been awarded the opportunity to pursue the European Interdisciplinary Master in African Studies (EIMAS) Degree. I chose EIMAS because of its multidisciplinary approach in various fields of study, offering a comprehensive understanding of Africa’s past, present, and future from different perspectives. The program allows me to study in different academic environments in Germany, Portugal and France, providing me with a global perspective to challenge misconceptions and contribute to a more nuanced and informed dialogue between Africa and the world. The strong EIMAS community has also enriched this journey, giving me both new amazing friends and invaluable connections.

My interests include education, culture, art, languages, international relations, policy making and development cooperation. With EIMAS as my foundation, I am eager to contribute to a more interconnected world where Africa’s significance is fully recognized.