Aigerim Balkhashbayeva from Kazakhstan, who studies Psychology in English at SWPS University, has won the INTERSTUDENT 2018 award, in the Undergraduate Studies category. The award recognizes international students, who build cross-cultural cooperation among students and their local communities in Poland. The Competition is organized by the Perspektywy Education Foundation, as part of the “Study in Poland” program.
Young Leader
Aigerim was 17-years old when she left Kazakhstan to study in Poland. She quickly made new friends at SWPS University, earned the trust of her colleagues and became a leader of many student initiatives. She also jumped at an opportunity to take on roles of various responsibility in numerous projects.
In July 2017, Aigerim led the student organizing committee for the 9th European IACCP Congress, which welcomed 400 participants from all continents. She was responsible for the development of the conference guides, information leaflets, registration and the helpdesk. She also spearheaded the organization of the International Days festival at SWPS University, which celebrated our multicultural community.
Aigerim also finds the time to get involved in student life. She has founded the International Student Integration Group at SWPS University. The Group provides a platform for international students to socialize by participating in various events, such as a Talent Show, Yoga Classes and charity events that benefit the local community. She is interested in the arts and has been active in the community theatre. Last year, she performed in Nie minęliśmy jeszcze wszystkiego, co można minąć [We haven’t passed everything that is there to pass], a play staged at Teatr Powszechny in Warsaw.
Aika is an exceptional person. Every organization she joins, regardless of the function she plays there, should be proud to have her in their ranks. I can easily imagine Aigerim as a Kazakh or an international leader in the near future.
Professor Paweł Boski, Head of the Department of Cross-Cultural Psychology
Academic Ambition
Aigierim’s ambition is to be the best student at SWPS University and she is keen on applying her newly gained knowledge in practice. In cooperation with StresLab, she produced a video clip promoting a smartphone application that enables patients and clients to use psychological interventions.
She is also very active in the Kazakh youth community in Poland. She has been leading various charitable projects organized in cooperation with Centrum Wspierania Aktywności Lokalnej C.A.L. [Center for the Support of Local Activists] – an activist organization supported by the municipality. Her efforts have been recognized by the Mayor of the South Praga District of Warsaw.
Interstudent 2018
Close to 100 international students from 30 higher education institutions in Poland were nominated for the 2018 Interstudent award. The nominees came from all over the world, including Afghanistan, Albania, Belarus, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Syria, Ukraine, the United States, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
In the ceremony that took place on January 29, 20018 in Gliwice, six students were awarded the INTERSTUDENT 2018 title for their outstanding achievements.
Interstudent Awards
The Interstudent awards recognize international students, who build cross-cultural cooperation and enrich Polish universities and the student community. The Competition is organized by the Perspektywy Education Foundation, as part of the “Study in Poland” program.
The Competition is organized under the auspices of Professor Jan Szmidt, President of Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP) and is address to international students, who study at Polish public and non-public higher education institutions, at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level, in programs offered in Polish and other languages.
Partners: Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, Students’ Parliament of the Republic of Poland and the National Representation of Graduate Students.