D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) has officially opened the “SMART Driving Technology” Engineering Center, marking a new stage in the development of the Lubán Workshop, a flagship project of international cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the field of engineering education.
Since its establishment, the Lubán Workshop has evolved beyond a traditional training facility into a modern educational and innovation hub focused on preparing specialists for the future automotive industry. Today, students from Kazakhstan and other countries study here, mastering technologies related to electric vehicles, hybrid powertrains, intelligent transport systems, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving. The opening of the SMART Driving Technology Center strengthens this technological ecosystem by expanding access to advanced equipment, including next-generation hybrid and electric vehicles, autonomous driving platforms, AR/VR-based simulation systems, and digital twin technologies.
During the opening ceremony, Gulzat Izbasarovna Kobenova, Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized that the new center directly addresses the priorities set by the Head of State:
“In the Presidential Address ‘Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,’ special emphasis is placed on accelerating the development of unmanned and smart transport technologies. The opening of this center is an important step toward building a national network of technological competencies. East Kazakhstan has a strong engineering tradition, and EKTU demonstrates a successful integration of education, science, and innovation. The center develops future-oriented competencies and prepares specialists who are in demand both domestically and internationally.”
An official congratulatory message was also delivered by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the message, the Ambassador of China noted:
“The Lubán Workshop is a significant outcome of international cooperation in vocational and engineering education. Kazakhstan has become the country with the largest number of Lubán Workshops worldwide. The establishment of an engineering center at EKTU reflects the deepening partnership between our two countries. We hope that the workshop will implement advanced Chinese educational standards and train young professionals who meet the demands of the times, contributing to technological exchange and the Belt and Road Initiative. We sincerely wish the workshop continued success and express confidence in the enduring friendship between China and Kazakhstan.”
The establishment of the SMART Driving Technology Center elevates the Lubán Workshop project to a new level. The center will serve not only as a platform for education and research but also as the foundation for the first certification center in Kazakhstan for automotive industry specialists, strengthening the country’s human capital and creating conditions for the adoption of advanced transport technologies.
The opening of the center is the result of joint efforts by EKTU, international partners, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and industry representatives. The center will contribute to the advancement of engineering education and the development of intelligent transport systems, fostering a new generation of specialists capable of addressing the challenges of Kazakhstan’s technological transformation.
