Our Team

Message from the DMU Kazakhstan President

I am delighted to welcome you to De Montfort University Kazakhstan (DMU Kazakhstan) – A UK university in the heart of Almaty, providing high-quality international global higher education locally, enabling our students to adapt in a changing world and to make a positive impact in their communities.

The potential of education to create change and make a positive impact is clear. Here at DMU Kazakhstan we look forward to being part of your journey.

- President Sakina Zafar

Sakina Zafar

President

DMU Kazakhstan is a partnership between EdPeritus UK and De Montfort University. And while DMU Kazakhstan is new, De Montfort University, the first British university to set up and deliver UK qualifications in Kazakhstan, has celebrated its 150th anniversary and has a track record of providing an international learning experience, allowing students to develop and fulfil their potential.

Kazakhstan has made significant steps in realising its ambition to lead international education development and transformation. We believe DMU Kazakhstan is well placed to provide additional support to these efforts.

Our values - teaching excellence, outstanding student experience, highest employability outcome, global mobility and making an impact are at the heart of everything that we do.

Choosing the right university is an important decision in a person’s life. The experience not only develops individuals academically and professionally, but students gain the knowledge, skills and experience to become confident global citizens able to adapt to a fast changing and developing world.

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Please meet Our Team

We take time and effort to recruit the very best people we can. At DMU Kazakhstan we want everyone who works with us to share our passion to encourage students to excel in their areas of interest both academically, professionally and personally. Our team is committed to working together whatever their role, to put the success of our students at the heart of everything we do.

Our Academic Team

Aizhan Doskozhanova

Kazakh History Lecturer

Associate Professor, PhD in Philosophy

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Other Education:

  • Master in Philosophy, 2009, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
  • Bachelor of Science in History, 2007, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

International Experience:

Jyvaskyla University (Finland), Minnesota (USA).

Ivan Bimbilovski

Head of Studies

PhD in Comparative Constitutional Law from Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

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Other Education:

  • Master of Laws in Comparative Constitutional Law from Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

International Experience:

Germany, Austria, Canada, USA, China, Thailand, North Macedonia

Benedict Potter

EAP Lecturer

MA (Hons) in Classics from the University of Edinburgh, UK

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Other Education:

  • Cert. TEFL from the University of Central Lancashire, UK
  • Currently studying a DELTA with Cambridge University, UK

International Experience:

fifteen years teaching, examining, and exam writing in Japan, China, Thailand, UK, Italy.

Faina Iasen

Program Leader | BA Graphic Design and Illustration

BA (Hons) Product design - University of Hertfordshire, UK

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Other Education:

  • Pre-Foundation Art & Design – British Higher School of Art and Design – Moscow, Russia
  • Foundation Art & Design – British Higher School of Art and Design – Moscow, Russia

International Experience:

UK, USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Ukraine, Dagestan – Freelance & contract Graphic and Industrial design.

Aigerim Tumenbay

Lecturer in Graphic Design & Illustration

BFA Illustration, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence RI, USA

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    International Experience:

    USA, Kazakhstan

Zhanar Bereketova

Lecturer in Graphic Design

BA (Hons) Graphic Design, University of Hertfordshire, UK

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Other Education:

  • Associate Fellowship, Advance HE, UK

International Experience:

UK, Russia, experience of international exhibitions (USA, Czech Republic, Brazil, Slovenia, Iran, Germany, Brazil, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria)

Saravana Balaji Balasubramanian

Lecturer, Data Analytics

Ph.D. in Information Science and Engineering

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Other Education:

  • Master of Engineering (Computer Engineering)
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Engineering)

International Experience:

Iraq, India

Liam Gormley

EAP Module Leader

MA Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching – University of Nottingham

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Other Education:

  • MA Language Testing – Lancaster University
  • Trinity DipTESOL
  • BA (Hons) Linguistics and English Language Teaching – University of Sussex

International Experience:

China, Vietnam, United Kingdom

Martin Hill

EAP Lecturer

MA in English Linguistics - Birmingham City University

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Other Education:

  • MBA - Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University
  • BA (Hons) Latin - Exeter University
  • Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language - Inlingua Cheltenham

International Experience:

United Kingdom, Taiwan, Japan, China, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, USA, Qatar, Greece

Muhammad Usman Zafar

Lecturer in Finance

PhD in Finance from University of Essex, UK

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Other Education:

  • Masters in Finance & Economics from University of East Anglia, UK
  • MBA from IIUI, Pakistan

International Experience:

United Kingdom, Pakistan

Adnane Derbani

Lecturer of Business

PhD in Management, Jenderal Soedirman University, Indonesia

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Other Education:

  • Master in International Marketing, University of the Littoral Opal Coast, France
  • Bachelor in Administration and Information Transmission, University of Paris-east Marne-la-Vallée, France

International Experience:

Morocco, France, Indonesia, Vietnam

Mikhail Bondarenko

Lecturer in Finance, Accounting and Business

Masters (MBA)

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Other Education:

  • M.B.A, Cranfield School of Management, 2011
  • M.A. in English Linguistics & Intercultural Communication, Moscow State Linguistic University, 2003

International Experience:

U.K., Russia.

Ramilison Emilli Monica

Program Leader - IYZ Art and Design

BA (Hons) Product Design

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Other Education:

  • Foundation Art & Design at British Higher School of Art & Design
  • BHSAD (University of Hertfordshire) - BA Product Design Student Fellow
  • BHSAD (University of Hertfordshire) - 3D Prototyping workshop Technician & Instructor
  • BHSAD (University of Hertfordshire) - Ceramic workshop Technician & Instructor
  • Make Fabrication Studio – Teens Product Design Camp – Lecturer & Instructor
  • ‘BERENDEY’ Cultural Center – Head of Product design department, Lecturer.

International Experience:

United States of America, Italy, Dagestan, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates.

Sara Tirone

EAP Lecturer

MA (Hons) Foreign Languages and Literature – University of Turin

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Other Education:

  • DELTA Module 1 – Cambridge University
  • DELTA Module 3 – English for Academic Purposes – Cambridge University

International Experience:

China, Italy, Thailand, UK

Simon Etherton

Head of Quality and Compliance

Director of Centre for English Language Learning

Masters in Education, TESOL. University of Exeter, UK.

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Other Education:

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education, TESL/EFL. Bangor University, UK
  • BA Hons from School of African and Asian Studies, University of Sussex, UK

International Experience:

United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Oman, India, Solomon Islands

Sunil Mutharaju Ramapura

Lecturer I IYZ, Computer Science, Cyber Security

Ph.D (Pursuing) – Internet of Things and Machine Learning, Srinivas University, India

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Other Education:

  • M.Tech – Computer Network Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, India
  • BE – Information Science and Engineering, Visvesvaraya Technological University, India
  • Diploma in Computer Science, Department of Technical Education, KA, India

International Experience:

Uganda, India.

Sameer

Lecturer I IYZ, Computer Science, Cyber Security

Master in Computer Application from Nalanda Open University, India

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Other Education:

  • Microsoft Certified : Azure Developer Associate certification, Oracle 12c Database Associate certification

International Experience:

Uganda, India.

Anass Karzazi

Lecturer in Marketing

PhD in Business Administration, Central European University, Austria

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Other Education:

  • • MBA, CEU Business School, Hungary, Diploma of Postgraduate Studies in Agrofood Marketing, IAMZ, Spain, Agronomy Engineer (MSc), IAV Hassan II, Morocco

International Experience:

• Hungary, Morocco

Luca Scaini

Lecturer in Marketing

PhD in Economic Sciences (Marketing and Economic Anthropology) from Unitelematica Leonardo Da Vinci, Switzerland

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Other Education:

  • FHEA in Education
  • DMBA in Digital Marketing, MA in Humanities, BA in Humanities, PGCERTs: Education, Business Administration, Innovative Marketing

International Experience:

Italy, China, Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, Iraq and Kurdistan, Ukraine, Russia, Japan

Alphons Voerman

Lecturer Business Courses

Masters in Business Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands & Masters in Marketing, University of Tilburg, The Netherlands

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Other Education:

  • Basic Qualification Didactic Competences Higher Education

International Experience:

• Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA

Mohamed Bayou

Senior Lecturer in Accounting

PhD in Management Accounting, University of Strathclyde, UK

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Other Education:

  • MSc in Accounting, University of New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
  • • CPA Australia - CPA Australia LTD (Certified Practicing Accountant)

International Experience:

UK, USA, UAE, Libya, Bahrain

Mohammad Sarshar

Lecturer in Law

Master of Laws from University of London

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Other Education:

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching

International Experience:

UK

Vladimir Martynenko

Lecturer in Finance

PhD in Economics from Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics, Russia

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Other Education:

  • Exchange Trader Examination - Frankfurt Wertpapierbörse
  • Securities & Investment Institute Level 3 Certificate in Investments (Securities) - Securities & Investments Institute (FCA - UK)

International Experience:

Singapore, Russia, UK, Germany

Rafael Ruiz Velasco Santacruz

Lecturer in Business

Master in Project Management from La Salle Ramon Llull University, Spain

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Other Education:

  • MBA from Asia School of Business in collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management, Malaysia

International Experience:

Germany, USA, Malaysia, Mexico, Argentina, Guatemala, Chile

Fatimah Piracha

Lecturer in Business

Master of Laws in International Legal Studies from the University of Bradford, UK

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Other Education:

  • GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP TEACHING PROGRAMME, UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD

International Experience:

UK, Pakistan

Professional Services Team

Anfissa Volkova

Lawyer

Anuar Serzhanuly

Finance Director

Manju Etherton

Head of Student and Academic Services.

Bekzat Baiguttinov

Head of Admissions Team

Yeldos Amangeldyyev

Head of Creative Team

Aliya Karbozova

Head of Methodology Compliance

Akmaral Oralbek

Head of HR Department

Maulen Zhussupov

Head of IT

De Montfort University Leicester - Management and Support Team

Ian Thomas

Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Business and Law, De Montfort University Leicester

Ian is a member of the Faculty Management Board and the Faculty Executive and Chairs the Faculty International and Faculty Collaborative Provision Boards. At institutional level, Ian is a member of the International Strategy Group, International Recruitment Committee, Global Partnership Advisory Group and the China Strategy Working Group.

Teaching experience has included delivering Management Skills and Managing People modules at postgraduate and undergraduate level as well as on undergraduate programmes overseas, mainly in partner Chinese universities, as a result of which Ian was made a Visiting Professor of Beijing City University in 2011.

Ian was also a Faculty Member of the Association of MBAs international Accreditation Panel between 2001 and 2013. This work involved assessing the quality of MBA and MSc provision at business schools in the UK, Europe and internationally.

After completing his MBA degree at Aberystwyth University in 1999. Ian then directed the postgraduate programmes and international strategies in the business schools at Aberystwyth University and Swansea University before joining DMU as Associate Dean, International in 2019.

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Washad Emambocus

Associate Professor in Enterprise, Faculty of Business and Law, De Montfort University Leicester

Dr Washad Emambocus is an Associate Professor in Enterprise and Departmental Resourcing Coordinator for Management and Entrepreneurship and Corporate and Apprenticeship.

He has more than 10 years’ experience in teaching areas in Management Science, Operations Management and Project Management. As a module leader, his teaching focus relates to Service Operations Management and Business Research and Analytics. Dr Washad Emambocus works in the development and planning of Corporate and Apprenticeship programmes at DMU. He is involved in client management and external network building.

Washad is an experienced coach and mentor and provided coaching and mentoring sessions to executives and managers at various organisations. He has around 5 years’ experience in Higher Education and executive coaching practice. He acquired his training from London South Bank University facilitated by ‘Graydin – coaching in Education’. Washad collaborated at embedding coaching in Higher Education and collaborated on a module for teaching coaching skills to undergraduate students.

The module specialised on equipping students with coaching skills relevant for their studies, career and personal growth.

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Nas Harrison

Associate Professor in Transnational Education, Faculty of Business and Law, De Montfort University Leicester

Following a successful career in Retail Management in London, Nas Harrison joined the Business & Law Faculty in 2009 as an associate lecturer in marketing. Over the years she has been teaching and leading marketing programmes, especially in areas of Customer Relationship Management and Retail Marketing.

In her current role as an Associate Professor in Transnational Education with the Faculty, she plays a vital role in the delivery and continued development of the Faculty and the institutional TNE growth strategy.

Nas is responsible for the innovative development and management of teaching and learning activities that cater to students from diverse and international backgrounds.

Nas is accountable for overseeing DMU courses' academic quality taught at TNE partners and ensuring that they align with Faculty and University strategic plans. She has extensive knowledge of TNE at an operational, academic and strategic level, as she has led and delivered large scale TNE projects for the Faculty.

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Richard Cross

Interim Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Media, De Montfort University Leicester

Dr Richard Cross’s research career has been focused on the growth of thin films for electronic devices such as thin film transistors (TFTs); mainly hydrogenated amorphous silicon and zinc oxide.

His main interests now lie in the novel growth of nanoscale materials. Of particular interest going forward will be exploring the nano-bio interface, i.e. interfacing directly nanoscale materials/devices with biological systems. Examples would be neuronal interfaces and structures for intracellular recording/biomarker detection.

He is member of Material Research Society and Emerging Technologies Research Centre (EMTERC).

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Dr Abdulaleem (Aleem) Al-Othmani

Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (TNE), Faculty of Engineering and Media, De Montfort University Leicester

Dr Abdulaleem Al-Othmani is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science (TNE) at De Montfort University. He is the programme manager for all APU/DMU dual award computing programmes.

Dr. Aleem received his BSc. degree in Computer Engineering from University of Baghdad, Iraq, in 2002; and his Master in Computer Science (Information Security) and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in 2010 and 2016 respectively.

Before joining De Montfort University in March 2021, he was a Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity and Software Engineering, and the Programme Coordinator for PhD and Master of IT at University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), and he also held a Lecturer position at Asia Pacific University (APU) in Malaysia.

His research interests include steganography, digital watermarking, data leak prevention, machine learning in cyber security, and speech signal processing. His recent externally funded project aims to develop a comprehensive framework for data leak prevention in Malaysian higher educational institutions using semantic analysis. Dr Aleem has supervised over 20 PhD and Master theses, and more than 50 Bachelor dissertations.

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Contact Us
  • +7 727 339 00 90 (Admissions)
  • +7 700 339 00 90 (Admissions)
  • +7 771 500 55 77 (WhatsApp)
  • officedmuk@dmuk.edu.kz (General Enquiries)
  • admissions@dmuk.edu.kz (Admission)
Location
  • Almaty City, Medeu District, 120/48, premises 4, Al-Farabi Ave., 050044, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
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