More Than Studies: Finding Growth at KTU

Second-year Communications and Information Management Technologies student Birganym Igissinova from Kazakhstan chose KTU when she was transferring from her previous university and looking for a stronger environment with quality education. What began as a search for stronger studies eventually became a journey of professional and personal growth.

“For me, education was never only about attending lectures and passing exams. I wanted it to provide experiences, new perspectives, growth, and the ability to apply knowledge in real life. And I found all of it at KTU,” says Birganym.

According to Birganym, one of the things she appreciates the most about KTU is that the university encourages innovativeness and cultivates a flexible, curious, and contemporary mindset.

Internship in Influencer Marketing

Communication and Information Management Technologies studies helped Birganym discover her interest in marketing and strategic communication. She realised that nowadays marketing is no longer just about promoting a product, but has become deeply connected to people’s behaviours, decisions, and everyday lives.

Her passion for communication started in high school, where she actively participated in public speaking during different events. Over time, she began paying closer attention not only to what people communicate, but also to how they do it.

“I liked the challenge of finding the right words, structure, and tone to make people truly listen and reflect,” she remembers.

Currently, Birganym is completing an internship in influencer marketing at a P2P investment platform. Her main responsibility is attracting private investors through collaborations with influencers from different European countries.

“This experience is especially valuable because it allows me to see how marketing works in a real business environment,” says Birganym.

During her studies, she has gained a deeper understanding of how communication can be applied not only in social sciences, but also in science, technology, and business.

“Although communication studies may initially seem broad, I think this is exactly what makes them valuable because they equip students with multiple perspectives,” she says.

Birganym also highlights that the programme combines both creativity and analytical thinking – students learn to conduct both qualitative and quantitative research, analyse markets, and apply insights when presenting products or ideas to specific audiences.

“All the knowledge, along with other opportunities such as exchange programs and internships, will certainly help me build a career in marketing,“ Birganym is convinced.

Exchange in Cyprus, One of the Many Opportunities

Birganym emphasises that teachers, study programme coordinators, and fellow students at KTU create an environment full of opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Remembering her exchange at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, Birganym notes that it was academically easier to study in Cyprus than at KTU, and this allowed her to be more socially active and engage with other students outside classes.

“What surprised me most in Cyprus was not only the climate or lifestyle, but also the pace and style of communication between people,” says Birganym. She noticed how relaxed the overall pace of life felt in Cyprus and how students interacted more openly and spontaneously.

A Semester in Spain Lies Ahead

Alongside studies, there was a strong focus on social life, with many events and activities happening throughout the week. “It felt like there was a good balance between studying and actually enjoying the experience of living there,” says Birganym.

“The media and marketing industry there is highly developed, so I would be really happy to study there, while also exploring many beautiful cities of such an amazing and vibrant country,” she says.

Birganym loves travelling because it allows her to discover new places and meet new people. “I feel like each new country is a new chapter in my life, full of new stories, emotions, and perspectives,” she reflects.

For students afraid of going on academic exchange, Birganym has simple advice – do not overthink it, just go: “This is the kind of experience that is truly “once in a lifetime” in your student years. You will never again be exactly this version of yourself: a young student with the freedom and flexibility to travel to a new country and study in another university.”