The Department of Microbiology and Virology named after Sh.I. Sarbasova at Astana Medical University has successfully completed the academic training of international students within the Academic Mobility Program and the SCOPE International Professional Exchange Program of the Kazakhstan Medical Students' Association (KazMSA), a member of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA).
The program brought together medical students from Türkiye and Taiwan, Zeynep Bozkus and Pin-Yu Yeh. During the summer semester, the training was conducted by Professor Gulzhan Assemova and Senior Lecturer, Master of Medicine Madina Botbayeva.
A specialized curriculum covering the core areas of microbiology and virology was developed for the participants. The program included the morphology and physiology of bacteria, infectious processes and immunity, bacterial and viral respiratory infections, intestinal infections, zoonotic diseases, and anaerobic infections.
Particular emphasis was placed on practical training. The students mastered modern microbiological laboratory techniques, including microscopy, inoculation of microorganisms onto culture media, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
An educational visit to the bacteriological laboratory of City Multidisciplinary Hospital №1 was an important component of the program. During the visit, the participants became familiar with the laboratory workflow, the cultivation of pathogenic bacteria, and modern methods of microbial identification using the VITEK automated system. The department sincerely expressed its gratitude to Dr. Saliya Bisimbayeva, bacteriologist and Candidate of Biological Sciences, for her informative lecture and practical demonstration of advanced laboratory diagnostic technologies.
Throughout the program, interactive teaching methods and teamwork were widely employed, fostering the development of participants' professional and communication skills while creating a supportive international learning environment.
At the end of the internship, the students shared highly positive feedback, highlighting the excellent organization of the training, the professionalism of the faculty members, and the warm hospitality they received. The participants expressed their sincere gratitude to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Medical University, and the Department of Microbiology and Virology named after Sh.I. Sarbasova for providing them with the opportunity to gain valuable academic knowledge and practical experience through this international exchange program.
