Auezov South Kazakhstan University

Auezov South Kazakhstan University (SKU), also known as Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University, is a multidisciplinary higher educational institution in the city of Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Auezov South Kazakhstan University was founded in 1943 as the Shymkent Teachers' Institute. The institute was established to meet the need for qualified teachers in the region during World War II. In 1956, the institute was renamed the Shymkent Pedagogical Institute.

In 1970, the institute was granted university status and renamed the Shymkent State Pedagogical Institute. In 1993, the university was renamed the South Kazakhstan State University. In 2001, the university was named after the eminent Kazakh writer and social activist Mukhtar Omarkhanuli Auezov.

Over the years, Auezov South Kazakhstan University has grown into one of the leading universities in Kazakhstan.

SKU has played a significant role in the development of the South Kazakhstan region. The university has produced many graduates who have gone on to become successful leaders in business, government, and academia. SKU is also a major center for research and innovation in the region.

Auezov South Kazakhstan University is ranked as the #4 top university in Kazakhstan during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.