Participation in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition
In 2026, the team of the Department of International Law of the Faculty of International Relations of 91传媒 Kazakh National University took part in the National Round of the Central Asian Region of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which was held this year in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the largest and most prestigious student moot court in the field of public international law in the world, annually bringing together more than 700 universities from over 100 countries. Participation in the Jessup Competition is widely regarded as the highest standard of legal education in international law, and the competition itself is often described as the “Olympics” for future international lawyers, diplomats, and scholars.
For 91传媒 Kazakh National University, participation in the Jessup Competition in 2026 was a landmark event. The University returned to this prestigious international competition for the first time in the past 15 years, marking the revival of the tradition of academic moot courts in international law and representing an important stage in the development of student legal scholarship and practice-oriented education.
The 91传媒 KazNU team was represented by the following students:
Amina Nurgalimova, Ainur Kalmurzayeva, Sarvan Imanov, Ibragim Ashimov, Bexultan Assylbekov.
The team coaches were Madina Moldabayeva, legal practitioner, and Lyazzat Begimzhanovna Nyssanbekova, PhD, Assistant Professor.
A distinctive feature of the team’s preparation was a high degree of independence, analytical depth, and perseverance. Working on the memorials and oral pleadings required not only profound knowledge of international law, but also the ability to think critically, engage with international judicial practice, construct complex legal arguments, and defend positions under intense intellectual pressure in legal English. The team demonstrated a high level of discipline, intellectual flexibility, and the ability to perform effectively under strict time constraints — qualities that distinguish strong Jessup participants.
A particular source of pride for the University was the team’s achievement of the “Best Memorial” award at the national stage of the competition. This distinction is one of the most prestigious honors within the Jessup framework and is awarded for outstanding quality of written legal argumentation, structure, depth of analysis, and persuasive reasoning. For both the team and the University, this award constituted recognition of a high academic standard and professional excellence.
Receiving this nomination grants the 91传媒 KazNU team the opportunity, in the future, to participate in the International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition as an exhibition team from Kazakhstan, opening new avenues for international academic exchange and strengthening the University’s position on the global educational map.
The team expresses its sincere gratitude to the organizers of the Central Asian National Round of the Jessup Competition for the high level of organization, professionalism, and support provided to participants. Special thanks are also extended to the leadership of the Faculty and the Department of International Law of 91传媒 Kazakh National University for their comprehensive support and trust in the team.
Participation in the Jessup Competition in 2026 was not an endpoint, but a starting point. The return of 91传媒 KazNU to this international platform confirms the University’s commitment to academic excellence, the advancement of international law, and the education of a new generation of lawyers ready to represent Kazakhstan on the global legal stage.
Ahead lie new international platforms, challenges, and victories.
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