From September 2024 to September 2025, IITU Professor and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Cybersecurity, Shakirt Makilenov, completed a research internship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, USA) under the state program “500 Bolashaq Scholars” in the field of Management in Information and Communication Technologies.

UIUC is one of the leading research universities in the United States. The campus is renowned for its strong programs in engineering, information technology, and data science, as well as advanced research centers, including the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). The center plays a key role in the development of high-performance computing and serves as a hub for international scientific projects.

During his internship, Shakirt Makilenov studied modern teaching methods, completed courses in blockchain technologies, web development, and academic writing, and conducted research on the design of a blockchain-based dual authentication system for medical organizations. His work resulted in two scientific publications, including one in an international peer-reviewed journal.

A key part of the internship was working with his mentor, Jim Basney, Director of the CILogon project at NCSA, where they discussed issues of authentication and medical data protection. In addition, he actively participated in seminars and workshops on cybersecurity, database design, and academic peer review.

The experience gained and the international collaborations established will help introduce advanced educational and research approaches in Kazakhstan and foster international cooperation in the field of information security..