«Gold Apple» launches Kazakh language courses for employees in collaboration with KazNU
Beauty retailer Gold Apple has launched free Kazakh language courses for its employees. The educational program is implemented in partnership with the country's largest national university — Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU). Classes began in May. Gold Apple is the first company to invite a university to deepen Kazakh language knowledge among its staff.
Gold Apple has been operating in the Republic of Kazakhstan since 2022. The company follows a bilingual communication policy that fully complies with language legislation. Its customer service responds in the language the customer uses—both Kazakh and Russian. Consultations in all stores are available in both languages. Similarly, the retailer’s website and mobile app are accessible in Kazakh and Russian. The company will continue to promote bilingualism and integrate cultural values into its business processes, reinforcing its role as a socially responsible employer and a reliable partner in the Kazakh market.
The company employs around 1,300 people in Kazakhstan - its team consists of local citizens and natives of the country. An employee survey showed that only part of the staff believes they speak Kazakh well enough. Many native speakers noted that they mostly use the language in everyday contexts and need to improve their professional language skills. About half of the employees expressed a desire to participate in language courses to either learn Kazakh from scratch or improve their current level—provided the employer offers such an opportunity.
A KazNU specialist with a PhD and a background in philology has designed the course specifically for Gold Apple employees. The program consists of three stages: basics (pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary for daily communication), professional vocabulary and dialogues, and listening comprehension. In the future, an advanced-level course is planned.
Enrollment is voluntary and open to all interested employees. At the initial stage, the program is being tested on a small group to identify the most effective format for scaling. The retailer and university form groups of 10–15 students, ensuring personalized attention and a comfortable learning environment. Classes are held once a week online—an optimal solution considering the staff’s workload and the geographic distribution across different cities and regions in Kazakhstan.
Responsibility for successful learning lies with the participant—there are no strict requirements from the company. Those who wish to receive a certificate from the university must take monthly knowledge tests and pass a final exam upon completing the course.
