Nygmet Ibadildin is a Ph.D. in Political Science and International Relations and Head of the Department of International Relations and Regional Studies. He has held teaching and research positions at Colgate University, KIMEP University, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). His fields of specialization are international relations, international political economy and emerging markets and powers. Vladimir Ryzhkov is a Candidate of Historical Sciences and a professor at the Institute of International Relations of Almaty Management University (AlmaU) in Almaty. Previously, he served as a deputy of the State Duma of Russia (1994–2007), and was a professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow and at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. His areas of specialization include contemporary Russian history, the political system, federalism, and international relations. He is the author of many books on this topic.