AY Digital Academy

Product Design: From Junior to Middle

690 000 ₸

Allocated 2 Quotas

About course

This course helps junior designers with 1–2 years of experience transition to middle level through developing product thinking, UX research skills and design systems expertise. Participants study interview moderation, hypothesis validation, CJM creation, metrics analysis, AI-powered prototyping and teamwork practices. The program is focused on practical work with real cases throughout the course. Students learn to argue design decisions through data, conduct critique sessions, defend solutions to product managers and prepare documentation for developers. By the end of the course, each participant creates 2-3 strong product cases with a full cycle from research to prototype, prepares a middle-level portfolio and completes mock interviews with real questions to prepare for interviews at product companies.

Special condition

Student Selection Criteria: The selection process is conducted online and includes SHL-style numerical and verbal reasoning tests, a motivation questionnaire, and a 1–2 minute video presentation. Each SHL block includes 20 questions to be completed within 20 minutes; the minimum passing threshold is 50% for each block. Tech Orda vouchers are distributed based on the final ranking: priority is given to candidates with the highest overall results across the tests, completed motivation questionnaire, and video presentation. Special Conditions: Students admitted under the Tech Orda grant do not pay the difference between the voucher amount and the course price listed on the website. Upon enrollment, students pay a refundable guarantee deposit of 100,000 KZT, which serves as a motivational mechanism during the learning process. The deposit is refunded if the student successfully completes the course with an average score of at least 85%, successfully defends the final case project, and receives the Astana Hub certificate. Students from the Waiting List may be admitted if places become available or through the school’s internal 100% grant; the same guarantee deposit, refund conditions, and refund timelines apply to them, except for the requirement to obtain the Astana Hub certificate. All conditions are fixed in the public offer and the learning agreement before the start of the course.

Course details

level

For beginner

Study format

Online

Entrance exams

Duration, in weeks

Education language

Russian

Qualifications

middle

Skills

Conducting UX research and interview moderation; hypothesis validation through CustDev and CJM creation; working with metrics (AARRR, retention, North Star) and arguing decisions through data; prototyping using AI tools (Figma Make, v0, Claude); working with design systems and documentation for developers; teamwork (grooming, critique sessions, solution defense); using AI for interview analysis, idea generation and accelerating the design process; preparing a middle-level portfolio and presenting cases to stakeholders.

FAQ

What is the Tech Orda program?
- Tech Orda is a human capital development program in the field of IT. The program provides subsidized tunding for the training of IT specialists in private schools of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Where will the selection of candidates for training take place?
- Acceptance and processing of applications will take place at the showcase of IT schools at astanahub.com portal.
What are the requirements for candidates?
- The basic requirements for candidates include citizenship of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the age limit from 18 to 45 years. Additional requirements depend on the IT-school / IT-company and the course you choose. It is mandatory to read all the conditions before applying for training.
How much does the training cost?
- The amount of funding per person is up to 500,000 KZT. If the training is conducted in an offline format, the program covers up to 500,000 KZT, and if the cost exceeds this amount, the student pays the difference. For online or hybrid training, the program covers up to 400,000 KZT, and if the cost is higher, the remaining amount is paid by the student. If the tuition fee is below the established limits (500,000 KZT for offline or 400,000 KZT for online/hybrid), the program covers it in full.
How long does the quota training under the Tech Orda program last?
- The training will take place from 6 months or more, depending on the Course and the IT-school you plan to enroll in.
How many IT schools participate in the program?
- The list of all IT schools is available on the showcase of IT schools at astanahub.com portal.
How many applications can I submit?
- Candidates can only apply for 5 (five) Participants of the Program.
How many scholarships/quotas can a candidate receive under the Program?
- The candidate can only study 1 (one) once within the framework of the Program. There is one exception: A student can get training in 2 (two) Courses during the duration of the Program, only provided that one takes Courses that are pre- and post-prerequisites to each other from the same Participant of the Program (IT school/IT company). For example, if you first study for a Junior Web Developer at School X in 2023 and then apply for a Middle Web Developer at the same school X in 2024.
Can a student who has completed a quota training under the Program in 2023-2024 apply again?
- A student can get training in 2 (two) Courses during the duration of the Program, only provided that one takes Courses that are pre- and post-prerequisites to each other from the same Participant of the Program (IT school/IT company).
If I studied with a Program Participant in 2023 (IT schools/IT companies), but was on the waiting list, can I apply now?
- Yes, you can. However, we recommend that you contact the Program Participant (where you have completed education) to confirm your status on the waiting list within the Program.
Is there an opportunity for a student to transfer from one IT school to another, which is also a Participant of the Tech Orda program?
- As soon as the candidate confirms his choice to apply for a grant at a certain IT-school, there is no possibility to transfer to another school. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you consider all available options before making a decision on accepting/rejecting a grant within the framework of the Program.
Should Candidates who have received a quota work out after training?
- No, such counter obligations are not provided for by Astana Hub. Other conditions may be regulated in the contract between the IT-school and the student.
Can I opt out of studying during the learning process? Is there a penalty if I don't complete the training?
- The conditions depend on the specific IT school/IT company you choose. In the school card on the showcaseof IT-schools at astanahub.com portal, there is a special 'Special conditions' section where this information can be indicated. Also, we recommend that you contact the IT school directly and find out about all the terms of the contract.
Can I study at the same time in an IT-company (EPAM) and an IT-school as part of the Program?
- No, within the framework of the Program, you can study at only one IT-school or IT-company.