Business Council 2026

The 7th Annual Business Council Meeting of the School of Liberal Arts at Maqsut Narikbayev University brought together representatives of leading organisations and industry stakeholders, including Hilton Astana, Astana Tourism Development Center LLP, Quantum STEM School, Quantum Tech School, the Sh. Shayakhmetov National Scientific and Practical Center “Til-Qazyna”, the Diplomatic Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev University, Kaz Conference LLP, the University Medical Center Corporate Fund, Samruk Business Academy, the Clover Foundation Public Fund, and other prominent industry stakeholders.

In her opening remarks, MNU Provost Anar Ibrayeva highlighted key developments shaping today’s labour market, emphasizing the growing impact of automation and artificial intelligence on professional environments. She also noted the university’s strong performance in the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs ranking across a number of academic programmes.

Sergey Pen, Deputy Chairman of the MNU Management Board for Science, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence, presented the university’s vision for the digital transformation of education. He outlined MNU’s strategic focus on integrating artificial intelligence across the educational ecosystem, advancing the “AI + X + Real-World Practice” model, and implementing a shuttle learning approach designed to ensure continuous interaction between academic learning and practical experience.

The Director of the School of Liberal Arts, Zhamilya Bopurova, presented the school’s recent achievements and introduced new interdisciplinary academic programmes aimed at equipping students with the competencies required in a rapidly changing world:

• Linguistics (TESOL) and Translation Technologies, formed from the merger of the Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies programmes;
• Management in Tourism and Hospitality, formed from the merger of the Tourism and Hospitality programmes.

The meeting also featured an awards ceremony recognising outstanding partners for their contribution to academic excellence and student development. Organisations were honoured with the awards:

• Strategic Partner of the Year
• Best Internship Placement Partner
• New Partner – New Horizons

MAQSUT NARIKBAYEV UNIVERSITY expresses its sincere appreciation to all participants of the 7th Annual Business Council Meeting of the School of Liberal Arts for their valuable insights, expert recommendations, and continued support in advancing the university’s educational programmes.

Protocol 2026

Business Council 2025

At Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), the 6th meeting of the Business Council of the School of Liberal Arts (SLA) was held. The central topic of the discussion was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the educational process.

The SLA faculty, prospective employers and the School’s partners exchanged views on improving the educational programmes in Applied Linguistics, Translation Studies, Tourism, Hospitality and Psychology. The participants were presented with the School’s development strategy and a report on the implementation of the Council members’ recommendations. In addition, a dual education agreement was signed with Hilton Astana Hotel.

🗣 “The expert opinions and recommendations of our partners, who are also employers of our graduates, enable us to adapt our educational programmes to the needs of the labour market in a timely manner. Ultimately, this determines the specialists Maqsut Narikbayev University will train in the coming years,” said MNU Provost Sergey Pen.

The Business Council members discussed the integration of AI courses into educational programmes and the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the academic process. They proposed using AI as a tool for processing psychodiagnostic data, analysing and presenting research findings, and training interview and intervention skills. The discussion marked a step towards a deeper and more meaningful integration of AI into the academic environment and towards preparing specialists who are ready to meet the challenges of the future.

🗣 “We are facing the need to integrate widely used artificial intelligence technologies. Therefore, the vision of our partners is particularly important in determining the extent to which AI can contribute to the development of key competencies among specialists in tourism, hospitality, linguistics and psychology,” said Anar Ibrayeva, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at MNU.

Following the meeting, it was decided to integrate AI into selected courses, while the substantive recommendations of the Council members were taken into consideration by the administration of the School of Liberal Arts.

Protocol 2025

Business Council 2024

On May 23, 2024, MAQSUT NARIKBAYEV UNIVERSITY School of Liberal Arts hosted the V Annual Business Council on the topic of ‘On the Strategic Role of the Business Community in Education’.

The event brought together leading and emerging employer partners in the fields of Tourism, Hospitality, Psychology, Translation Studies and Applied Linguistics to discuss current educational programmes. A. Ibrayeva, Dean of SLA, presented a report on the school’s achievements and future plans, and Gulshan Aliyeva-Tufek, an expert partner from GALA GLOBAL GROUP, highlighted the contribution of business to the development of educational programmes.

The second part of the council was held in the format of panel sessions, in which partners worked together to analyse training programmes, shared industry insights and suggested improvements. During the sessions, representatives of the Tourism and Hospitality industry discussed customer needs and innovative approaches, experts in Psychology focused on adapting programmes to the present-day challenges, and specialists in Translation and Applied Linguistics emphasised the importance of globalisation and the introduction of new technologies in the learning process.

This event marked an important step in strengthening the link between academia and business, facilitating the development of programmes and enhancing their alignment with the labour market, providing students with opportunities for practical experience and career development.

Download document: Business Council Report 2024

Business Council 2023

On June 7, 2023, the IV Business Council of the School of Liberal Arts was held in the format of a discussion on the topic of:

‘Artificial Intelligence through the prism of educational programmes of liberal arts direction: opportunities and prospects for development’.

S. Pen, Provost of Maqsut Narikbayev University, and A. Karbozova, Deputy Chairman of the Board of MNU, delivered welcoming speeches. They expressed gratitude to the partners for their contribution to the development of educational programmes and emphasized the importance of the topic of the meeting.

A. Ibrayeva, Director of the School of Liberal Arts, made a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Council, presenting a report on the educational programmes ‘Applied Linguistics’, ‘Translation Studies’, ‘Kazakh-English languages and linguistics’, ‘Tourism’, ‘Hospitality’, ‘Psychology’, ‘Journalism: Analytics and Investigations’. She noted the improvements made to the programmes based on the recommendations of employers.

Vice-Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ordabayev O. made a presentation on ‘The impact of artificial intelligence on changes in demand on the labour market’, in which he provided data on the impact of AI on the labour market, and also pointed out the need to adapt to new demands.

Bostan Hayat, Head of the Department of Linguistics at QUANTUM STEM School, made a presentation on ‘Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Education’, noting the importance of developing critical thinking among students.

The panel discussed the threats and opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to the liberal arts professions, as well as the role of universities in shaping the ethical use of AI.

The participants noted the importance of regular meetings and exchange of experience for further development of educational programmes that will meet the current requirements of the labour market.

The Business Council was attended by more than 40 partners of the SLA such as:

1. National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken”
2. Sheraton Nur-Sultan Hotel
3. St. Regis Astana Hotel
4. ‘National Company ‘KazakhTourism’ JSC
5. Astana Invest City Investment Development Centre LLP
6. Tourism Industry Committee of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan
7. The Kazakhstan Tourism Association LLC
8. Kazakhstan Association of Hotels and Restaurants (KAGIR, KTA)
9. Professional Psychological League Ltd.
10. Correctional Development Centre ‘Samga’
11. Aviation Service
12. UIE and LE ‘Union of Psychologists of Kazakhstan’
13. Gala Global Group LLP
14. Legal Consulting Community Limited
15. Centur Nur Translation Agency
16. KSI ‘Nur-Sultan Akimat’s boarding lyceum school “Bilim-Innovation” for gifted young men’
17. BINOM SCHOOL LTD.
18. QSI International School of Astana
19. Quantum STEM School
20. Astana Garden School
21. Crystal Study Group LLP
22. Sensys Engeneering Ltd.
23. Khabar Agency JSC
24. Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan
25. NUR-Media LLP
26. Egemen Qazaqstan newspaper
27. Investigative journalist
28. International Information Agency ‘KazInform’
29. RTRC Television Channel ‘Qazaqstan’ JSC
30. Kazakh TV channel
31. Astana TV channel
32. Aikyn newspaper
33. Republican TV channel ‘Qazaqstan’
34. Legal Media Centre Public Foundation
35. KazInform International News Agency

We would like to express our gratitude to our partners for their active participation in discussions, comments and feedback! See you next academic year!

Protocol №7

Business Council 2022

On April 27th the III meeting of the Business Council of the School of Liberal Arts of M.S. Narikbayev KAZGUU University was held in Sheraton Nur-Sultan Hotel.

The priority of the University’s School of Liberal Arts is the improvement of educational programmes in accordance with the demands and considerations of employers. Such activity is carried out at in-person meetings of the Business Council.

Sergey Pen, Provost of KAZGUU University noted that Business Council Meetings play an important role in improving the quality of educational programmes. Enquiries of partners and employers with a focus on practical application of knowledge and skills obtained by students shape the profile of a student and a qualified and competitive employee in the future.

Internship bases and the Business Council allow graduates to improve their professional skills according to the current requirements of the labour market.

The III meeting of the Business Council was attended by more than 40 representatives of media partners, major media outlets, international hotels, national companies, international schools, associations and public associations such as:

1. Khabar Agency JSC
2. TV and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan NJSC
3. Channels ‘Kazakh TV’, ‘Qazaqstan’, ‘Astana TV’
4. RSA ‘Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan’
5. Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan
6. National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan “Atameken”
7. Committee of Tourism Industry of the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan
8. St. Regis Astana Hotel
9. Sheraton Nur-Sultan Hotel
10. Hilton Astana Hotel
11. ‘National Company ‘KazakhTourism’ JSC
12. The Kazakhstan Tourism Association LLC
13. QSI International School of Astana
14. Quantum STEM School
15. Astana Garden School
16. BINOM SCHOOL
17. Bilim-Innovation boarding lyceum
18. Kazakhstan Professional Psychological League
19. UIE and LE ‘Union of Psychologists of Kazakhstan’, etc.

Protocol №6

Business Council 2021

Business Council 2020

The first in-person meeting for 2020 took place on February 18 and was attended by the following representatives of employers and SLA partners:

1. Baitursynuly Bilim Academiasy — Ulan Erkinbayev
2. National Testing Center — Manshuk Mukhametkalikyzy
3. Centre for Creative Teaching of Kazakh — Kulyash Shaimerdenova
4. Chairman of the Association of Professional Translators, Interpreters and Translation Companies of Kazakhstan, co-founder of Gala Global Group and Kazakhstan Translation Academy, simultaneous interpreter (English-Russian) — Kulshan Aliyeva
5. Deputy Chairman of the Association of Professional Translators, Interpreters and Translation Companies of Kazakhstan, co-founder of Gala Global Group and Kazakhstan Translation Academy, simultaneous interpreter (English-Russian) — Anna Loyenko
6. Simultaneous interpreter (English-Russian) of the Kazakhstan Translation Academy — Marat Zaurbekov
7. Director of Studies of Linguagrad Language Academy — Anna Tonkikh
8. StudyInn (Zoom call) — Gulnar Bekzhanova

The Business Council addressed the development of the Bachelor’s programmes ‘Applied Linguistics’ and ‘Kazakh-English Languages and Linguistics’. Experts expressed their opinions on the existing trends in the labour market, discussed the programme structure trajectory, available minor-programmes and other working issues.

Overall, the meeting was of a hands-on nature, the participants came to a consensus that these programmes are in demand and have an applied value in the development of linguistic studies in Kazakhstan and beyond. Based on the results of the discussion, the parties agreed to hold BC meetings at least twice a year.

Second meeting – November 28, 2020

The second annual traditional meeting was attended by representatives of employers and SLA partners. Within the framework of the Business Council, the development of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in three areas was discussed:

• Translation Studies
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Kazakh-English Languages and Linguistics

1. On the first track:

The meeting discussed the trajectory of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Translation Studies, current trends in the field of interpreting and translation as well as strengthening the stance of studying second foreign languages to improve the profile of graduates.

Recommendations:

• Dividing the programme into interpreting and translation at the undergraduate level.
• Allocating an audio-visual translation track at the graduate level.
• Including disciplines on editing.
• Adding the opportunity to obtain an international certificate in French.

2. On the second track:

The keynote of the meeting was the improvement of educational programmes in the areas of Tourism and Hospitality.

Recommendations:

• Increasing the time and volume of credits for practical training.
• Adding topics on tourist destinations of Kazakhstan.
• Strengthening the digital competences of graduates.

3. For the third track:

The Kazakh-English Languages and Linguistics programme is aimed at training linguistic specialists with skills in teaching, translation and media writing.

Recommendations:

• Introducing the discipline ‘Comparative Grammar’ (in Kazakh ‘Salystyrmaly Grammatika’).
• Adding minors in ‘Media Linguistics’ and ‘Language and Translation’.

In general, the meeting was of a hands-on nature, and the participants agreed that these programmes are in demand and have a practical application in development.

Protocol №1 Protocol №2