Visually-impaired version 
Astana, November 7th — Maqsut Narikbayev University hosted a lecture by Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the topic of which was ‘Kazakhstan — a regional educational hub’. The Minister spoke about the development and international co-operation in the field of higher education in Kazakhstan.
Sayasat Nurbek emphasised the Ministry’s vision to make Kazakhstan a major academic hub by creating conditions for the establishment of international university campuses in Kazakhstan. He noted that about 30,000 foreign students have already arrived this year to study in the country. ‘We aim to develop Kazakhstan as an Academic centre, creating an ecosystem to attract more international universities. The state is supporting this initiative in every way possible, allocating land plots and offering other incentives, which will also be a beneficial solution for the country’s economy’, emphasised the Minister.
The Minister also touched on the plans to launch a compulsory course on artificial intelligence as part of the curriculum for all students in Kazakhstan. The course, developed in collaboration with Google, is designed to enhance digital competencies and prepare young citizens to be ready to work in the rapidly evolving digital economy. At the moment, a pilot course has been launched in 14 universities of the country, with future plans to expand its implementation to other HEIs in Kazakhstan.
In conclusion, Sayasat Nurbek responded to the students’ questions, addressing the current problems and prospects for the development of higher education and science in Kazakhstan. The discussion covered topics such as enhancing academic mobility, supporting young researchers, and improving the quality of educational programmes. Students expressed their gratitude to the Minister for the opportunity to receive answers to their questions and get acquainted with the Ministry’s positions on key issues of the development of education.
