Visually-Impaired Version 
Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU) hosted the 9th Eurasian Forum on Quality Assurance in Higher Education. University leaders discussed digital transformation in higher education.
MNU once again served as a platform for professional dialogue among representatives of the higher education sector and quality assurance experts. The Eurasian Forum brought together more than 200 experts from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The event was organized jointly with the Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (IQAA) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The central theme of the discussions was artificial intelligence and the digitalization of higher education. Participants explored how the rapid development of technology is transforming the educational process, assessment methods, and academic activities, as well as what measures are needed to maintain high quality standards amid digital transformation. Adlet Toibayev, Chairman of the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, noted that Kazakhstan’s higher education system is currently undergoing large-scale changes, driven in part by the development of digital technologies and the adoption of generative AI.
“Finding a balance between the opportunities offered by generative artificial intelligence and fundamental academic values is becoming particularly important for higher education. Kazakhstan now has the opportunity not simply to follow global digital trends, but also to shape its own model of a modern university — one that is open to the world and grounded in academic freedom, ethics, and responsibility,” said Adlet Toibayev.
Forum participants emphasized that digital transformation requires a reassessment of approaches to quality assurance in higher education. Anar Ibrayeva, Provost of MNU, highlighted the value of individual digital services in creating an integrated university ecosystem. The university continues to introduce digital solutions, develop its own infrastructure, and create new educational opportunities.
“Our university has always been committed to initiatives aimed at improving academic quality, as this is one of our priorities. The Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence has become not merely a challenge for us, but part of our daily work. Today, we are developing our own digital products and have also launched a new AI + X degree program, which combines artificial intelligence with law, finance, journalism, business, and research,” said Anar Ibrayeva.
The event highlighted the importance of developing effective solutions to ensure quality in higher education amid the growing impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence.
