Takir Balykbayev, Rector of Abai University, held a reporting meeting

On 17 September 2020, the reporting meeting of the Rector of Abai University, Takir Balykbayev, took place in online format on the Zoom platform and was broadcast on the official pages of the University - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbaiUniversity/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abai_university/, Youtube channel.

The event was attended by members of the city maslikhat, representatives of the public in Almaty, university rectors, directors of scientific institutes and educational institutions, members of the Nur Otan Party, media representatives, employees of foreign embassies` consular offices, parents, teaching staff and students of the University. The meeting turned out to be very fruitful.

Takir Balykbayev summed up the results of the 2019/2020 academic year, gave a detailed report on educational, scientific-innovative, financial, economic and social-educational activities of the university, noted the achievements in world and national rankings, identified strategic objectives and directions of development of the university. Issues related not only to the internal policy of the university, but also other issues were discussed - changes in educational programs, development of cooperation with employers, modernization of internal infrastructure, etc.

The Rector`s reporting meeting was held to increase the openness, responsibility and accountability of national higher education institutions to the public. According to the Head of the University, "KazNPU activities are aimed at improving the training of teachers in the conditions of updated content of secondary education and new requirements for the professional competence of teachers". In order to activate and motivate the work of teachers, their salaries have recently been raised by 25%.

Every year the Abai KazNPU improves its position in global and national rankings. In the QS World University Rankings among pedagogical universities, Abai KazNPU was ranked in the TOP 5 best pedagogical universities in the world, taking 601-650th place. Abai university took sixth place in the ranking among higher education institutions of Kazakhstan. QS World University Ranking, EECA - 105th place (2019 - 103).

Webometrics World Ranking includes 128 higher education institutions of Kazakhstan. In this rating, our website took 4995th place. Compared to January 2020 (6022), the growth was 1027 positions. In the rating of the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating 2020, the Abai KazNPU was ranked among the top four universities in the country. Among pedagogical universities, the university was ranked first. In the institutional ranking of higher education institutions in the areas of bachelor`s degree programmes by final indicators (24345), we also took first place among higher education institutions of Kazakhstan.

According to the rating of the Independent Agency for Quality Assurance and Education (IAQAE) in the national rating of the best pedagogical institutions of the country, Abai KazNPU was ranked first (final score - 98.71%). In the ranking of IQAA our official website took an honorable fifth place among 101 higher education institutions of Kazakhstan, among the pedagogues of the country - first (In 2018 the website of KazNPU was ranked among the top ten university websites (in 2018 the website was in 9th place, 2016 - 26th place, in 2014 - 20th place, in 2013 - 25th place).

KazNPU constantly shows positive trends in admissions. In the academic year 2019/2020, 5441 students were admitted to the 1st year, including 2,990 under state grant (In 2019: 4,381 people, state grant - 1,324), holders of Altyn Belgi - 522 (in 2019: 318), certificates with honours - 481 (2019 - 182), diplomas with honours - 57 (2019 - 44). In addition, every year, not only the quantitative but also the qualitative composition of students is growing.

There is a high level of demand for graduates on the labour market and employers` satisfaction with the quality of training. Employers are educational institutions in Almaty, Nur-Sultan and Almaty Oblast, all regions of Kazakhstan. In 2019, a mobile application "Mansap" was developed to ensure communication with employers, which greatly facilitates the employment of graduates: 4063 users (1012 employers, 3051 trainees).

An important aspect of modern university activity is the formation of highly qualified teaching staff. Professors from partner universities abroad have been involved, and almost all teachers of the republic have completed advanced training, participating in the Winter and Summer Schools, the Online School "Digital Teacher" and other projects and programmes of the university in this area.

Abai University was the first university in the Republic of Kazakhstan to receive a certificate on the implementation of the anti-corruption management system of international standard ISO 37001-2016. The university has a Code of Academic Integrity; Integrity and zero tolerance of corruption - through training, projects, actions; Anti-Corruption Council; Parasat Centre; Sanaly urpaq Student Club; Training and seminars with the Republican Project Office "Sanaly urpaq"; projects "Izgilik elshisi - Accelerator of Goodness", "Antiplagiarism", "Turnitin", "Proctoring", Anticorruption Monitoring; Clean Session". Information was provided on the activities of the project "Izgilik elshisi - Accelerator of Goodness" - a nationwide volunteer movement, educational activities, creativity and student activity.

Work is being done to introduce new technologies. The Concept of Digitalization has been developed and in accordance with it - Digitalization Roadmap, the process of complex transformation and significant increase of efficiency of all spheres of university activity based on development of digital infrastructure and wide use of digital technologies and resources is successfully underway. The work on implementing high ethical standards in the life of students is being expanded. The "University Out of Corruption" project strengthens "zero tolerance" not only of wrongdoing, but also of any form of deception and academic dishonesty, including the use of cheat sheets and cheating.

The meeting was also attended by the Rector of KazNAU, academician Tlektes Espolov, Honoured Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Military Sciences, Professor, Chairman of the Veterans` Council of Medeu District of the city of Medeu. The meeting was attended by Kim Serikbayev, Head of the Department of Education of Medeu District, Agaysha Saparova, founder and CEO of the public fund WikiBilim and the "Bilim Foundation" of the Bilim Media Group, Rauan Kenzhekhanuly, Chairman of the Republican Volunteer League, Aisulu Erniyazova.

In order to ensure openness and accessibility, the Rector regularly conducts live broadcasts, reviews blog and mail addresses, communicates in the Openspace format and maintains personal accounts in social networks. They act appropriately for all their appeals and ensure control over their execution. Takir Balykbayev emphasised that he personally and other university managers will strengthen all types of public relations communication.

Rector`s report

Public Relations Department