Meeting of deputies and heads of higher educational institutions of Almaty

On 8 January 2018 at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University was held a meeting of the Deputy Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gulmira Isimbaeva, the Chairman of the Committee on Social and Cultural Development, Gulnara Iksanova and the deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the rectors and vice-rectors of the leading Almaty universities.

The participants of the meeting focused on the discussion of the draft law «On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Expanding the Academic and Management Independence of Universities».

In opening remarks, the rector of the University Takir Balykbaev outlined the purpose of this meeting, introduced its participants and gave the floor to Gulmira Isimbaeva, deputy chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, leader of the Nur Otan party faction.

Gulmira Isimbaeva spoke about the new laws passed by the Parliament and signed by the Head of State: a block of tax laws, a block of laws on customs regulation, the Administrative Code, etc., and reported that two bills directly related to system of education: on amendments to the Law on Education in the Field of Technical and Vocational Education and on Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Expanding of the academic and managerial independence of universities.

On the second bill, the deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the head of the working group Jamil Nurmanbetov told in detail. It was noted that this bill is aimed at implementing the 78th step of the Plan of the Nation, and its key moments are connected with the translation of the experience of Nazarbayev University and the expansion of the academic and managerial independence of universities.

Heads of higher educational institutions took an active part in the discussion.

The rector of the university «Turan», the president of the Association of Higher Educational Institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan Rakhman Alshanov emphasized the connection of the draft law with the requirements of the democratization of the higher education system, touched upon problems related to the state order, the development of professional standards, and the rules for admission to universities.

The rector of the Kazakh-German University, Olga Moskovchenko, raised questions about the accreditation of universities, the distribution of state grants and the difficulties that arise in the licensing of a specialty,

The rector of the Kazakh-British Technical University, Kenzhebek Ibrashev, stressed the need to unify the requirements that must be presented to the level of English proficiency for applicants and students.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the International University of Information Technologies Raisa Uskenbayeva proposed to form broad enough areas and rely on international standards.

The leaders of other higher educational institutions also shared their experience and observations, made suggestions on the issues discussed and asked the deputies a whole range of questions.

At the end of the meeting, Gulmira Isimbaeva noted the fruitful nature of the discussion, answered questions and thanked the rector Abai KazNPU Takir Balykbayev for help in organizing the meeting.

Department of Public Relations