New Priorities for Higher Education Discussed at Strategic Partners Council Meeting

Today, on March 17, the IV meeting of the Council of Strategic Partners of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan was held with the participation of representatives of government agencies, international organizations and higher education institutions.

The meeting was attended by Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Gulzat Kobenova, members of the Executive Council of Strategic Partners, heads of foreign partner universities, as well as representatives of branches of foreign universities operating in Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, an overview of key decisions and initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was presented. The Vice Minister noted that the Ministry is consistently carrying out a systemic transformation of higher education aimed at increasing its flexibility, sustainability, and international competitiveness. Among the priority areas is the development of Kazakhstan as an international education hub, including the expansion of partnerships and foreign university branches, the introduction of new promotion tools, strengthening the financial sustainability of universities, and the development of an updated funding model for the sector.

As part of the agenda, key issues related to the development of the higher education system and international cooperation were also discussed. In particular, in the presentation «Shaping the Future of Admissions in Kazakhstan», Terran Brown, Executive Director of the NAEP program at ETS, noted that the Admissions Insight Test (AIT) under development is aimed at creating a modern, internationally comparable admissions system. This system focuses not only on assessing knowledge but also on evaluating key 21st-century competencies, including critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills.

In turn, Nurseit Baizhanov, First Deputy Director of the National Testing Center, emphasized the phased implementation of the project in 2026–2028, including the development, piloting, and subsequent rollout of the new model, as well as its role as a strategic tool for transforming the entire education system.

A separate agenda item focused on the work plans of the Council of Strategic Partners, presented by Head of the Secretariat Olgun Cicek.

In addition, special attention was given to positioning Kazakhstan as a strategic hub for hosting the CIMEA regional office in Central Asia. CIMEA Director General Luca Lantero highlighted the country’s strong potential as a regional education hub, noting the growing number of international students and the active development of cooperation with foreign universities.

The meeting served as an important platform for exchanging experience, developing joint initiatives, and further strengthening international partnerships.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/sci/press/news/details/1183442?lang=kk