2024, November 15
Share this articleSeventy-eight deans from 33 higher education institutions in Kazakhstan participate in the "Deans' School," an academic leadership program developed by the Graduate School of Education at Nazarbayev University (NU).
From November 12 to 15, they discussed strategic planning and effective management of educational institutions with experts over two modules. The keynote speaker was the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek.
"We have created an open forum—a global council of representatives from 34 foreign universities—where decisions will be made collectively. We have the opportunity to collaborate directly and adopt their standards in quality, research, and ethics, drawing on their centuries of experience. We are entering a period of serious transformation. The ministry has three tasks: the first task is to use these partnerships to establish Kazakhstan as an academic and research hub. The second task is to begin the transformation of state universities into international research universities, and the third task is to use these platforms for technology transfer," Minister Sayasat Nurbek stated in his address to the deans.
One of the modules focused on leadership and management in the face of change, with NU experts discussing how to adapt to rapid changes in education, manage risks, and oversee educational business processes. The Vice Provost and Dean of NU's Graduate School of Education (GSE), Aida Sagintayeva, and NU President, Dr. Waqar Ahmad, shared their management insights.
"Universities are made up of people who are problem solvers and critical thinkers. If you try to control them, you'll fail—because these smart people won't run rings around you. My job is to find the best possible talent and provide them with the resources to excel. A good leader empowers people to achieve their goals, and my role is to create opportunities for them to do so," said NU President Professor Waqar Ahmad in response to participants' questions.
A special session focused on the importance of communication strategies in universities featured presentations by NU Vice President Assel Uvaliyeva, Associate Professor of Ahmet Yassawi University Moldiyar Ergebekov, and special guest expert in international education Venera Baizhigit who conducted a master class for participants on how to build a personal brand on social media. Muzaffer Elmas, Rector of Kocaeli Health and Technology University, provided insights into data-driven monitoring and evaluation systems for strategic planning.
A separate day named "Deans' Day" was created spesifically for participants to immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of various NU schools, such as the Graduate School of Education, School of Medicine, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, and NUFYP (Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program), exploring governance structures, resource allocation strategies, and organizational culture.
Since the program's launch on September 25, five modules have been completed—two at NU and three at Ahmet Yassawi University in Turkistan. From November 18 to 22, an international five-day module will take place at Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), providing participants with valuable exposure to global higher education management and research practices.
The final two modules of the Academic Leadership Institute: Deans' School, focusing on research management and institutional culture and ethics, are scheduled for December 3–6. The program will conclude with a team project, where participants will develop a roadmap for developing their schools. The final stage will be marked by a certificate ceremony on December 6.
