«Internationalization of Higher Education Institutions: International visibility of HEIs» Seminar, 23-24 February 2023.

On February 23-24, 2023 the practical seminar for vice-rectors on international affairs, directors of international cooperation departments, deputy deans of kazakhstani HEIs, organized by the Committee of higher and postgraduate education of MSHE RK in cooperation with the Bologna process and academic mobility center on the base of  Satpayev University.  

Today, worldwide special attention is paid towards  internationalization issues by researchers, theorists and practitioners of education, as well as by the authorities and the general public.

Kazakhstan has adopted an ambitious and outward-looking national education program with a clear goal of internationalization of education at all levels. Currently, Kazakhstan's system of higher education and science is actively expanding and strengthening international cooperation with leading educational organizations of the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.

The aim of this seminar is to develop recommendations on improving the mechanisms of internationalization as well as developing tools for measuring the level of internationalization in Kazakhstani higher education institutions.

The speakers were representatives from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of RK, representatives from the diplomatic missions of the embassies of the USA, Europe and Great Britain as well as a team of experts in the sphere of international education and state structures.  

The first part of the seminar was introduced by the speakers from the US Embassy, the EU Delegation, the British Council and the Center for International Programs "Bolashak".

The speakers highlighted their achievements in the development of international cooperation with Kazakhstani universities. During the seminar there was noted that the international partnership between Kazakhstan and universities in the United States, the EU and Britain in the system of higher education is developing successfully and would only grow stronger.

During the second part of the seminar al-Farabi KAZNU presented its achievements in the ratings of QS, WUR, TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION, also representatives of S.Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University shared the experience of successful practice in implementing partnerships with foreign universities within the projects "Shoqan Global Instagram and Shoqan Global Website", representatives of K.Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University made a presentation on interaction with a leading foreign university for opening a branch in Kazakhstan, and at the end of the second part of the seminar Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University shared its experience in implementing strategic partnerships with Arizona University.

The internationalization of the higher education is characterized by the level of academic mobility of students and faculty, internationalization of curricula and programs, creation of regional and international university networks. Internationalization of higher education is carried out through joint research in the framework of international programs, export of educational services and scientific achievements. Integration and internationalization of scientific research is realized by means of joint research, international conferences and participation in them, publishing the results of scientific research in foreign journals, scientific research under the international grants.

The third part of the seminar was an interactive discussion, where participants carried out a large number of practical tasks and cases from real practice. Academic exchange programs, international student and faculty recruitment campaigns, and recruitment programs for international students and faculty were extensively discussed.  

The most important trend in recent decades is the strong integration process, which seizes all spheres of social life, including higher education. The higher education and a science becomes the global factor of social development and is put forward among the most important national and world priorities.

In the fourth part of the seminar participants discussed the implementation of joint and double degree programs in the format of an open dialogue platform, where the report was made by representatives of E.A. Buketov Karaganda University, Abay Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Manash Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan University and Yessenov University. During the discussion the examples and existing barriers to the implementation of internationalization of education and research were discussed, and recommendations were made taking into account the current requirements with further implementation in the strategy for internationalization of universities.

At the end of the seminar, participants jointly assessed the quality of internationalization processes, and developed their vision for strategic planning of international activities of universities in Kazakhstan.