12. 7. 2023

This episode of The IR thinker explores the evolution of higher education in Kazakhstan, from the arrival of foreign universities and shifts in language policy to state support for innovation, digitalisation and the internationalisation of PhD programmes. The discussion examines the influence of Islam, the role of the Kazakh diaspora, education as a form of soft power, the state of academic freedom and the politicisation of academia, before outlining three key reforms needed for the sector’s future development.

Alberto Frigerio

Dr Alberto Frigerio is an International Relations professor at Almaty Management University, with more than a decade of teaching experience in Kazakhstan. He is a recipient of the 2022 CEEMAN Responsible Management Educator award and is noted for consistently strong teaching evaluations. Dr Frigerio is the author of Dystopian World, Казахстан в мультивселенной 21 века: шесть дилемм для определения его будущего пути, International Cultural Heritage Conventions and the Central Asian Region: Current Framework and Future Perspectives, and a series of publications on global challenges and sustainability.

Content

00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - Evolution of Higher Education in Kazakhstan: A Three-Phase View
07:21 - Local Response to Foreign Universities in Kazakhstan
09:27 - Predominant Languages of Study in Kazakhstan
11:37 - Government Support for Higher Education Innovations
13:32 - A Comparative Analysis: Private vs Public Universities
15:16 - Bolashak Scholarship: An Overview
20:21 - Global Interest in Kazakh Higher Education: A Perspective
23:08 - Influence of International Students in Kazakhstan
27:49 - PhD Programmes: The Influx of International Students
30:04 - Religion and Education: The Islamic Influence in Kazakhstan
33:00 - Challenges Encountered by International Students
36:42 - Engaging with the Kazakh Diaspora: An Exploration
40:21 - Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms to the Kazakh Government
43:12 - Education as a Tool for Soft Power
46:56 - Digitalisation Drive in Kazakhstan
50:05 - Intersection of Geography, Civil Society, and Sustainability
53:27 - Student Interest in International Relations
55:33 - Evaluating the State of Academic Freedom
57:52 - Politicisation of Academia in Kazakhstan: A Critical Insight
59:29 Three Essential Educational Reforms Needed in Kazakhstan