During a meeting with media representatives, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek spoke about the opening of branches of foreign universities, El.kz reports with reference to the press service of the ministry.
The opening of branches of leading foreign universities in the country is being implemented as part of the instructions of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Concept for the Development of Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2029. The Minister outlined four key principles for opening branches of foreign universities.
"Firstly, we avoid the concentration of foreign structures in one region of the country, giving priority to regional universities.
Secondly, international cooperation covers all key partners of Kazakhstan. Currently, there are branches of universities from the USA, Great Britain, Germany and Russia, and it is also expected to open branches of Turkish, Chinese, South Korean and Uzbek universities.
Third, our international educational cooperation is aimed at meeting the specific needs of the country's economy. 95% of branches of foreign universities have a technical orientation.
Fourth, stimulating academic and scientific mobility remains one of the main priorities of international cooperation," the minister said.
In 2023, 74 universities of the country implemented academic mobility programs, and over 2 thousand Kazakhstani students took part in them. This year, 328 young Kazakhstani scientists had the opportunity to undergo scientific internships in leading foreign research centers in countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Turkey, Russia, France, etc.
Sayasat Nurbek stressed that since the establishment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the task of positioning Kazakhstan as an alternative educational and research hub in the region has been set. It is important to transform higher education from a subsidized industry into a significant sector of the economy, including taxes, the creation of new jobs, the development of university science and the attraction of private investment.