Enhancing Kazakhstan's Role as a Regional Hub for University Education

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan aspires to transform the country into a regional hub for higher education, resonating with the nation’s goal to attract foreign teaching staff and students. In response, the SIPA capstone team has developed short-term and long-term recommendations to the Ministry on transforming Kazakhstan into a regional hub for education that aligns with the Ministry’s vision to enhance the quality of education and corresponds with the country’s development agenda. These recommendations were developed using a conceptual framework comprising six dimensions: Quality of Education, Access to Education, Research and Innovation, Internationalization, Employment Opportunities, and Government Support. Throughout the capstone, interviews with 12 universities, international organizations such as UNESCO, IsDB, and various government officials were conducted, and policy reports produced by the Ministry were analyzed to develop recommendations based on each dimension. The team conducted an unprecedented survey targeting international students in Kazakhstan across all Kazakhstani universities. The team collected over 1,600 responses, representing 6% of all international students. As a result of this capstone project, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, expressed strong support for the team's recommendations and is expected to prioritize the team's short-term recommendations for implementation.