Author: Айгуль Мунасипова

A seminar on the development of the basic model of autonomy was held at Atyrau State University the 15^th and 16^{th of} May 2019 in the framework of the project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan” (TRUNAK). The program of the first day of the seminar was dedicated to the presentation of the Work package 2.1 report on 4 dimensions of autonomy discussed at the workshops in Slovenia, Poland, Sweden, findings/recommendations from EUA Report, and mechanisms for introducing autonomy in the universities of European partners. On the second day, Kazakhstani partners together with the Ministry of Health, European partners, European University Association developed the basic model of university autonomy, discussed organization for pilot implementation and next steps.

           

         

          

            

             

             

              

             

On April 25, 2019 Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University in the framework of the III International Scientific and Educational Conference «THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION. PROSPECTION» held a round table Towards the Model of Universities’ Autonomy in the Republic of Kazakhstan”.
The event was organized with the participation of foreign experts and leaders of medical education in Kazakhstan.
There were discussed issues of university autonomy in Kazakhstan and abroad. The speakers of the round table were Andriana Surleva, Associate Professor at the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (Bulgaria) Mariana Murdjeva, Professor at the Medical University of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), First Vice-Rector (Provost) of Marat Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University Marcin Rucinski and Vice-Rector for Clinical and Scientific Work Smagulova G.A. In addition, representatives of the Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical University of Plovdiv as well as representatives of higher medical education organizations from the regions of Kazakhstan attended the round table.
The participants discussed challenges of university autonomy dimensions: organizational, staffing, academic and financial. The experience of universities of foreign colleagues aroused keen interest and discussion among all the participants of the round table.

05.04.2019-06.04.2019 on the basis of the NCJSC “Karaganda Medical University” in the framework of the Erasmus + project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan / TRUNAK was held a meeting for discussion of the results of recommendations developed during the workshops at European universities and consolidation of a report with representatives of the M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University and Karaganda Medical University that are leading Work package 2. Development.

 

From March 4^th until March 8^th the Lublin University of Technology, Poland hosted the third workshop on the creation of a model of university autonomy within the framework of the project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan” (TRUNAK) with participation of partner institutions. The first seminar was held at the base of the Lund University, Sweden from 4.02.19-08.02.19, second from February 25^th until March 1^st the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. These workshops were held as part of the implementation of Work Package 2.1. Discussion groups on university autonomy.

Moderators of the workshop were professor Anar Turmukhambetova, Vice-rector on strategic development, science and international cooperation of Karaganda Medical University together with Dr. David Taylor, Director of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC) in London.

The workshop was divided into two parts: in the first half of the day European partners presented the concepts and principles of autonomy in European universities, in the afternoon, work in small groups led by foreign experts.

On the last day, the working groups presented recommendations on the reform process and amendments to the regulatory and legal acts of Kazakhstan. Reports on academic, organizational, personnel and financial autonomy of universities in Kazakhstan will be reviewed by working groups at the seminar in Atyrau State University named after Kh. Dosmukhamedov, which will be held from 15.05.2019-17.05.2019 for designing a basic model of autonomy.

From February 25^th until March 1^st the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia hosted the second workshop on the creation of a model of university autonomy within the framework of the project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan” (TRUNAK). The first seminar was held at the base of the Lund University, Sweden from 4.02.19-08.02.19.

The workshop was attended by representatives of Karaganda Medical University, European University Association, Lund University, University of Ljubljana, Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom, Lublin University of Technology, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Astana Medical University; West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov State Medical University; M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University; Atyrau State University and Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz. The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Moderator of the workshop was rector of Karaganda Medical University professor Raushan Dosmagambetova.

The workshop, as in the previous seminar at Lund University, was divided into two parts: in the first half of the day European partners presented the concepts and principles of autonomy in European universities, in the afternoon, work in small groups led by foreign experts.

On the last day, the working groups presented recommendations on the reform process and proposals for introducing amendments to the regulatory and legal acts of Kazakhstan. Reports on the academic, organizational, personnel and financial autonomy of Kazakhstani universities were transferred to the next working group for further discussion at the workshop at the Lublin University of Technology, Poland, which will be held on 03/04/2019-08.03.2019. 

The Lund University hosted a seminar on the creation of the model of university autonomy from 04 to 8 February 2019 in the framework of the project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan” (TRUNAK).

In seminar participated representatives of the European University Association, Lund University, University of Ljubljana, Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom, Lublin University of Technology, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Astana Medical University; West Kazakhstan Marat Ospanov State Medical University; M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University; Atyrau State University and Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz.

During the seminar, European University Association presented state of play of university governance and recommendations for the reform process. European partners shared experiences on autonomy development. At the end of the seminar, working groups presented a preliminary model for university autonomy.

In addition, in the framework of the seminar, the partners discussed further activities of the current stage of the project.

 

The Global International Conference “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Perspectives” was held on 20-21 November 2018 at Karaganda State Medical University, the aim of which was the discussion of various aspects of institutional autonomy.

The conference was held by Karaganda State Medical University, Erasmus+ National office in Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The conference attended over 500 people including international experts in the field of education from Belgium, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, Finland, France, Slovenia, Lithuania and Russia, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Healthcare of the RK, Erasmus+ National office in Kazakhstan, members of the National Team of experts on higher education reform in Kazakhstan, leaders of educational organizations, scientists, teachers, students as well as specialists from human and financial services and academic work.

During the conference it was discussed the most relevant issues of expanding the autonomy of universities: organizational, staffing, financial, academic autonomy, policy of the university, authority of the university in academic autonomy, principles of the organization of the educational process, educational policy of the state in the higher education.

On the plenary session were presented reports of the members of the Erasmus+ project “Transition to university autonomy in Kazakhstan/TRUNAK” of Thomas Estermann, director for governance, financing and development of public policy of the European University Association and his deputy Enora Pruvot, that reflected an analysis of world experience in implementing university autonomy and the current situation in Kazakhstan on the plenary session. Omirbayev Serik, Rector of M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University demonstrated the progress of implementation of institutional autonomy in Kazakhstan.

Partners of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the Field of Higher Education project “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan / TRUNAK” held workshops on four dimensions of autonomy: staffing, organizational, academic and financial. The moderators of the organizational autonomy workshops were Thomas Estermann, director for governance, financing and development of public policy of the European University Association and Mazhit Shaydarov, Rector of Astana Medical University. Speaker of this workshop was Tomaž Marš, Vicedean of Faculty of Medicine at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. During this workshop were discussed flowing questions: work of the university in terms of organizational autonomy, principles of distribution of powers, work in the conditions of organizational autonomy, the principles of the distribution of powers between the highest authorities and bodies of the operational and executive level.

On the same day workshop on staffing autonomy moderated Enora Pruvot deputy director for governance, financing and development of public policy of the European University Association. The speakers were Jerneja Čelofiga, Head of the International Office at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Marina Pogrebitskaya, Director of the Department of Strategy, Quality and Internationalization at M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University, Gaziza Smagulova, and Vice-Rector for Scientific and Clinical Work of West Kazakhstan M. Ospanov State Medical University. On this workshop were discussed the examples of European universities, current regulations in Kazakhstan, problems and recruitment of personal and academic staff.

On the second day Serik Omirbayev, Rector of M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University and Vaiva Hendriksson, Provost at Karaganda State Medical University, Professor of Vilnius University, Lithuania were moderators for academic autonomy. Workshop speakers: Marek Milosz, Vice Dean of Electrical and Computer Science Faculty, Deputy Director of the Institute of Informatics at Lublin University of Technology, Poland and David Taylor, Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations at Aga Khan University, United Kingdom. The main points of discussion were selection of undergraduate and postgraduate students, rules for creation of study programs, design, quality assurance, management of educational processes.

In parallel with academic autonomy was financial autonomy with following moderators: Kamshat Tussupova from Division of Water Resources Engineering at Lund University, Sweden and Aliya Abdikarimova – Head of the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurship at Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsouz. Key speakers: Ronny Berndtsson, Professor of Division of Water Resources Engineering at Lund University, Sweden, Francesco Maddalena, Head of Management and Control – Hygiene section at Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, Veli-Matti Tolppi – Expert in administration and financing of HEI at Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Finland and Stephen Lyon, Head of Educational Programmes and Development Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations at Aga Khan University, United Kingdom.

In the workshops participated all TRUNAK partners and guests of the conference. At the end of the workshop, all participants received certificates for participation.

At the end of the conference, a panel discussion was held, at which European and Kazakh universities in consolidation with the Ministries exchanged views on the progress of reforms in higher education and developed recommendations on further improving of the process of expanding university autonomy in Kazakhstan.

Within the framework of the Erasmus+ program Karaganda State Medical University held management meeting of the project participants “Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan” (TRUNAK) on 19 November 2018. In meeting participated representatives of the European University Association, Lund University, University of Ljubljana, Aga Khan University (International) in the United Kingdom, Lublin University of Technology, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Astana Medical University; West Kazakhstan State Medical University. M. Ospanova; North Kazakhstan State University. M. Kozybaeva; Atyrau State University. K.Dosmuhamedov; Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, as well as representatives of the Independent Association of Medical Students of Kazakhstan (KazMSA). During the meeting it was discussed performed activities as planned in Detailed Description and in the Workplan: developed database system for project management, training seminar about University Autonomy Scorecard Methodology, preliminary results of the university autonomy survey in Kazakhstan, purchasing of the equipment by Kazakh partners, Quality assurance plan, preparation to the Conference on autonomy on the basis of  KSMU. There were also debates on future activities like recommendations for university governance model, Discussion group, Workshops in Lund in 2019.

On 19.04.2018 the KSMU team of the project “Transition to the University Autonomy in Kazakhstan / TRUNAK” held a training seminar for the heads of structural divisions of the KSMU. The questionnaire provides conduction of analysis in four dimensions, such as organizational, personnel, financial, and academic autonomy. In this regard, the staff of the Department of Economics and Finance, the Department of Human Resources Management, the Administrative and Management Staff, and the Department of Academic Work were invited to the seminar. The moderators of the meeting were the project coordinator Hugo Bragioni and the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Methodical Work V.P. Ricklefs. During the seminar, participants were presented with a questionnaire of the university autonomy and instructions for completing the questionnaire. At the end of the seminar the participants agreed on the stages of completing the questionnaire and forming a database of answers according to the all four dimensions.

On March 19-20, 2018, the partners of the TRUNAK project, the European Association of Universities, held a training seminar for all project participants. 15 participants from Kazakhstan partner universities and 5 participants from European partner universities took part in the seminar. Also, as a non-academic partner the seminar was participated by Ulmira Auezkhanovna Nuralieva, head of the department of medical education of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As guests, the seminar was visited by the head of the project in the European Union of the EACEA agency, Ms. Anne Shpangemacher, and the adviser to the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium, Ms. Saulekul Saylaukyzy.

During the meeting, the results of studies conducted in 29 European universities on autonomy issues were presented by Mr. Tomas Istermen, Director of the Development Department for Management, Finance and Public Policy and Mrs. Enora Pruvost, Deputy Director. Subsequently, a phased application of this methodology was presented at Kazakhstani universities, and issues related to data collection and analysis and the expected results of this study were discussed. Kazakhstan partners actively participated in the discussion of questionnaires, transparency and clarity of the answers provided, the possibility of inviting other universities that are not in the project to identify the state of autonomy of universities. The results of the study will be discussed in an expanded meeting with all representatives of Kazakhstan universities in November this year.