Department of Computer Science of Al-Farabi KazNU. is a leading center for training in computer science, information technology and programming. The department was founded in November 2001. The first head of the department became Doctor of Physics and Mathematics, Professor Balakayeva G.T. In 2006 the department was headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Shmygaleva T.A. From September 2009 head of the department is the candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, professor Ahmed Zaki Darkhan Zhumakanovich.

The department provides training bachelors specialties 010540 – Computer Science, 050602 – Computer Science, Masters Research and teaching areas of specialization 6N0602 - Master of Computer Science. Department of Computer Science was among the first in Kazakhstan began working on an educational training program for Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) in computer science. In 2007 the first graduation of PhD-doctor of Computer Science.

Level undergraduate computer science department has the following areas: theory algorithms and software development; Organization of parallel computations; Web technology, database theory, Information security of computer systems and networks, software development for the social sphere, creation software with a link to equipment for technological problems. Graduates of the department have the opportunity to continue their education at master's degree.

In the scientific-pedagogical master's degree Computer Science students are offered three educational programs: Theoretical Computer Science, High Performance Computing, Software Development.

There is a scientific seminar «Actual problems of computer science» that operates at the Department of Computer Science where we discuss modern problems of software engineering, reliability and fault tolerance of computer systems, real-time systems, parallel computing. The department regularly organizes lectures of invited foreign scientists such as: professor Iman Poernomo (London, UK), Paul Ezhilchelvan, Chris Phillips, and A.Romanovsky (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK).

Our department actively cooperates with leading European universities of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and Austria. In 2002-2004 our lecturers, students and postgraduates took part in the International project Tempus Tacis CD_JEP_22077-2001 within EU program  "Education and culture". The aim of the project was the development of Curriculum for Master Degree Programme in Computer Science and Computer-based Learning at al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The project allowed us to introduce new disciplines such as: object-oriented programming, parallel computing, operating systems, real-time systems, bioinformatics, reliability and fault tolerance which were included into the State educational standard on the computer science specialty. The project consortium was presented by leading European universities in the field of information technologies: Newcastle upon Tyne University (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (Valencia, Spain), Blekinge institute of technology (Karlskrona, Sweden) (http://www.tempuskaz.kz/files/Tempus%20in%20Kazakhstan.pdf).

At present time lecturers, postgraduates and PhD students of Computer Science Department work in the TEMPUS project «CANDI: Educational competences and an infrastructure for e-Learning and retraining» together with universities of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Germany, Austria and United Kingdom: K.A. Jassaui Kazakh-Turkish international university, National university of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent chemical-institute of technology, Urgench State university (Uzbekistan), University of Vienna (Austria), Open university (UK), Darmstadt technical university, Technical university of Munich (Germany). The main objectives of the project are creation of steady e-Learning structure, young experts preparation in the field of information technologies, engaging of manufactures to determinate the road map which includes characteristics of the platform and a content of courses on computer science specialty (http://www.tempuskaz.kz/files/Tempus%20in%20Kazakhstan.pdf).

These joint international projects allowed to us install strong research relationships with foreign scientists. In 2008 the computer science department has been released first PhD in computer science in Kazakhstan such as: Aktymbayeva А, Seralin G., Bogdanov Y. Our graduates have conducted scientific research projects under the supervision of the professor Balakayeva G.T. and foreign co-supervisors from Newcastle upon Tyne university professors Paul Ezhilchelvan, Chris Phillips, and Prof. A.Romanovsky.

In 2009-2010 the department has been prepared two PhDs Grotsev D., Tsoy A. Now the department is preparing three PhD students: Matkerim B., Bektemesov A., and Aydarov K. Research of doctoral candidates are devoted to the modern problems of reliability and fault tolerance, parallel computing applications, real-time systems and formal methods.

Department of Computer Science works closely with the Kazakh-Indian Centre for Information Technology, one of the first training centers under a joint project with NIIT (National institute of Information Technologies) in education in the CIS.

Olympic competitions.

The Kazakh national university named al-Farabi since 2003 every year on the basis of mechanic-mathematical faculty spends a World championship quarterfinal on programming among commands of Kazakhstan.

The international student's Olympic Games on programming (in English reduction ACM/ICPC is accepted or it is simple ICPC) — the largest student's command Olympic Games on programming. The World championship on programming (ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest) is spent every year, since 1977. These competitions are the most prestigious intellectual competitions of the future generation of programmers in world computer community. Every year struggle for a title of the champion enter over 5000 commands, a representing order of 2000 universities from more than 80 countries of the world. The championship gives the chance to students of higher educational institutions to show and improve the skills in the field of programming, decisions of problems and command work.

The organizer of the Olympic Games is organization Association influential in the computer world for Computer Machinery (ACM), and sponsors of competitions last years were companies IBM and Microsoft. From 1977 to 1989 commands of high schools mainly participated in the Olympic Games from the USA and Canada. By the present moment the Olympic Games have turned to the world competition: in 2009 7109 commands have taken part in it from 88 countries, 100 from which have converged in struggle for the main trophy in final tournament. The quantity of commands continues to grow on 10-20 % a year so in the competition future promise to become still representative.

Every year in the championship across Kazakhstan take part over 80 commands (from above 240 persons) all leading HIGH SCHOOLS of republic. Among the championship best teams there are commands KazNU named al-Farabi, the Kazakh-British technical university, University named S. Demirel etc. The Best Kazakhstan commands participate as well in semi-finals of the World championship which take place in St.-Petersburg, Barnaul, Tashkent.

Since 2010 name KazNU named al-Farabi has taken part in the international Olympic Games in sphere of information technology «IT-Planet 2010». Students of our faculty have taken part in six nominations: «Administration Windows Server 2008 R2», Programming 1C:Enterprise 8, Reports, services and the equipment »(D-Link), Programming ORACLE 10g, Digital creativity, the International student's conference on problems of computer safety “IT Security for the Next Generation”.

Every year the chair takes part in the Republican subject olympic competitions.

Network academy Cisco.

Company Cisco has created system of interactive training which integrates multimedia delivery of a course under the theory and practice of creation of networks with testing, an estimation of professional skills on the basis of performance of test and practical tasks and an estimation of results through the Web-interface.

Four teachers of chair of computer science: Bazargul, Mansurov M.E, Pyrkova A.U., Cherikbaeva L. have received a rank of instructors of network academy Cisco at the rate of CCNA Exploration. Since 2010 on computer science chair local academy Cisco functions, students of chair of computer science have possibility to be trained and receive the certificate under programs Discovery and CCNA Exploration.

Achievements of students of chair.

Bernijazov N., Zhautikbaeva А. have won first place on the first in Kazakhstan republic competition of business plans «MIT50k» (2005), spent by national innovative fund.

For the best report Ajzhulov D. on I th International congress of students and young scientists «the science World» (2007) has been noted.

Isabayev Z. became the prize-winner of Republican student's Olympic competition INFORM – 2010 on programming (2010).

Bernijazov N. has won competition of research works of students on section «Information Protection», declared by Association of KazNU named al-Farabi graduates (2010).

Kuatbayeva А. has taken 1st place in the International scientifically-practical conference of young scientists and students «Young sharks of business» (2009).