Chairman of the Board of the Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi - rector Zhanseit TUIMEBAEV in his interview to LITER talks about the priorities in the activities of the leading national university, about the most important achievements, including unique scientific developments.

- Zhanseit Kanseitovich, six months have passed since you headed the country's leading university. Please tell us about the main areas of activity for the past time ...

- KazNU them. Al-Farabi is the oldest university in the country, has a special status and is included in the top 200 best universities in the world according to QS WUR. In the post-Soviet space, there are two of them: Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov - 78th and KazNU - 175th place. KazNU became the first and only university in the Central Asian region to receive "Five stars" of excellence in the international rating "QS Stars Rating System". According to the results of the IAAR Eurasian University Ranking (IAAR EUR-2021) of the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR), KazNU became the best university among universities in Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. KazNU was recognized by the Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NAOKO) as the best multidisciplinary university in Kazakhstan in 2021.

The first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, in his program article “Looking into the future: modernization of public consciousness”, noted: “The desire for education has always been characteristic of our people. Every citizen of Kazakhstan must understand that education is the most fundamental factor in future success. In the system of youth priorities, education should be the first number. Because only a nation that puts education above all else in its value system will succeed. If education becomes the main value in the system of values, then the nation will be successful. "

President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, identifying new vectors for the development of modern domestic education, claims that al-Farabi's dictum: "Knowledge given without education is the worst enemy of humanity" - should be the guiding principle of all teachers. The youth of our country, along with the development of themselves as an individual, should make a significant contribution to the development of the state in accordance with advanced innovations. This is an important task facing the modern process of education and upbringing.

The university has significant potential for solving strategic problems: 16 faculties, 67 departments, 8 research institutes, 29 research centers, more than 3,000 teachers. More than 600 educational programs are being implemented, more than 23 thousand students, undergraduates and doctoral students are studying, 10% of them are foreign citizens from 50 countries of the world. The goal is to increase their share to 15% by 2025. Work is underway to open 4 branches of KazNU abroad (Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey).

Currently, the main development priorities for 2021-2025 have been identified. The team of Al-Farabi KazNU is motivated to effectively implement the strategic tasks of further development of the university across the country and the world.

- What are the indicators of admission to the state grant in KazNU this year? Is this a little or a lot compared to last year?

- This year, the number of state grants applied to KazNU has increased significantly: for bachelor's degree - 4,220 applicants, which is 3 times more than last year, for magistracy - 1,598 people, last year there were 1,247 applicants, and for doctoral studies 355 people were accepted. Now the university has accepted 7,108 students for training, not counting foreign citizens and those entering doctoral studies. In 2021, the university graduated 6,505 young specialists. The number of holders of the sign "Altyn belgi" has increased, last year - 508 best school graduates chose KazNU, this year - 1058.

As for foreign students, young people from 50 countries of the world study at KazNU. In the new academic year, 155 foreign citizens are enrolled in the paid department. In addition, within the framework of international programs, applicants from Tajikistan (64), Kyrgyzstan (1), Vietnam (1), Mongolia (5), Afghanistan (52) will be admitted to the number of undergraduate students. Considering that the country's schoolchildren - future applicants - studied online, the threshold score was lowered from 100 points to 85, 80, 75. And a number of benefits from the Ministry of Education and Science were added to the grant competition. These benefits are provided for large families, single-parent families and families raising disabled children.

- What specialties has the demand grown for this year?

- Today in Kazakhstan, the system of training bachelors, masters and PhD doctors is being significantly modernized. In the country's universities, in accordance with international practice, educational programs have been introduced that are equivalents of specialties and are combined into groups according to the profile of training. When submitting documents, applicants choose groups of educational programs that correspond to a given set of specialized subjects in the UNT certificate. This year, most of the applicants have chosen the specialties of natural science and technology. Many applicants preferred specialties: information technology, biotechnology, nanomaterials, robotics and mechatronics, space engineering.

Taking into account modern challenges, there is a steady demand for educational programs of natural science faculties. These include training programs for specialists in physics, chemistry, mathematics, earth sciences and the environment.

Interest in medicine also persists. In addition, programs for the training of philologists and translators of Western and Eastern languages, specialists in the field of tourism are in great demand among young people. It should be noted that educational programs in the field of national and international law, economics, and international relations are traditionally in high demand.

And in the magistracy and doctoral studies, there has always been a fairly high competition for educational programs for the training of teachers, physicists, biotechnologists, information technology specialists, chemists, philologists, teachers of the Kazakh language and literature, a foreign language, and mathematics.

- What new specialties are opened at KazNU?

- Our university has a special status and is the leader in both international and national ratings. And this obliges us to constantly improve and improve scientific and educational activities, taking into account the promising directions of development of the economy and society. So, this year we have expanded the number of educational programs that have been developed jointly with partner universities from near and far abroad. To date, 533 educational programs are taught at the university. Since the new academic year, new specialties have been introduced that meet modern requirements. This year, the university presented to applicants a number of new innovative and interdisciplinary educational programs, such as "Neuroscience", "Virology", "Cyberphysics", "Digital Economy", "Biological Engineering", "Robotic Systems", "Environmental Engineering", " Creative Industry ”,“ Natural and Technogenic Risks ”,“ Media Communications ”,“ Data Science ”,“ Digital Archival Science and Records Management ”,“ Intelligent Control Systems ”,“ Nanomaterials and Nanochemistry ”, etc.

In general, 119 new educational programs have been developed, including 17 for bachelors, 70 for masters, and 32 for PhD. Students will study in 652 educational programs. New specialties are in great demand not only among Kazakhstani students, but also among foreign students.

- How is the problem of dormitories and classrooms solved?

- This year, 14 out of 16 dormitories of the university have been repaired. Currently, all hostels are ready to accept students. The total number of places is 5 434. However, due to the epidemiological situation, only 50% of students have to be accommodated in hostels. The rooms, which are designed for four people, can only be shared by two people. Such requirements were adopted in accordance with the sanitary and epidemiological standards. Thus, we can only accept 3,000 students. Today, 80% of students from the regions need a hostel. To resolve this issue, we have established contacts with all the nearest hostels. These hospitality institutions are ready to accept 3,000 students, but the cost of living in them is much higher than at the university. The issue of accommodation in hostels will be resolved online.

Major overhaul of the hostels is also planned this year. As a result, another 2,563 beds will be added. Work is planned to replace windows, utilities, furniture and plumbing fixtures, roofs, and more. dr.

In total, the university has nine academic buildings, three of which are currently being renovated. Over the next two years, the educational buildings will be renovated through public-private partnerships or outsourcing.

As for the classrooms, in the new academic year we plan to conduct offline classes in accordance with the sanitary requirements recommended by the Ministry of Health. The classroom fund includes 581 classrooms, as well as overhaul in the buildings of seven faculties. In addition, in order to solve the problem of the lack of classrooms, we are adapting the university library, the Students Palace, the Gylym Ordasy building, reading rooms and computer classes of the House of Young Scientists, a sports complex and institute buildings, as well as production facilities located outside the university.

- What projects is KazNU working on as part of its transformation into a research university?

- At this time, KazNU is striving to become a world-class university and an innovation hub of the national economy. The university conducts research in the framework of fundamental and applied programs, innovative, sectoral, international complex scientific and technical developments, as well as contractual work in priority areas of science development. In KazNU in 2020-2021 533 research projects are being implemented. The university employs a large number of talented scientists, whose achievements have determined the formation and development of Kazakhstani science and technology. KazNU is a university with a developed scientific and innovative infrastructure, where an effective technological corridor “from generating an idea to its commercialization” has been built on the basis of a cluster approach. Thanks to the effective work of the university, investments from business and various international sources are attracted, as well as the results of breakthrough research and technologies are used, work is being carried out to analyze the achievements of university scientists at the world level.

As part of the transformation into a world-class research university, three areas of activity are being implemented, complementing each other: concentration of talents and focus on creative research, which is the basis of success; a sufficient amount of resources necessary for conducting research, which should contribute to the creation of a favorable environment for scientific discoveries, and in the future should be profitable for the university; flexible management structure of the university, contributing to the emergence and application of innovative approaches. In accordance with the tasks set by the Head of State for the further socio-economic development of the country, KazNU is implementing projects using modern technologies aimed at improving the welfare of the country's society and building an innovative competitive economy in the whole.

The commercialization of projects is carried out through the participation of scientists in the World Bank Grants Program and grant financing of the results of scientific and scientific and technical activities of the Science Foundation JSC. High-tech spin-off companies have been created on the basis of commercialization projects. To date, the results of more than 10 innovative projects are successfully converted into the real sector of the economy of Kazakhstan.

For example, scientists have developed a unique technology for increasing the glow intensity of gas-discharge lamps based on nanotechnology, which have a low cost price and high quality. Moreover, the luminescence intensity of the developed lamp is one and a half times greater in comparison with similar fluorescent lamps with equal power consumption, which was confirmed during laboratory tests. KazNU scientists have developed sensors for determining the temperature, humidity and pressure of air with 100% Kazakh content of carbon nanostructures. Work is underway to introduce digital technologies in the field of public safety in crowded places (airports, train stations, metro, etc.) and protected objects and territories. During the pandemic, scientists have developed and manufactured protective helmets "AlfaShield" from materials approved for use for medical purposes, comfortable to wear and meeting all the requirements of GOST "On the safety of personal protective equipment." The production capacity allows the production of up to 100 protective helmets per day, and more than 200 helmets have already been distributed free of charge among the medical institutions of the city of Almaty.

The campus has launched the production of new dietary supplements against influenza and coronavirus, consisting of powerful low-toxic medicinal and nutritious herbal mixtures. These additives, developed by employees of the Center for Medicinal Plants of KazNU, are already in great demand among university employees and residents of the city. The plans include the construction of a food waste processing plant to obtain a valuable nutritious product for birds, fish and animals (Golden Fly), as well as organic fertilizer (Golden Soil). Today, the biogas plant installed in the green technology zone processes 100 kg of food waste per day, and we plan to increase this figure to 1,000 kg in the next few months.

The whole range of the best innovative projects of scientists and teachers of the university was included in the catalog “Innovative technologies and science-intensive products of KazNU named after al-Farabi ", published in 2 parts for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

- The Ministry of Education and Science announced an increase in the salaries of the teaching staff. What other payments and incentives are provided in addition to the increase in wages?

- In March, the salaries of teachers and staff increased by 20%. To date, a teacher receives 285,000 tenge, a senior teacher - 312,000 tenge, an associate professor - 389,000 tenge, a professor - 500,000 tenge. In addition, there is a surcharge for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Candidate of Science, Doctor of Science, qualification level. Also, bonus payments are provided twice a year to teachers and professors who have published scientific articles in high-ranking foreign publications. In any team, the issue of stimulating labor activity should be a priority. At the same time, we pay special attention not only to increasing wages, but also to increasing employee motivation. After all, a motivated teacher, professor and employee supported by the team will contribute to the development of the university, professional growth and increased competition.

- Has the number of applicants for vacant faculty positions increased after the salary increase?

- This year 41 teachers from other educational institutions of Kazakhstan enthusiastically participated in the competition for filling vacant positions of the teaching staff. Currently, their documents are being considered by the tender committee.

It is worth noting that in the last academic year, on the basis of a special agreement, 42 foreign teachers worked at the university, who gave lectures to students, carried out scientific supervision of doctoral students. The issue of attracting foreign teachers is envisaged this year as well.

Already today, the university has attracted international scientists, such professors as Walbai Omirbayev and Bazbek Davletov, who have experience in teaching at universities in the United States and Europe, including the University of Cambridge. The issue of paying them wages will be determined on the basis of a separate agreement, depending on the potential of scientists.

- How did the university prepare for offline learning? What tasks are being solved in connection with the return to the traditional form of education?

- On behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in the new academic year, students of Al-Farabi KazNU will study in the traditional format. For the safety of students and teachers at the university, all necessary measures have been prepared and a clear plan of the work algorithm has been developed. The calculations of the load were made and the staff of the teaching staff was determined, an audit of the audit fund was carried out. The University took all measures to ensure the SES in educational buildings, dormitories, library, buildings related to the university. Thus, the university observes sanitary and epidemiological safety. Sanitizers, boxes for used masks, disinfection arches, thermal imagers are installed in all buildings and buildings. The university specialists have drawn up a flexible schedule of training sessions for all courses, taking into account breaks at different times, seating of students in classrooms in a checkerboard pattern and social distancing with 50% occupancy of classrooms and gyms. All students will use separate flights of stairs. From the beginning of the new academic year, access to all educational buildings and buildings, hostels on the campus will be carried out through the Ashyq system, where QR codes are installed. A vaccination station is open on campus (in the building of the Students Palace). The specialists have developed alternative action programs for various variations (strengthening / weakening of the quarantine regime) of the development of events. For example, if the quarantine regime is strengthened, the transition to online training will be carried out. At all faculties, meetings are held with students, where they explain the new rules of the educational process, which will be carried out in accordance with the new requirements regarding the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country. Thus, the order of the Head of State in the al-Farabi KazNU is being carried out in a comprehensive manner and in full.

- What percentage of students are ready to study offline? How is the issue of vaccination being resolved?

- This year 5,260 students entered the bachelor's degree program at KazNU, of which 1,200 will study on a paid basis. Compared to last year, the number of undergraduates is 22 percent higher. 2,150 entered the magistracy, of which 150 were contracted. This overall figure is 15.2% higher than last year. It should be noted that all students of KazNU are ready to study in a traditional format. However, due to the established sanitary requirements, we will not be able to accept all of them. The university strictly enforces mask-wearing and social distancing measures. The time of classes and breaks will be regulated by a special schedule.

With regard to vaccination, currently at the KazNU. Al-Farabi vaccinated 70.2% of the teaching staff (3,555), 79% (14,370) students. The university is actively conducting informational work on the organization of vaccinations. As part of the coronavirus vaccination campaign, 100 students were given a 50 percent discount on accommodation in the university dormitory. The teaching staff and employees were provided with social assistance at various levels, provided places in hostels for employees. All the vaccinated teachers and 4,001 students were given the image products of the university, including tracksuits, books, souvenirs, food coupons. The first group, consisting of 40 staff teachers and students, received a free ticket to a sports and health camp on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.

- What contribution does KazNU make to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's independence?

- At the Academic Council of Al-Farabi KazNU at the beginning of this year, a Plan was approved with the main events dedicated to the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reflected in the Roadmap "Otyz zhyldyga otyz aptalyk". According to the Plan, the university held events dedicated to the history of Independence and the merits of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev in the history of Kazakhstan.

The "Presidential Park", "Garden of Scientists", "Avenue of Trees" were opened and about 1,000 seedlings were planted. Within the framework of the project "Named audiences - a school of honor" at the University at the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, an auditorium named after O.O. Suleimenov, at the Higher School of Economics and Business - the lecture hall named after K.N. Naribayev. Public lectures were held in an online format, where politicians, scientists and ambassadors of the country spoke. As a result of the project "From 30 weeks to 30 years", books and collections, videos, documentaries and many others were published. dr.

- Students of KazNU were among the winners of the Tokyo Olympics. KazNU demonstrates great success in the Student Universiade. What do you think is the secret of the success of university athletes? Tell us about what is being done at the university today for the development of sports.

- Indeed, lately students of our university delight us with victories and great achievements in sports. At the last Olympics in Tokyo, graduates of KazNU - judoist Eldos Smetov and wrestler Nurislam Sanaev, as well as a 1st year student of the medical faculty Igor Son - won bronze medals of the competition. They not only adequately represented and defended the honor of the country, but also gave us a reason for pride and joy. And, of course, they are a vivid example for student youth. 10 alumni and students of KazNU competed in such sports as swimming, judo, freestyle wrestling, weightlifting and athletics for the national team of the Olympiad.

The KazNU team always successfully performs at the Student Universiade, since 2009 it has been the undisputed champion of these prestigious sports competitions. In the XI Summer Universiade among the universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which was held this year in Turkestan, our team won the overall team competition and took the 1st place, significantly ahead of its rivals.

These and many other sports achievements of KazNU are the result of serious, multifaceted and systematic work of the university to develop sports and physical culture. The university has created all the conditions for sports activities, cultivating a healthy lifestyle among young people, a sports complex, a football field and a gym have been built and equipped with modern equipment.

The Department of Physical Education and Sports prepares professionals in this field. A Sports Club and a Healthy Lifestyle Center have been created at the university, which develop mass sports and professional sports. Students have the opportunity to choose from 15 sports, which include: athletics, basketball, volleyball, athletic gymnastics, table tennis, chess, togyzkumalak, badminton, judo wrestling, football, boxing, sambo wrestling, kazakhsha kures, aerobics.

The university conducts constant targeted training of KazNU teams in 30 sports for competitions of different levels. And, no less important, students with various health problems or those who are undergoing rehabilitation after serious illnesses can work with experienced teachers in special medical or physical therapy groups.

University professors introduce modern (innovative) health-preserving technologies in curricula, conduct lectures for students aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, rational and proper nutrition with the involvement of leading experts.

Sport has been and remains an integral and important part of the life of students and faculty of KazNU named after al-Farabi.

- Thank you for the interview!