News
of the Academy

MEETING WITH DR. MAX GEORG MEIER, PROJECT MANAGER OF THE HANNS SEIDEL FOUNDATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

Today, Erlan Abil, the Rector of the Academy, had a productive meeting with Dr. Max Georg Meier, Project Manager of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Central Asia.

During the meeting, both parties engaged in a fruitful discussion concerning the ongoing collaborative initiatives within the field of education and scientific research. They also explored opportunities for their cooperative efforts and shared their vision for future endeavors.

It’s worth noting that the Academy has maintained a successful partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation since 2009, primarily focused on providing training and advanced development opportunities for civil servants.

On September 29, 2023, a guest lecture took place at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as part of the “Development Day” program. The lecture was delivered by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Henri Vantieghem. The topic of the lecture was “Belgian Neutrality.”

Ambassador Henri Vantieghem shared significant historical moments from Belgium’s history and discussed the evolution of the country’s neutrality policy. The lecture concluded with a discussion and questions from master’s and doctoral students of the Academy.

Participants conveyed their appreciation to the Ambassador for delivering such an engaging and informative lecture.

The Chief Expert of the Institute of Applied Research Kuralay Nurbek participated in the IOM 2^nd Meeting of a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) on behalf of the Academy.

The meeting is organized within the framework of the Regional project “Programme for Facilitating Managed Labour Migration in Central Asia” (Phase 1), funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and contributes to strengthen bilateral labour migration cooperation. The participating countries of the project are Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The project, realized by the International Organisation for Migration, aims to support the efforts of governments and other stakeholders in target countries to identify problems and regularly adapt and improve policies.

A Country Level Project Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) is established as a platform for regular feedback between stakeholders to identify and respond to challenges and solve problems of labour migration taking into account the changing dynamics of the labour market and increasing the level of worker protection in recruitment and employment on a sustainable basis.

The IOM CCM meeting currently taking place in Oskemen (Zarechye) will examine ways to strengthen interaction and cooperation between countries participating in bilateral labour agreements with a focus on protecting the rights and well-being of migrant workers while ensuring mutual benefits for both countries: senders and recipients.

On September 14, the Rector of the Academy, Yerlan Abil, held a meeting with Su Changhe, Head of the Faculty of International and Public Affairs at Fudan University. During the meeting, various matters related to the exchange of specialists in the field of public administration, the organization of specialized internships for civil servants, and programs for teaching staff were discussed. Additionally, there were discussions regarding the joint degree program for Academy students and the possibility of collaborative research with Fudan’s research centers (think tanks).
It’s worth noting that Fudan University is ranked 50th in the QS World University Rankings among the world’s top higher education institutions and is highly regarded in China.

Fudan University’s programs in Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, and Public Affairs are in high demand among students. The university boasts a total of 77 research institutes, 112 interdisciplinary institutes, and 5 laboratories.
This meeting took place as part of the Forum of the Association of Law Universities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Forum for the Training of Highly Qualified International Specialists.

From September 11 to 13 of this year in the walls of the Academy was held a professional development seminar on «Strategic Thinking and Creative Problem Solving».
To share own experience and knowledge, was invited personal competence development trainer, executive coach, author of numerous courses and programs, facilitator Priti Dubey from Singapore.

During the training the trainees mastered methods of strategic thinking development, creative process of forming innovative solutions, critical problem solving, organizational practices of creativity development and sharing new ideas.

On September 12, the Forum of the Association of Law Universities of the SCO and the Forum on Cultivating High-Level Foreign-related talents commenced their activities in Shanghai. The opening of the plenary meeting was conducted by Pan Mutian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC SHUPL Committee. During this gathering, Rectors representing member countries and universities from China, Central Asia, and the SCO delivered speeches.

At the plenary meeting, Academy Rector Yerlan Abil emphasized the need of training globally competitive professionals within the SCO framework. He also conveyed the Academy’s commitment to establishing working groups and implementing projects in areas such as mediation, conflict resolution, water resources management, and regional governance.

“It is always crucial to train highly qualified specialists.  Numerous opportunities exist to enhance cooperation within the SCO university collaboration” stated the Academy’s Rector.

On September 12th, Samal Zhargakova, Deputy Director of the Institute for Professional Development at the Academy, delivered a presentation at the Forum of the Association of  Law Universities of the SCO and the Forum on Cultivating High-Level Foreign-related talents. She enlightened forum participants and guests about Kazakhstan’s accomplishments in the field of civil servant training and development. During her presentation, she introduced innovative methods currently employed in the implementation of Kazakhstan’s Public Administration Development Concept until 2030. On behalf of the Academy she  expressed readiness to collaborate in further enhancing the professionalism of the state apparatus and elevating the qualifications of civil servants.

Yerlan Abil, the Rector of the Academy, participated in the fırst meeting of the Forum of the Association of  Law Universities of the SCO and the Forum on Cultivating High-Level Foreign-related talents.

During the event, the Academy’s Rector held a meeting with Mr. Ge Weihua, the General Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai University of Politics and Law. During their discussion, it was introduced the activities of the Center for Training and Collaboration in the realm of International Law, which was established in 2013 at the initiative of the President of the People’s Republic of China.

Mr. Gui Weihua proposed the formation of an Alliance of Law Universities within the SCO framework, fostering partnerships in public administration, and promoting extensive collaboration among member states in civil servant training. Both parties expressed their commitment to further advancing multilateral cooperation.

Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerlan Abil held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belgium to Kazakhstan, Mr. Henri VANTIGHEM. During the meeting, both parties engaged in discussions regarding bilateral cooperation between their respective countries. The Ambassador provided brief overview of Belgium’s domestic and foreign policies, its historical and cultural features, and focused Belgium’s role within the European Union.

In turn, the Rector introduced the Ambassador to the Academy’s primary areas of activity, covered recent developments within the Academy, and effective political reforms taking place in Kazakhstan.

Furthermore, attention was dedicated to the enhancement of collaboration in the realms of education and research, particularly within the framework of the memorandum signed between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Brussels Diplomatic Academy at Vrije University of Brussels.

Yerlan Abil, the Rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a meeting with Dr. Reinhard Wagner, Chairman of the Board of the International Project Management Association.

The meeting took place within the framework of the IPMA® research initiative titled “Fostering a Project-Oriented Society.” This project’s objective is to analyze the impact of professional organizations on society’s inclination towards a project-centric approach. The endeavor involves comprehensive case studies conducted in five leading countries in the realm of project management: Germany, China, Kazakhstan, Croatia, and Peru. Dr. Reinhard Wagner is the leader of this research project and plans to visit all the countries mentioned in order to learn in detail about their experience in promoting a project-based society. During the meeting, Rector Yerlan Abil presented the role of the Academy in promoting a project-oriented society in the public administration system.

“The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan played a crucial role and acted as a coordinator in matters related to the formation of the national project management system, the establishment of the National Project Office, project offices within governmental bodies, and the development of regulatory documents to govern their activities. The establishment of the Project Management Development Center contributed to the Academy’s evolution as a unified educational and methodological platform, as well as a comprehensive resource for the systematization of knowledge and competencies of government officials in the field of project management. This development takes into account the specifics of Kazakhstan’s practices and the managerial intricacies within the public sector. Since 2018, the Academy has provided training for over 30,000 individuals, certifying around 3,000 people according to the National Standard of the Republic of Kazakhstan ISO and the British standard Prince2® in the field of project management. The majority of certified project managers from the Academy are employees of central and local government agencies, actively operating within the country’s project management ecosystem,” stated the Rector.

Dr. Reinhard Wagner gave a positive assessment of the Academy’s contributions and provided expert recommendations for further development in the field of project management in Kazakhstan.

He emphasized that Kazakhstan adopts methodologies developed on a global scale, including the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Project Management Institute (PMI) of the United States, and IPMA. “I believe this is a very good step to consolidate all available standards and make them accessible for your projects. I always emphasize that it’s not just about the methodology, but also about the mindset and thinking of people. And finally, I would like you to highlight what you do and how you do it in the spirit of serving your country” added Dr. Reinhard Wagner:

During this visit to Kazakhstan, both sides also discussed issues of cooperation between the Academy and the European University Alma Mater Europaea.

Press Service of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

This year, the Academy of Public Administration is planning to launch a project aimed at training government officials in the principles of “green,” low-carbon, and sustainable development. This was announced by the rector of the Academy, Yerlan Abil, at the International Forum in Astana.

The Academy took part in the kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ Project on ” Strengthening Higher Education in the Water Sector for Climate Resilience and Security in Central Asia”.
As part of this project, five universities from the European Union and twelve HEI from Central Asian states will collaborate to enhance professional competence in water management and water diplomacy.
Margarita Kadyrova, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, highlights that the project will prioritize the development of water diplomacy.
The primary objective of the Erasmus + project on ” Strengthening Higher Education in the Water Sector for Climate Resilience and Security in Central Asia” is to enhance human capital in Central Asian countries to address pressing issues related to the water sector. The project aims to achieve this goal through the development of new educational programs and the integration of innovative components into existing programs. The updated and newly created programs will prioritize the cultivation of critical thinking skills, proficiency in working with academic texts, and using of interactive teaching methodologies. Furthermore, the project will place significant emphasis on the advancement of water diplomacy as a distinct and specialized field within the realm of diplomacy.
According to the Vice-Rector, as part of this project, several key goals have been identified to address urgent issues in the water sector. These goals include training a new generation of managers, enhancing cooperation among the states of Central Asia in the domain of water resources management, enhancing the qualifications and expertise of professors and teaching staff involved in water-related disciplines, increasing mobility for experience exchange, supporting scientific research for innovation.
As emphasized during the kick-off meeting, higher education institutions will play a crucial role in the implementation of the project. Their involvement will be instrumental in achieving the project’s objectives. Furthermore, significant emphasis will be placed on fostering collaboration among state bodies, civil society, and the private sector regarding the matters under consideration.
The kick-off meeting took place on June 6-7, 2023, at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. This significant event served as a platform for collaboration, bringing together esteemed representatives from higher education institutions from the European Union and Central Asian states. The meeting garnered the participation of distinguished guests, including the Head of the European Union Mission to Kyrgyzstan, the Vice Minister of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, as well as representatives from the diplomatic missions of the Central Asian states.

As part of the Annual Conference of the Astana Hub “Meritocracy. Integrity. Innovation”, Mr. Zhu Lingjun, Head of the Anti-Corruption Research Department of the China National Academy of Governance, met with Mr. Yerlan Abil, the Rector of the Academy.

On April 26, an information and methodological seminar “EBSCO Electronic Resources for the Development of the Research and Educational Potential of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was held at our Academy. Mr. Aliaksandr Rytau, a regional representative of EBSCO in Kazakhstan, presented the seminar.

The seminar included two parts: the first was devoted to an overview of the EBSCO electronic resources available today in our Academy. The EBSCOhost platforms, methods for searching for research findings and working with them were demonstrated during the second part of the seminar.

On April 27-28, 2023, at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the support of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs and the Astana Civil Service Hub, a scientific and practical conference was held on the topic “Open government and a new management culture: hear, understand, act.”