Economist +

On November 11, 2022, a regular meeting of the Economist+ club was held in the business center of the Academy of Public Administration in the format of an interactive business game.

The organizer and host of the business game was a 2nd-year master’s student in the specialty «Economics» Zhomart Sarabek.

The participants of the intellectual game were undergraduates of the Institute of Management, united in two teams «Capital» (captain – Akhmetov Aidan) and «Crisis» (captain – Baysarin Margulan).

The teams competed in knowledge in such sections as «Laws of Economics», «Sustainable Development Goals», «National Accounting System», «Great scientists in history», «Riddles», «Currencies of the countries of the world». At the same time, the teams had the opportunity to choose the topic and the «weight category of the question» in points.

The meeting of the club «Economist +» was attended by Candidate of Economics, Professor Kusainova L.I., Candidate of Economics, Associate Professor Turalin A.Z., PhD, Associate Professor Ukibaeva G.K., Master of Law, assistant Ermekbayeva E.O., as well as a representative of the Institute of Applied Research – PhD, acting Associate Professor Shayakhmetova Sh.T.

According to the results of the business game, the winner was the team «Crisis», which received a special cup.

All participants of the club meeting were awarded personal diplomas.

The first week of the New Year on January 13, 2023 began with the Gamification: Food Resources Management simulation on the Economist+ interactive platform.

Topical issues of food security were discussed, which are being studied within the framework of the grant project of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: AP14871923 Management of food security in the region in the face of global challenges based on the concept of Data Driven Decision Making.

Undergraduates ME – 22, MRR -22 showed great interest, activity and creativity in solving problematic issues of the use of water, energy and food resources.

Showing their communication, each participant justified his managerial decision.

Gamification allowed undergraduates to hone the skills of cooperation between sectors of the economy, regions, and states.

Discussing the results of the game, the audience expressed satisfaction with the ability to make strategic decisions on food security, agricultural development, energy and efficient use of water resources from different angles.

The leaders of the club “Economist +” Professor Dulambaevа R.T. and Kusainova L.I. note that certified undergraduates made strategic decisions more quickly, showed the possibilities of alternative approaches to addressing green economy issues.

Professor Dzhumabaev S.A. emphasized the importance of openness, completeness, reliability and their availability for a wide range of stakeholders.

New technologies of simulation programs are effective tools for improving the competence of decision makers.

 On October 6, 2023, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the grand opening of the 6th season of the Economist + club in the form of the interactive game JEOPARDY. The new members of the ME 23 “Funny Economists” and MPP 23 “A. Smith” teams were welcomed by the Director of the Institute of Management Gaipov Z.S., Professor Dzhumabayev S.A., and our DPA-21 doctoral students, ME22 and MPP 22 master’s students also came to wish the guys good luck.

It should be noted that the master’s students of both teams had a fairly high level of training; the questions were difficult but interesting. The A. Smith team (MPP23) boldly chose questions from the “Economics” section and answered correctly, which inspires respect and gratitude for being interested in economic issues.

The ME23 team presented interesting and correct answers to fairly complex questions that required certain knowledge in specific areas, intelligence, and ingenuity.

The game was really a game, it was lively and fun thanks to our host Sayat Zhusupbekov (ME22). The Cup was won by the “Funny Economists” team, but friendship always wins!

Big respect to our jury members, professors of the Institute of Management Serikbaeva B.M., Nurmagambetov A.S., doctoral student Alisharipov A.T., master’s student Kabdullov M.Kh., who showed professionalism, honesty, and openness when evaluating the teams’ work.

We thank the teams, the organizers – the ME22 group, associate professor of the Institute of Management Ukibaeva G.K., the jury members for their active participation in this event and we encourage you to get more actively involved in the interesting world of economics+!

Club leaders, professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On November 10, 2023, a round table (online, offline) was held at the Economist + platform at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where current issues of food security and ways to solve it were discussed. The round table was held as part of the implementation of the scientific project AP14871923 “Managing regional food security in the context of global challenges based on the concept of Data Driven Decision Making” (scientific supervisor Professor Dulambaeva R.T.)

Of great interest were the speeches of invited experts represented by the director of MedHouse Kazakhstan LLP, member of the Regional Council of the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Astana Isabaev S.K. (interests of business); member of the commission on information and analytical work of the Public Council of Astana, President of the Association of Legal Entities “Association for Relations between Business, Society and State” Uteuova A.D. (interests of the population); Head of the Department of Agro-Food Markets and Processing of Agricultural Products of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kamzin S.K. and his deputy Zhurynova S.K.

Topical issues of physical and economic accessibility of food security, improving the quality of domestic food products, forming a new policy to address issues of providing socially significant food products (SSP), improving business processes for supporting business support programs, etc. were raised

2nd year master’s students Khatepova N., Khaliullin Zh., Zhaksybekova Zh. made interesting reports, 1st year master’s students of the educational programs MRD, MRR took an active part. Many proposals and recommendations were made to address issues of ensuring food security in Kazakhstan.

The discussion identified pressing issues:

– SSP and support for the socially vulnerable population or the entire population, what should be the state policy?

– Is there a need to regulate prices for agricultural products and control the 15% markup on them, or is the market mechanism for regulating prices effective? Maybe it is necessary to increase the income of the population so that they can buy products at market prices?

– How to remove intermediaries, reduce their activities? Organize a direct chain of interaction between the farmer and the buyer of food products

– What is the reason for high food inflation? Maybe systemic measures are needed to solve these problems? Is there a need to subsidize agricultural producers? If so, it is necessary to develop mechanisms for implementing support taking into account the risks, benefits, costs.

– Increasing the role of domestic potential for the production of mineral fertilizers as a factor in improving product quality, etc.

Participants of the scientific project Dzhumabaev S.A., Kusainova L.I., Musataeva A.A. and others summed up the results of their research and highlighted new aspects of work for the coming period.

A decision was made to work together to form an analytical note on current issues of food security. Today there were heated debates at the table, various opinions, critical statements, rational proposals from all participants – representatives of business, the population, government agencies were heard.

Together – we are strong!

Club leaders, professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On December 1, 2023, at the request of the ME-23, MRR-23, MRR-22 master’s students, a round table was held at the Economist + platform within the framework of “Development day” to discuss current issues of the modern economy: special economic and investment zones and public-private policy.

The discussion of these topics was attended by the Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Institute of Social Research Iskakov Aziz Yerzhanovich and the Deputy Director General – Leading Researcher of the National Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Dana Akylbekovna Yeshimova.

The issues of the discussion were the methodology for assessing the effectiveness of existing special economic and investment zones, and the real practice of applying PPP in the Republic of Kazakhstan, comparing these phenomena with advanced foreign practices.

Professor Zhumabayev S.A., Associate Professors Ukibaeva G.K. and Serikbaeva B.M. took an active part in the discussion and in preparing the round table. and assistant Dosmagambetova A.

At the end of the meeting, an agreement was reached between the trainers and speakers to continue the discussion on an individual basis, which was the goal of the meeting of the Economist + club and its leaders Dulambaeva R.T. and Kusainova

On December 8, 2023, the following task was set at the Economist+ platform at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

– to form a pool of experts on the ecosystem approach to making management decisions;

– learn to think strategically, treat the country, the region as a single whole, a systemic structure, where everything is connected and dependent on each other.

Countries are also in a system of relations regarding the use of water, energy, food. It is necessary to learn to hear each other in the family, at work, in the country, in the world, to make environmentally friendly, balanced decisions.

To solve these problems, a meeting was held with an expert, coordinator of international projects of USAID Marhabo Yodalieva, who agreed to conduct a training on the Nexus game with our colleagues and graduate students. This training is the second one at the Academy, and it was organized at the request of both students and teachers. And, of course, again delight, a storm of emotions, new acquaintances, insights, joy, happiness and new ideas, the desire to do something useful for our country.

We thank Arman Seipilovich, Baglan Mukhamedzhanovna, Maira Namgenovna, Ainur Muratovna, Serik Dzhumabaevich for their active participation and support of Margarita Bolegenovna in organizing this project and congratulate our talented colleagues and graduate students on receiving a European-standard certificate for successfully completing the Nexus Simulation training.

Special thanks to the coordinator of the capacity building and education component of the Nexus Project (EU) Yodalieva Markhabo for professionally conducting the training.

The Nexus Project allows for the active implementation of an integrated approach to management in the educational process and public administration. There are plans to play these simulations in government agencies with management and experts. This proposal came from our listeners. This is the result, let’s keep working! The club leaders are professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On February 9, 2024, a round table was held at the Economist + platform on the topic “Key indicators (KPI) of regional food security: a practical aspect” as part of the implementation of the scientific project “Managing regional food security in the context of global challenges based on the concept of Data Driven Decision Making”

The current message of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was reflected in the work of experts on the development of specific mechanisms for ensuring food security at the regional level.

An expert, researcher Onerkhan Sansyzbayuly made a proposal to implement a project to promote a national brand for environmentally friendly products, their certification, and the production of a trial range of national products.

The current issues of underfunding of the agro-industrial complex, the lack of reliable data on objects and entities of the agro-industrial complex, the results of subsidies, issues of monitoring the distribution of budget funds, and the search for effective means of organizing the processes of interaction between economic entities and the state were discussed.

Deputy General Director of Concordia Group LLP Kairat Sultanbekov presented the capabilities of the information system (Koldau/Kezekte), which has been updated in terms of functions and directions.

The discussion focused on the need to use real working tools for implementing economic policy, in particular, increasing the efficiency of the farmer financing policy.

The issues of interaction between government agencies and private businesses were updated, including with the service provider company Concordia Group, which effectively performed the functions of distributing and monitoring the efficiency of budget funds, searching for alternative sources of financing, etc. The company is ready to provide the state with information services, provide access to services, but there are administrative barriers that can and should be addressed.

However, they are not being addressed, and as a result, farmers, the population, and the country suffer. The problems are identified, and specific steps are proposed to solve this problem. It is time for all of us: scientists, businesses, government agencies, NGOs, to sit down at the round table and solve such cases together. The discussion was actively attended by civil servants, roundtable speakers, guests and participants of the scientific project Asel Zhunusova, Daulet Esmagambetov

Prosperity and food security to our country!

Club leaders, professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On March 1, 2024, an expert meeting in the format of a focus group on the problems of formation of real monetary income of the population was held at the dialogue platform “Economist +” of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where the target audience were representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, experts in the field of formation of population income, our master’s and doctoral students, professors.

It turned out to be a productive discussion, a kind of brainstorming, which is actually very important for our students who are engaged in research.

Akmaral Taishykova, a 2nd year master’s student of the MRR, moderated the meeting, conducted a focus group on all requirements at a fairly high level, thus testing the results of the study.

The opinion of the experts aroused great interest, each participant contributed to today’s discussion.

The meeting program was rich, the most pressing issues of concern to the population were discussed. For example, real wage indicators, credit obligations of citizens, taxation, the subsistence minimum of citizens of the country. Objective recommendations were given to improve the well-being of residents, increase the cash income of citizens.

Master’s and doctoral students approached the problem not only as practitioners, but as researchers.

Professors Zeinelgabdina A.B., Dzhumabaeva S.A., Arystanbekov K.T., Marmontova T.V., Zhunusova A.Zh., Vitchesko V. took an active part in the discussion with valuable recommendations.

Club leaders, professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On March 29, 2024, at the dialogue platform of the Economist + club with the participation of the Kyran debate club, current issues of agricultural subsidies were discussed: pros and cons!

Two teams ME 23 (opposition), ME 22 (state) defended their positions based on real facts and data.

The speeches were based on the principles of evidence-based policy, this deserves respect for our participants, great respect to the teams!

We thank the members of the judging committee of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs, the head of the Kyran club Ukibaev G.K. and the host Dosmagambetov A. for their competent work.

The club leaders are professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaev R.T., Kusainov

On April 5, 2024, a meeting of the Economist + club was held at the site of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, master’s students of the educational programs “Public Policy” and “Economics” presented the results of their research for discussion.

Many of these master’s students joined the research group and actively participated in the implementation of a scientific project for grant funding on the problems of food security management as experts.

The result was a unique synthesis of scientific, practical, educational activities, at the round table there was an active exchange of opinions between experts, professionals from different levels of government (CSO, MIO), professors Dzhumabayev S.A., Zhunusova A.Zh., scientists.

The guys received specific recommendations, good wishes from colleagues from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, directors of departments, research centers. It is very pleasant that the research results were highly appreciated by the experts of the ministry.

Constructive dialogue allowed graduates to professionally and worthily represent the Academy – 2nd year master’s students MPP-22 and ME-22 Nazgul Khatepova, Zh. Khaliullina, B. Eltaeva, N. Kuntuova, D. Zhaksybekova, M. Ospanova, N. Utegenova, A. Salamata.

 The leaders of the club are professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On April 12, 2024, a meeting of the Economist+ expert club was held at the site of the Eurasian Monitoring Analytical Research Center.

Scientific research at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the one hand, is research by graduate students on specific problems in the areas of activity of their government agencies. On the other hand, there is research by the faculty on current pressing issues within the framework of their specialization and scientific projects. These two branches in close collaboration create products that fall into research “baskets” (there are currently 5 such “baskets” in the Academy, https://www.apa.kz/ru/about-ru/missiya-i-videnie/). Which makes the Academy a leading center for developing expert solutions in the field of public administration and public policy.

The basis for such an expert meeting was organized within the framework of the study “Improving public administration of border regions of Kazakhstan in the context of ensuring food security” (NSGP master’s student Vladimir Vitchenko).

The testing of the results of the master’s research served as the basis for discussing the current state and problems of public administration in the border regions of Kazakhstan with a focus on ensuring food security with the development of recommendations for improving the effectiveness of governance mechanisms.

The discussion was attended by professors and teachers of the Academy Dzhanenova S.A., Kasymova D.K., Abisheva M.A., Dzhumabayev S.A., Zhunusova A.Zh., Director of the Center for Analytical Research “Eurasian Monitoring” Alibek Tazhibayev, Professor of the International University of Astana, Scientific Director of the CAI “Eurasian Monitoring” Marmontova T.V., representatives of government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses.

In the context of increasing threats to the stable provision of food security and independence, the quality of planning and implementation of state policy in this area is an important task. For Kazakhstan, in view of the continuing dependence on imports of a significant share of food products, machinery and equipment for agricultural production and processing industry, the basis for strengthening food security is, first of all, increasing the efficiency of the domestic agro-industrial complex and its basic industries. The level of agricultural production directly affects the state of food security of the country. The development of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan in recent years has shown quite positive results, but as the influence of external threats increases, internal risks persist, and prospects for the global agro-food market develop, there is a need to optimize government support measures, stimulate integration and cooperation processes in agricultural production, and diversify production in accordance with natural, climatic, and socio-economic factors.

Due to its specificity, the agricultural sector cannot participate equally in inter-industry competition in market conditions. Relatively low-income agriculture, dependent on natural factors and having a pronounced seasonal, cyclical nature of reproduction, is a sector that is more technologically backward compared to industry and provides a lower return on invested capital.

The development of the agro-industrial complex infrastructure is also a promising task and is associated with the creation of technological systems for storing and processing agricultural raw materials in the production of environmentally friendly competitive food products. The solution to the problems of the development of the agro-industrial complex is determined by the level of financing, mainly from the state budget, which should be carried out based on the principles of strategic planning, based on concentration on significant and priority areas of increasing the competitiveness of agriculture and ensuring food security.

The participants also noted that the solution to most of the remaining problems depends on the level of research and design work.

The leaders of the club are professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I

On November 2, 2024, an off-site meeting of the Economist + club was held at the site of the situation center of the State Services Committee of the MCRIAP RK on the topic “Digital management tools: eGov development, Big Data, artificial intelligence”.

The meeting program was very rich and information was received on the digitalization of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the development of e-government, the use of “big data” and artificial intelligence, a demonstration of Smart Data Ukimet, and international cooperation.

The doctoral students and master’s students were addressed by Yusupova Ainur Abduakhasovna – Chairman of the State Services Committee of the MCRIAP RK, Isabekova Gulmira – Director of the Department of Open Data and Integration Services of JSC NIT, Galiyev Damir – Manager, Investment Projects Management of JSC NIT, Andrey Lim – Lead Data Science Engineer, Baimen Azamat – Director of the Product Promotion Department of JSC NIT. The openness of the speakers allowed the trainees to receive fairly complete answers and information on the research issues of doctoral and master’s projects.

The club leaders are professors of the Institute of Management Dulambaeva R.T., Kusainova L.I.

On December 13, 2024, the Economist + discussion platform discussed current issues of financial management: technology, tools, risks (online, offline).

The issues of risk management in the investment portfolio were shown by Sarenova Gulzhanat – teacher – practitioner of “Edutrade” school of trader, trader, expert on the stock market. The instruments of the stock market were shown in an accessible and understandable way using the example of the American market “Tramporalli” in such areas of the economy as the defense and energy sectors.

The instruments of hedging, risk reduction and the possibility of option transactions were shown.

The issues of managing cryptocurrency companies and funds such as iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which are currently experiencing significant growth, were of particular interest to doctoral and master’s students.

    No less relevant financial management tool was the issue of insurance activities. The speaker of the insurance market was the regional director of Nomad Life in Astana, Mirat Zhekenov, who professionally revealed the issues of life insurance, guarantees of safety of insurance premiums, and preferential taxation regime.

At the discussion platform, doctoral students and professors of the Academy recommended some issues of regulation of this activity in order to form an alternative basis for managing various types of financial products, which in the future create the basis for increasing the assets of all types of financial markets in our country, using the experience of developed countries. Professors A.B. Zeinelgabdin, S.A. Dzhumbayev, doctoral students Kutumov N., Abuov Murat, master’s students Zhekenov Dulat, Sailaubek Ylylas, Raziyev Kadyr, Dzhayilganova Gulsheru and Moldakhmetova Perizat took an active part in the discussion in offline and online mode.