KazNU Scholars Secure Grants for International Research Projects

A new phase of research collaboration has commenced at the PolyU–KazNU Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia. Academic staff of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) have secured grant funding to implement four joint research projects supported under the PolyU–KazNU Joint Research Projects 2025 scheme.

The total funding amounts to HKD 1 million, with each project awarded HKD 250,000. The projects are implemented in collaboration with researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and are aimed at developing both fundamental and applied solutions in the fields of sustainable development, digital transformation, sustainable tourism and social sustainability in Central Asia.

A key feature of these initiatives is their interdisciplinary nature. The research integrates the analysis of tourism processes, digital monitoring methods, social and governance approaches, as well as practice-oriented solutions for territorial development and the support of vulnerable population groups.

Projects:

1) Empowering Communities Through Destination Marketing: A Sustainable Approach to Promoting Community-Based Tourism in Rural Kazakhstan.

This project focuses on developing sustainable models for promoting rural tourism destinations in Kazakhstan based on the active participation of local communities. Destination marketing is examined as a tool to enhance local economic engagement, support grassroots initiatives and foster more resilient local tourism product structures. Particular attention is given to communication, positioning and partnership formats that enable rural destinations to remain competitive while preserving authenticity and avoiding excessive pressure on natural and social resources. Project leaders: Dr Mahlagha Darvis Hmotevali (PI, PolyU Project Coordinator), Dr Aliya Aktymbayeva (KazNU Co-PI).

2) Invisible (Shadow) Overload: Detecting Tourism Pressure through Digital Trace Analysis in Under-Instrumented Natural Landscapes of Central Asia.

This project addresses one of the most challenging practical issues in natural area management: identifying and measuring tourism pressure in contexts where monitoring infrastructure and regular data collection are limited. The research team analyses digital traces of tourist activity to detect “shadow overload”, identify areas of potential risk and establish a more reliable evidence base for informed management decisions. The approach aims to improve data quality for planning, impact assessment and the prevention of negative environmental consequences across Central Asia’s natural landscapes. Project leaders: Dr Faye Hao (PI, PolyU Project Coordinator), Dr Yeldar Nuruly (KazNU Co-PI), Dr Akmaral Sapiyeva (KazNU Co-PI).

3) Empowerment-Based Community Tourism Development in Rural Kazakhstan: A Model for Sustainable Socio-Economic Growth.

This project aims to develop a model of sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas through tourism, grounded in the principles of empowerment–strengthening local capacities and expanding community participation in decision-making, tourism product creation and benefit-sharing. The study explores institutional and practical mechanisms that enable rural areas not merely to host tourists, but to build a resilient development system that supports local entrepreneurship, increases employment, strengthens human capital and creates long-term incentives for improving quality of life. Project leaders: Dr Yang Zhan (PI, PolyU Project Coordinator), Dr Gulbaram Kulakhmetova (KazNU Co-PI), Dr Nan Chen (PolyU Co-PI).

4) Mapping Inclusive Innovations in Support Services for Disadvantaged Youth: Comparative Case Study in Central Asia and Hong Kong.

This project reflects the social dimension of sustainable development and focuses on a comparative analysis of inclusive innovations in support services for disadvantaged youth in Central Asia and Hong Kong. The research seeks to identify and compare effective support practices, determining which solutions and models are most successful in terms of service accessibility, inclusion, inter-agency coordination and social sustainability. The project has strong applied potential and may inform future improvements in youth support systems and socially oriented service provision. Project leaders: Prof Eric Wing Hong Chui (PI, PolyU Project Coordinator), Prof Gulmira Abdiraiymova (KazNU Co-PI).

Significance for the Centre’s Development

The launch of four projects under the PolyU–KazNU Joint Research Projects 2025 reinforces the role of the PolyU–KazNU Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia as an active research platform generating evidence-based solutions in key areas of sustainable development. For KazNU, this represents not only an expansion of international research collaboration but also a strengthening of interdisciplinary research capacity at the intersection of tourism, digital technologies, sustainable governance and social research.

Project implementation involves close collaboration between research teams, the exchange of academic approaches and the development of joint research trajectories, creating a solid foundation for future initiatives and practical outcomes in the region.