The Republican Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Education and Science in Reducing Poverty”

From 24 to 28 November 2025, Almaty hosted the Republican Scientific and Practical Conference “The Role of Education and Science in Reducing Poverty”, organized within the framework of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 1 “No Poverty”, SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being”, SDG 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girlsand” and SDG 17 “Partnerships for the Goals.”

The Department of Sociology and Social Work took an active part in the conference, organizing and conducting a series of events aimed at discussing mechanisms for poverty reduction through the development of education and science, as well as the strengthening of public health. The conference theme was directly aligned with SDG 1, as it focused on identifying scientifically grounded and practice-oriented solutions to reduce social inequality and population vulnerability.

During the plenary session, presentations were delivered by Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science Meirbayev B.B., Head of the Department Abdiraiymova G.S., and Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Sadyrova M.S. The speakers highlighted key social, economic, and demographic factors influencing poverty and emphasized the role of education and science as essential tools for sustainable development and social mobility.

The conference continued with the section “Nation’s Health as a Guarantee of Sustainable Development and the Future of an Independent Country,”

where special attention was given to public health as one of the fundamental conditions for overcoming poverty, directly corresponding to SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being.” Participants discussed the impact of health status on quality of life, labor potential, and social well-being.

Within this section, a training session was conducted that included:

            •           presentations by invited experts;

            •           interactive activities;

            •           quizzes, competitions, and prize awards.

Experts from the Kazakhstan Association for Sexual and Reproductive Health (KASRH), the National Commission on Women and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as Chevron, shared their expertise. Their participation clearly demonstrated the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and collaboration among government, business, and civil society in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.

Students of the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work actively engaged in discussions, showing strong interest in issues of public health, sustainable development, and the role of education in reducing poverty.

The conference clearly demonstrated that achieving SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 5 and SDG 17 is possible only through a comprehensive approach that integrates scientific research, quality education, improved national health, and the development of effective partnerships.

We thank all participants for their active involvement, engagement, and valuable contribution to discussing strategically important issues for the future of the country.