Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences Holds First Academic Council Meeting of the New Academic Year

On August 31, 2026, the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of al-Farabi Kazakh National University held its first Academic Council meeting of the new 2026-2027 academic year.

Opening the meeting, the Dean of the Faculty congratulated the faculty members on the beginning of the new academic year and wished the team successful and productive work, as well as new achievements in research and education.

During the meeting, the main areas of the Faculty’s activities for the upcoming academic year were reviewed. Members of the Academic Council discussed the plan for academic, methodological, and educational work, identified priority tasks for the departments, and outlined key areas for the Faculty’s further development.

Particular attention was paid to the strategic development of the University and strengthening its position in the global academic community.

Zhandos Baizhuma, Director of the Strategic Development Center of al-Farabi Kazakh National University, delivered a presentation entitled «Pathways to the TOP 150: Analysis of Al-Farabi KazNU’s Position in the QS World University Rankings and a Strategy for Closing the Gap to the TOP 150».

In his presentation, Zhandos Baizhuma provided an analysis of the University’s ranking dynamics in the QS World University Rankings and outlined the main areas of work required to achieve the strategic goal of placing Al-Farabi KazNU among the world’s TOP 150 universities.

The presentation provided a detailed overview of the key indicators that determine the University’s position in the QS World University Rankings. These included academic reputation, citations per faculty member, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, employment outcomes, the proportion of international students and faculty, international research networks, and sustainability.

Particular emphasis was placed on improving the quality and citation impact of research publications, expanding international research cooperation, and strengthening engagement with international partners, employers, and alumni. Increasing the share of publications by faculty members in Q1-Q2 journals was identified as one of the key strategic priorities.

During the discussion, specific tasks were identified for faculties and departments aimed at enhancing the University’s international visibility and improving research performance. Particular importance was attached to developing sustainable partnerships with international academic institutions, expanding the geographical scope of international cooperation, implementing joint research projects, and increasing the number of co-authored international publications.

The meeting concluded with a question-and-answer session, during which participants received clarification on the issues discussed and had the opportunity to put forward their proposals.

The first Academic Council meeting established the main priorities for the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences for the 2026-2027 academic year. The implementation of the planned initiatives will contribute to the further development of the Faculty’s educational and research activities and support the achievement of al-Farabi KazNU’s strategic goals.