Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences Discusses Strategic Priorities for Advancing in International Rankings

On October 7, 2026, a meeting was held at the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University between S. Yermekbayev, Vice Chairman of the Board – First Vice-Rector, and the faculty's academic staff.

The meeting focused on strengthening the university's position in international rankings, improving the quality of scientific research, expanding international cooperation, and enhancing the performance evaluation system for academic staff.

During the meeting, the First Vice-Rector presented an analysis of the faculty's current performance indicators, including research publication activity, scientific citation impact, international research collaboration, and academic mobility opportunities for faculty members and doctoral students.

Particular attention was given to improving the quality of scientific publications indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, increasing the proportion of articles published in high-ranking Q1 and Q2 journals, and improving research citation indicators.

According to the data presented, researchers from the faculty published 490 scientific papers indexed in Scopus between 2022 and 2026. The faculty's international research cooperation covers 49 countries, with 197 scientific publications co-authored with international researchers. Key research partners include leading universities and research institutions from China, Hungary, Germany, the United States, and other countries.

One of the main topics of discussion was the faculty's and departments' Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2026–2027. The participants reviewed objectives related to increasing scientific publications, developing joint research projects with international scholars, expanding academic mobility, improving the quality of educational programs, and attracting additional resources to support research and educational activities.

The meeting also addressed improvements to the academic staff performance evaluation system. Updated requirements for scientific publication activities and a differentiated remuneration system based on KPI achievement were presented.

The First Vice-Rector emphasized the importance of strengthening international academic partnerships and expanding cooperation with leading foreign universities and research centers. Priority areas included inviting international experts to deliver lectures and scientific seminars, establishing joint supervision arrangements for doctoral students, organizing research internships, and increasing the number of international co-authored publications.

In addition, the faculty's academic mobility results for the 2025–2026 academic year were reviewed. During this period, faculty members and doctoral students completed 88 international trips to 20 countries, including 49 trips by academic staff and 39 trips by doctoral students.

At the conclusion of the meeting, key priorities for further development were identified, including strengthening cooperation with international research organizations, increasing scientific publication activity, expanding academic exchange programs, and enhancing the faculty's research capacity.

The meeting provided an important platform for discussing the strategic development priorities of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences and identifying further steps to strengthen the international academic and research reputation of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.