Leadership Lecture by the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan: “Kazakhstan’s Water Security: Current Challenges and Development Prospects”

On October 21, 2026, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted a leadership lecture by Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, entitled "Water Security of Kazakhstan: Current Challenges and Development Prospects."

The event was attended by the Dean, Vice-Deans, academic staff, and young researchers of KazNU's Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, as well as representatives of other faculties and structural divisions of the University.

The meeting was opened by Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Chairman of the Management Board – Rector of KazNU, who emphasized the importance of integrating science, education, and modern technologies to address the strategic challenges facing the country's water sector. He also highlighted the University's readiness to expand scientific cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

During his leadership lecture, Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov addressed key issues related to ensuring Kazakhstan's water security, current challenges in water resources management, and prospects for the sector's development. Particular attention was paid to the rational use and conservation of water resources, improving public administration mechanisms, and introducing scientific approaches and modern technologies into water management practices.

The Minister emphasized that population growth and increasing demand for water resources make efficient water use, sustainable river basin management, and stronger scientific support for decision-making particularly important.

One of the central topics of the lecture was the development of the basin-based approach to water resources management. Nurzhan Nurzhigitov outlined ongoing efforts to develop river basin plans and stressed the importance of actively involving the scientific community in addressing practical challenges in the water sector.

In this context, special attention was given to KazNU's research activities in hydrology and water resources assessment. The Minister highly appreciated the results of comprehensive studies conducted by University researchers in the Talas River basin and expressed interest in further joint efforts to develop a basin management plan based on scientific research.

For the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, the issues raised during the lecture are particularly relevant, including water resources assessment and forecasting, the study of hydrological processes, rational water use, and the application of modern research methods in river basin management. These areas are directly related to the Faculty's research and educational activities, particularly the training of specialists in hydrology and water resources.

The meeting also addressed the training of qualified professionals for the water sector, expanding opportunities for students' professional internships, and involving young researchers in applied scientific projects. The Minister invited KazNU students and researchers to participate in joint projects and undertake internships at organizations affiliated with the Ministry.

An important outcome of the meeting was the signing of two cooperation agreements between KazNU and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The first memorandum aims to strengthen the strategic partnership, while the second provides for joint scientific and expert research involving University researchers and specialists from the Information and Analytical Center for Water Resources under the Ministry.

The leadership lecture by Nurzhan Nurzhigitov served as an important platform for discussing current challenges in Kazakhstan's water security and prospects for cooperation between science, education, and government institutions.

The participation of representatives of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences contributes to strengthening scientific cooperation, advancing applied research, and training highly qualified specialists capable of addressing pressing challenges in water security and sustainable water resources management in Kazakhstan.