ISSUES OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WERE DISCUSSED

The leadership of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University took part in the University Rectors’ Conference of with the participation of universities of Central Asia representatives and members of the Bologna Process Control Group (BFUG) in Astana. Issues of further development of regional cooperation in the field of education in Central Asia were discussed at the event.

The conference brought together representatives of the Ministries of Education of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, rectors of universities in Central Asia, Latvia, the Council of Europe, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), UNESCO, BFUG, and international organizations.

The plenary session of the conference was opened by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek. In 2021 Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan adopted the Turkestan Declaration on the Basic Principles of the Higher Education Space in Central Asia. In May 2022 a forum of rectors of Central Asia was held in Almaty, during which it was decided to establish an Association of Universities of Central Asia.

"We consider the higher education space in Central Asia as a free zone where students and academic staff of universities can freely move to study, exchange knowledge, experience, and participate in research. In the current academic year, Kazakhstan has allocated 186 grants to citizens of the countries included in the Central Asian Educational Space, as part of the scholarship program for foreign citizens," Sayasat Nurbek claimed.

In turn, the participants exchanged views and expressed their suggestions.

During the conference, the participants made a joint decision on the establishment of the Bureau of the Central Asian Higher Education Area. It will operate on parity terms, with the inclusion of a representative from each country in its composition. The mission of the Bureau will be to increase the attractiveness of higher education in Central Asian countries through the promotion of Bologna reforms in the region. The permanent body of the Bureau will be located in the Center of the Bologna Process and Academic Mobility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Press Service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University