Scientific and educational ties between universities of the SCO member states will increase

The International Symposium of SCO Universities "Cooperation in Higher Education and Production Integration" was held in Astana.

The large-scale event was attended by Bolat Akchulakov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education of the People's Republic of China, Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Secretariat of the Silk Road Universities Alliance, Zhanseit Tuimebaev, Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Zhangseit Liqun Zhang, Rector of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Serik Omirbaev, Acting Rector of Astana IT University, and rectors of 30 universities.

The international meeting is organized by the Silk Road Universities Alliance, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Astana IT University.
The symposium was opened by Bolat Akchulakov, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. "On the agenda of higher education institutions of the SCO member countries are the issues of close interaction with each other and strengthening cooperation in the field of higher education and science. At present, developed countries are making great efforts to turn their higher education institutions into world-class research universities to build economic potential. At the same time, the SCO universities are jointly trying to develop university science," the Presidential Advisor said.

In turn, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek noted that in recent years, the partnership between universities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has reached a new level.  "The SCO Universities Symposium will give a new impetus to further building up the scientific partnership. Today the ties between Kazakhstani universities and universities of the member states of the organization are growing day by day. Thus, under the program of academic mobility the work on exchange of teachers and students is carried out. Joint scientific projects are being implemented. I hope that these works will continue in the future. Within the framework of the instruction of the President of RK Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, branches of 24 leading foreign universities have been opened in the country for the last two years. Among them are the leading higher education institutions of the member countries of the organization. Our goal is to turn regional and state universities into international research universities, which will teach in English and Chinese languages," the minister said.

During the event, the rector of KazNU Zhanseit Tuimebayev spoke about the activities of higher education institution as an active participant of the SCO. In his speech, the head of the university also noted the importance of participation of the world's universities in the international event.
"From year to year cooperation in all spheres between the SCO member countries is increasing. In this context, universities play a key role, providing training of qualified specialists. Scientific research, development of international educational and business relations are of great importance at the present stage. Al-Farabi KazNU was one of the first Kazakhstani universities to sign a memorandum on cooperation between universities of the SCO member states and the SCO University Charter. The purpose of KazNU participation in the SCO University is integration into the world educational space and increasing the competitiveness of Kazakhstani higher education", - emphasized Zhanseit Tuimebayev.

An exhibition of educational and scientific achievements of the SCO member countries was also organized during the event.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University