QS Pre-Summit brings together rectors of the world's universities
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted the QS Higher Education: Asia Pacific 2024 pre-summit dedicated to higher education. The international event was organised in honour of the 20th anniversary of the QS Asia Pacific Summit.
The meeting was attended by Jason Newman, Chief Commercial Officer of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Malik Otarbayev, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Chairman of the Board - Rector of KazNU Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Akim of Almaty Yerbolat Dosaev, Regional Director for Client Partnerships in EAEU and Global Government of QS Sergey Khristolyubov. Rectors of 350 universities from 150 countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, international experts and leaders of Kazakhstani higher education also gathered.
Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.
‘Head of State Kasym-Jomart Tokayev said: ‘Education and science need international best practices. Universities and scientific organisations should become a strategic centre making a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.’ Today, university science plays an important role in the development of the economy. Now global trends and modern challenges determine the development of higher education. QS is one of the most prestigious international rankings reflecting the performance and results of the world's universities. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the best practices of training qualified specialists, implementing the results of scientific research in production,’ the rector said.
In turn, Chief Commercial Director of the analytical agency QS Quacquarelli Symonds Jason Newman noted the importance of holding the event at the leading university of Kazakhstan. In his speech, he also stressed that the pre-summit will be a platform for sharing best practices and ideas, identifying key trends and strategies to improve the quality of education and mobilise resources.
‘I am very pleased that the QS Pre-Summit is taking place in Kazakhstan, at one of the country's leading universities, Al-Farabi KazNU. We cannot solve global problems alone, so it is important for us to work together. Today's event brought together rectors of universities around the world and allowed to establish a dialogue between the parties in addressing issues of international level in the field of higher education and science. The QS rankings have given an impetus to the revitalisation of all universities. In particular, it allowed universities to work closely with each other, develop academic mobility programmes, share experience, and increase the motivation of scientists,’ said Jason Newman.
At the plenary session, Malik Otarbayev conveyed the sincere words of the Head of State Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. In his speech, the Advisor to the President emphasised that the issue of development of domestic science and education is under direct control of the Head of State.
‘The President of the country at the National Kurultai outlined our main goal. It is to become a progressive nation. The development of science and higher education is a strategically important priority for our country. Higher education contributes to the creation of an innovative and sustainable economy, increasing the competitiveness of the state. Issues related to knowledge and training of qualified specialists require international cooperation, active dialogue and exchange of experience. The Pre-Summit is aimed at improving the education system in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, increasing the competitiveness of universities,’ said Malik Otarbayev.
During the event, the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek made a report on the ongoing work of domestic universities on the development of higher education and science. The Minister noted that 21 Kazakhstani universities participate in the QS world ranking and achieve good results.
‘Today, Kazakhstan's universities are working systematically to increase partnership with global universities. We should be open to changes. This provides ample opportunities to raise the prestige of universities. This academic year about 30 thousand foreign students arrived in Kazakhstan. This is 10 thousand more than in the last two years. There are three prestigious rankings in the world. The most important of them is the international QS rating. 21 universities of Kazakhstan participate in the rating. Al-Farabi KazNU is the leader among domestic universities and occupies 163rd place. This year for the first time the Ministry has prepared a rating of domestic national universities. It was compiled jointly with experts of world ratings. Higher education institutions that have shown good results in the national rating will rise in the global QS rating. Such rating is implemented in the country for the first time,’ Sayasat Nurbek said.
The plenary session continued in sections devoted to the themes: ‘Integrating Global Goals into Education’, “Global Connections”, “Navigation Technologies: Best Practices in Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies”.
At the end of the event Sergey Khristolyubov made a speech, who awarded a number of Kazakh universities, which took high places in the QS World University Rankings 2025, and presented special certificates.
It should be noted that the QS Summit on Higher Education in Asia-Pacific will continue on 5-7 November in Macau. The final meeting of the QS Pre-Summit is scheduled for 8 November in Hong Kong.
Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
