Opening of the IV International Winter School "Education for Sustainable Development: Innovative Models"

On February 17, 2025, the grand opening of the IV International Winter School dedicated to the International Day of Education established by UNESCO took place at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. This day is celebrated as a recognition of the importance of education in ensuring sustainable peace and development at the global level.

The event was organized by the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Journalism, the UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development, together with the Department of Print and Electronic Media.

Participants and format: The Winter School brought together participants from different parts of the world, including media representatives, teachers and students from Kazakhstan, Germany, Great Britain, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Russia. Also among the participants are students, undergraduates and doctoral students from Afghanistan, China, Yemen, Nigeria and Ethiopia. The event will be held from 17 to 28 February in a hybrid format, with workshops, lectures and discussions conducted by leading experts from international organizations, universities and the media.

Official opening: The opening ceremony was attended by prominent personalities, including:

•  Altai Kazmagambetov, Member of the Board - Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
• Vlastimil Samek, Representative of the UN Department of Global Communications in Kazakhstan
• Rafis Abazov, Vice-Rector for International Relations at KazNAIU
• Yerkebayeva Asemgul, press Secretary of the public organization "Jerdin Dostary"
• Nurlan Usmanov, Executive Secretary of the newspaper "Halk Suzi" Uzbekistan

Master classes and lectures: After the official part, the participants started a rich program of lectures and master classes. Experts from UNESCO, the United Nations and leading universities of Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries took part in discussions on topical issues of media literacy, digital technologies and environmental management.

Environmental initiatives and the country's image: One of the main aspects of the winter school is to draw attention to environmental initiatives, sustainable tourism, and educational innovations. The participation of journalists and experts from different countries creates a unique opportunity to share experiences and spread ideas aimed at nature conservation and sustainable development. Effective presentation of information about such initiatives contributes to the formation of a positive image of Kazakhstan in the international arena, strengthening cooperation in the field of ecology, ecotourism and sustainable development. The Winter School has been held since 2022 and for four years has established itself as an important educational platform for discussing issues of sustainable development, innovative models of education, ecology and ecotourism.

Excursion and duration: The end of the 1st day event was an excursion to the Scientific Center for Sustainable Development and Rational Use of Natural Resources. The event will last 10 days, at the end of which participants will receive a certificate of professional development for 72 hours.