International Olympiad "PhysChemist-2025" through the eyes of master's student

As part of her pedagogical practice, first-year master’s student Sailau Aruzhan of the Chemistry specialty at the Department of Physical Chemistry, Catalysis, and Petrochemistry actively participated in the organization and execution of the international Olympiad «PhysChemist-2025», dedicated to the memory of Professor Kh.K. Ospanov. The Olympiad took place at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and brought together students from leading universities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia.

Sailau A. was involved in all stages of preparation for the Olympiad: information materials (brochures, invitation letters) were developed; the necessary technical and equipment was prepared; maintained order in the halls during testing; supervised the testing process, ensuring academic integrity in both offline and online formats via Zoom, preventing any attempts at cheating; responded promptly to technical difficulties related to material presentations via Zoom, ensuring the smooth running of the event; organized video recordings of key moments of the Olympiad; assisted in preparing certificates and the award ceremony. At first glance, many of these tasks may seem minor. However, in practice, each required a high level of responsibility, attentiveness, and the ability to respond quickly in challenging situations. For instance, during technical failures, master's students had to promptly find solutions to maintain the continuity of the event. During the testing process, master's students ensured academic integrity by preventing any attempts at cheating, which is a key aspect of an objective knowledge assessment.

Participation in the Olympiad taught Sailau A. such aspects as: working in a team and effectively distributing responsibilities; making quick decisions in unforeseen situations, especially when it is necessary to demonstrate materials via Zoom; competently coordinating work with participants and organizers; developing administrative and pedagogical skills.

According to Sailau A., the PhysChemist-2025 Olympiad allowed us to understand how important such events are for the student community. They not only motivate participants to develop analytical thinking and a competitive spirit but also strengthen international connections between universities, creating a platform for future scientific collaboration. This experience will undoubtedly be useful in our future professional careers as well as in developing organizational and leadership skills. Participating in such events helps build confidence, teaches us to handle difficulties, and provides insight into how educational and scientific events operate at an international level.

Head of pedagogical practice Tashmukhambetova Zh.Kh.