Strengthening International Scientific Cooperation with the University of Reading (UK)

From June 22 to 29, 2025, faculty members of the Department of Geography, Land Management, and Cadastre at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Professor A.A. Tokbergenova, Associate Professor A.N. Mussagaliyeva, and Senior Lecturer K.B. Zulpikharov took part in a scientific visit to the University of Reading (United Kingdom).
The trip was organized as part of the implementation of the research project BR21882122 "Sustainable development of natural-economic and socio-economic systems in the West Kazakhstan region in the context of green growth: comprehensive analysis, concept, forecast assessments, and scenarios."

The aim of the visit was to study advanced experience in sustainable land use, land degradation and desertification processes, as well as the impacts of climate change on landscape systems.

During the visit, meetings and consultations were held with scholars from the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading.
Head of the school, Professor Simon Mortimer and Professor Martin Lukac presented the main scientific directions and innovative approaches to sustainable land resource management, emphasizing rational use of agricultural lands under changing climatic and environmental conditions.

Lecturers visited research laboratories and units where they became acquainted with methods for assessing soil and vegetation conditions, field experiments, and data collection technologies in agroecosystems.

A scientific discussion was also held on modeling desertification processes, assessing territorial vulnerability, and maintaining land degradation neutrality in agricultural areas.
Prospective directions for joint research and publications were outlined, and steps were defined to strengthen academic cooperation between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the University of Reading.