MEETING OF DELEGATIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, AND AL-FARABI KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY AT THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA

On October 11, 2025, a meeting was held at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, attended by delegations from the University of Calgary, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The key objective of the meeting was to discuss the strengthening of academic partnerships and the launch of new joint initiatives aimed at developing priority areas such as social work, sustainable development, and tourism.

During the meeting, the parties emphasized the importance of the ongoing cooperation between the Department of Applied Social Sciences and the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management and the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Meeting participants noted that joint educational and research projects are a key instrument for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Innovation and Infrastructure), within the context of Central Asia.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was represented by Professor Hok Bun Ku, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia, and Dr. Yip Sui Kan. The University of Calgary delegation was represented by Dora M. Y. Tam- Professor of the Department of Social Work. Representatives from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University included Aliya Aktymbayeva- Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Dean of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Management, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia; Alexander Artemyev - Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism; Eldar Nuruly- Senior Lecturer of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Administrative Assistant at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia; Aruzhan Saimassayeva - Instructor at the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Project Assistant at the Centre for Sustainable Development in Central Asia.

Following the meeting, participants reaffirmed the strategic importance of strengthening and further developing the partnership between Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the University of Calgary.