The concept of sustainable development
The concept of the implementation of quality education at NJSC "Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi" in the context of sustainable development
Preamble
The United Nations General Assembly has developed as a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all 17 interlinked Sustainable Development Goals (hereinafter referred to as the SDGs).
The SDGs are designed to ensure a decent quality and standard of living for present and future generations, while maintaining a balance between economic prosperity, social security and the preservation of natural resources and the environment.
The Concept for the Development of Higher Education and Science in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023-2029, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 28, 2023 No. 248, names the main trends in higher education in the world: massification, interaction of universities and business with the state (triple helix), digitalization, internationalization, initiatives of academic excellence, increased requirements for the quality of educational services and scientific research of universities, orientation towards serving society, development of corporate governance and academic freedom of universities.
The Development Program of the Non-Profit Joint Stock Company "Al-Farabi Kazakh National University" (hereinafter referred to as the University) for 2022-2026 defines the goals and objectives of the University, which support the idea of achieving the SDGs through the provision of inclusive and fair quality education, taking into account modern trends in higher education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The goal is to transform into a world-class research university.
Tasks:
1. integration of scientific activity and the educational process at all levels of higher and postgraduate education;
2. formation of a promising model of university education and provision of academic leadership;
3. increasing the contribution of university science to the socio-economic development of the country;
4. creation of an effective corporate governance model to ensure sustainable development of the University.
The University recognizes the importance for the present and future society of reassessing, rethinking and redefining education, so that in the end it embraces as many principles, knowledge, skills, beliefs and values associated with achieving the SDGs and ensuring sustainability in all three areas: ecology, society and economy.
The process should be global, interdisciplinary and involve the general public. Education for sustainable development is designed to teach people from different walks of life to anticipate, overcome and solve problems that threaten the sustainable development of all spheres of human activity.
In this regard, the University integrates the theme of sustainable development into educational programs, conducts educational and informational work at the University level, local, republican and international levels.
SDG 1. Universal eradication of poverty in all its forms.
1.1. The University is committed to enrolling individuals who fall into the 20% group with the lowest household income in the country.
Every year, the University allocates a budget for social scholarships and material assistance to students of vulnerable groups. Social scholarships are provided with discounts from 5% to 100% for the following categories of persons:
- orphans;
- students with disabilities;
- students whose parents have a disability;
- students from low-income families;
- students who lost one of their parents.
1.2. The university operates programs and initiatives to help students who fall into the lowest 20% household income group in the country in order to complete their studies.
1.3. The university aims to provide quality educational services and employment assistance to students who fall into the group of 20% with the lowest household income in the country. To do this, the university organizes quarterly various events such as job fairs, round tables, forums, etc. for all students.
1.4. The University will assist the residents of Almaty city in creating financially and socially sustainable enterprises through appropriate education or resources: training seminars, etc.
1.5. The University organizes training and programs to improve access to educational services not only for students of the University, but also for everyone through the development and implementation of massive open online courses on the open education platform Open KazNU.
SDG 2. Eliminating hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, promoting sustainable agricultural development.
2.1 The University will provide access to knowledge, skills or technologies in the field of food security and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture to local farmers and food producers.
2.2. The university will provide access to university facilities (laboratories, technologies, plant funds) to local farmers and food producers to improve sustainable agricultural practices.
SDG 3: Ensuring healthy lifestyles, promoting well-being for all at all ages.
3.1. The University will implement outreach programs and projects in the city of Almaty, including student volunteer programs, to improve or promote health and well-being, including hygiene, nutrition, family planning, sports, exercise, healthy aging and other health-related topics. and well-being.
3.2. The university will use its own sports facilities in conjunction with general education schools and residents of the city living in nearby houses.
3.3. The university will provide students with access to sexual and reproductive health services, including information and education services.
SDG 4. Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
4.1. The University annually graduates students of three levels of education, in the 2022-2023 academic year successfully graduated: bachelor's degree - total: 6578, of which with honors - 1256, master's degree - 1774 and doctoral degree - 442.
4.2. The university provides free access to educational resources for those who do not study at the university: library, online courses, public lectures, etc.
4.3. The university holds public events: public lectures, public educational events.
4.4. The University hosts events open to the general public - short courses for people who do not attend the University.
In accordance with the Concept for the Development of Higher Education and Science in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2029, measures are being taken to develop the Silver University model: training programs and online courses are being developed aimed at improving the competence of the category of persons in need of training and employment, including the number of leaders. The online project "Silver University" is implemented in the form of massive open online courses on the platform of open education Open KazNU.
The University implements educational activities, including career guidance, outside the campus: in secondary schools and colleges in Almaty, through specialized lectures and demonstrations, as well as in the form of massive open online courses on the platform of open education Open KazNU and online master classes platform of the Open Master Class project.
SDG 5. Ensuring gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
5.1. The University takes planned actions to recruit students/employees/teachers regardless of gender, observing the principle of gender equality and empowering all women.
5.2. The University provides an opportunity to receive a fair and inclusive quality education for everyone regardless of gender, observing the principle of gender equality and empowering all women.
SDG 6. Ensuring the availability and rational use of water resources and sanitation for all.
6.1. The University will provide educational opportunities, implement educational projects for the communities of the city of Almaty to convey information about the proper management of water resources.
SDG 10. Reducing inequality within and between countries.
10.1. When recruiting students/staff/teachers, the University provides an opportunity to receive a fair and inclusive quality education for everyone, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion and economic or other status.
10.2. The University provides support in obtaining education to persons with special educational needs (hereinafter referred to as SEN), taking into account:
- the needs of students with SEN, their parents/legal representatives, fellow students, teachers and other employees of the University in obtaining advice on the individual and differentiated approach to the education, upbringing and development of students with SEN;
- adaptation of educational programs in accordance with the individual characteristics of development and potential opportunities of students with special educational programs and the development of individual educational trajectories for them;
- use of distance and online learning technologies to ensure equal access for each student with SEN to receive a quality education and meet their educational interests and needs;
- professional training, retraining and advanced training of teachers and employees of the University working with students with special educational programs;
- creation of special conditions for students with SEN, which give them physical accessibility and include reasonable accommodations, ramps, etc. to facilitate the presence and movement in the University and on its territory, provide technical, software, library and material equipment for training.
SDG 11. Ensuring openness, security, resilience and environmental sustainability of cities and settlements.
11.1. The university offers to study disciplines and refresher courses on the topics of climate and sustainable development.
11.2. The university offers disciplines that study climate and its changes, as well as sustainable development. The disciplines are integrated into educational programs in accordance with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - ECTS and lead to the award of an officially recognized qualification in the field of climatology and environmental sustainability.
11.3. The educational programs of the University are aimed at developing the practical skills and scientific methods necessary for the analysis and understanding of natural processes. Graduates in this field are capable of making important decisions in the field of meteorology, ecology, geography and other related disciplines aimed at conserving natural resources and combating climate change.
11.4. Actual problems of climate and environmental sustainability of cities and towns are considered in the framework of graduation works / projects, master's and doctoral dissertations.
11.5. The University strives to become a member of national and international climate protection organizations.
SDG 13. Taking urgent measures to combat climate change and its consequences.
13.1. Among the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including residents of the city of Almaty, the University conducts educational activities and disseminates information that contributes to the mitigation and mitigation of the effects of climate change, their early warning and adaptation to them.
13.2. The University takes an active part in the development of draft regulations governing environmental protection, ensuring the rational use of water resources in the countries of the Central Asian region.
13.3. The University trains undergraduates in the field of environmental protection with the aim of sustainable protection of water resources, maritime and energy law of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
SDG 14. Conservation and rational use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
14.1. The university offers educational programs in hydrology, within which water management is studied, for all interested citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including residents of the city of Almaty.
14.2. The University implements educational programs and conducts educational work on sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism for all interested citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including residents of the city of Almaty.
14.3. The University conducts educational activities to raise awareness of overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and harmful fishing practices in the Caspian Sea and other water bodies of Kazakhstan, including the city of Almaty, for all interested citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including residents of the city of Almaty.
SDG 15. Protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and promotion of their rational use, rational forest management, combating desertification, stopping and reversing the process of land degradation and stopping the process of biodiversity loss.
15.1. The University implements educational programs and conduct outreach work on sustainable land management for agriculture and tourism; restoration of degraded lands and soils, including lands affected by desertification, droughts and floods; conservation of mountain ecosystems; conservation of the biodiversity of the region, etc. for all interested citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including residents of the city of Almaty.
SDG 16. Promoting a peaceful and open society for sustainable development, ensuring access to justice for all and creating effective, accountable and participatory institutions at all levels.
16.1. In order to provide the public with access to information and protect fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislation and international agreements, the University publishes information on ongoing educational programs, rules for admission to study, provision of preferential conditions for education, academic policy in the public domain on the official website and other official information and educational platforms of the University.
16.2. The university adheres to an anti-discrimination policy - bullying and harassment are categorically unacceptable.
16.3. The university creates conditions for the training of specialists who react sharply to all types of discrimination.
16.4. The University pursues a policy of open dialogue with religious denominations, representatives of religious groups, various social groups and strata.
16.5. The university holds scientific conferences where acute problems concerning the protection of human rights, access to justice, combating domestic violence and other forms of discrimination are openly discussed.
16.6. The university organizes advanced training courses for professional journalists and lawyers in order to activate the institutions of civil society.
SDG 17. Strengthening the means of implementation and strengthening the work of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.
17.1. The University publishes progress in achieving SDG 4 "Quality Education" on the official platforms of the University: website, YouTube channel, social network pages, as well as in the media of Kazakhstan and abroad.
17.2. The University implements special educational programs, disciplines, online courses dedicated to the SDGs.
17.3. The university conducts special outreach educational activities for the wider community, which may include alumni, local residents, displaced people.