Higher Education in Kazakhstan: System Structure and Labor Market Relevance
HIGHER EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan is a country the size of Western Europe, with a population of almost 17 million. This population is quite well educated, a positive legacy from the former USSR; other inheritances are less positive. Great efforts have been made in recent years to reform Kazakhstan’s education system to meet the needs of a modern competitive economy.
This review considers how far these efforts have succeeded, and what more still needs to be done, in the higher or tertiary education sphere. The report, therefore, focuses on education at the stage – or level –beyond secondary, including higher professional (vocational) education, but comments on other aspects, notably secondary general and vocational education, where it is necessary and relevant to do so.
The report analyses the main challenges and makes a series of recommendations, structured around the following themes:
System structure and labor market relevance
Access and equity
Financing
Improving quality
Governance and management
Internationalization
Research, Development and Innovation
System structure and labor market relevance
The higher education sector has recently expanded and diversified, but in the years to come, demographic and other changes will reduce the number of students leaving school and put pressure on the viability of at least some universities. Rationalization of the higher education sector, when necessary, should be achieved by improving quality assurance – so that only deserving and well managed universities remain – and then allowing well informed students to choose the institutions likely to give them the best deal.
Fuller, more objective, independent information and guidance should be provided during secondary education to help students make sensible further education and employment choices. Schools should deliver this with input from employers.
A national curriculum should be developed for the 12th year that will equip
Kazakhstan is a country the size of Western Europe, with a population of almost 17 million. This population is quite well educated, a positive legacy from the former USSR; other inheritances are less positive. Great efforts have been made in recent years to reform Kazakhstan’s education system to meet the needs of a modern competitive economy.
This review considers how far these efforts have succeeded, and what more still needs to be done, in the higher or tertiary education sphere. The report, therefore, focuses on education at the stage – or level –beyond secondary, including higher professional (vocational) education, but comments on other aspects, notably secondary general and vocational education, where it is necessary and relevant to do so.
The report analyses the main challenges and makes a series of recommendations, structured around the following themes:
System structure and labor market relevance
Access and equity
Financing
Improving quality
Governance and management
Internationalization
Research, Development and Innovation
System structure and labor market relevance
The higher education sector has recently expanded and diversified, but in the years to come, demographic and other changes will reduce the number of students leaving school and put pressure on the viability of at least some universities. Rationalization of the higher education sector, when necessary, should be achieved by improving quality assurance – so that only deserving and well managed universities remain – and then allowing well informed students to choose the institutions likely to give them the best deal.
Fuller, more objective, independent information and guidance should be provided during secondary education to help students make sensible further education and employment choices. Schools should deliver this with input from employers.
A national curriculum should be developed for the 12th year that will equip