Presentation of the project

      On 02.10.2017, project coordinator Hugo Bragioni presented the project at the plenary session of the IV Central Asian International Scientific and Practical Conference "Internationalization of Medical Education".

  

The first meeting of the parties

        From November 13-17, 2017, the first working meeting of the participants of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan/TRUNAK) was held in Karaganda State Medical University within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.
The aim of the project is to create a model for the transition of Kazakhstani universities from the traditional form of management to autonomous management.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of health, Ministry of education and science of the RK, the European University Association (EUA), 6 European universities: Lund University, Sweden; Ljubljana University, Slovenia; the Aga Khan University, UK; Lublin Technical University, Poland; Savonia university of applied sciences, Finland;  Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Italy; 6 universities of Kazakhstan: Astana medical university; M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan state medical university; M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan state university; Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau state university; Karaganda economic university of Kazpotrebsoyuz, as well as representatives of the Independent Association of Medical Students of Kazakhstan (KazMSA, HTAcamp).

  

Bilateral meeting with representatives of the European University Association (EUA)

    On January 1, 2018, in Brussels (Belgium), a meeting was held with the partners of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan/TRUNAK" by the European Association of Universities. The meeting was attended by Project Manager Guldana Akhmetova, Director of the Department for Management, Financing and Development of Public Policy Thomas Easterman, Deputy Director of the Department Enora Provot and representatives of the Finance Department. The content of the program of the upcoming seminar, scheduled for March 19-20, 2018 in Brussels, as well as organizational issues of the seminar were discussed on the agenda.

Monitoring of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (TRUNAK)

     On March 5, 2018, KSMU monitored the project" Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan " (TRUNAK) within the framework of the Erasmus+ program implementation by the Director of the National Office of the Erasmus+ Program in Kazakhstan Sh.U.Tasbulatova and Deputy Director Zh. B. Kazbekova.
     The purpose of the monitoring is to get acquainted with the activities carried out and the results of the project, to discuss the existing problems and difficulties of the operational and financial plan, to determine ways to solve them.
     The monitoring was attended by representatives of the Ministry of health and the five universities of Kazakhstan in the person of the rector of KSMU Dosmagambetova R.S., rector of M.Kozybayev NKSU S.M.Omirbayev, rector of M.Ospanov WKSMU  Y.Zh.Bekmukhambetov and Vice-rectors of universities, in the person of Vice-rector of KSMU A.A.Turmuhambetova, Vice-rector of KSMU V.P.Ricklefs, Vice-rector of MUA Y.A.Akhmetov, Vice-rector of M.Ospanov WKSMU G.A.Smagulov, Vice-rector of KEUK R.O.Bugubaev, Vice-rector of ASU G.S.Dzharasova. During the meeting, the project partners discussed the progress of the project.
      The members of the project working group prepared presentations on working packages, in order to inform the participants about the progress of work on working packages. The presentations highlighted the goals and objectives of the project, the relevance of the project goals, the effectiveness of the project, the prevalence and potential of sustainable development. After the presentation of the project participants, a joint discussion on the achievement of the results of the TRUNAK project was organized.

  

Training seminar in Brussels   

     On March 19-20, 2018, the partners of the TRUNAK project, the European Association of Universities, held a training seminar for all project participants. The seminar was attended by 15 participants from Kazakhstan partner universities and 5 participants from European partner universities. Also, Nuraliyeva Ulmira Auezkhanovna, Head of the Department of Medical Education Management of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, took part as a non-academic partner. Project Manager in European Union Agency EACEA, Ann Changemaker and Advisor to the Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Belgium, Saulekul Sailukyzy attended the seminar as guests..
     During the meeting, the Director of the Development Department for Management, Finance and Public Policy, Mr. Thomas Isterman, and the Deputy Director, Mrs. Enora Prouvost, presented the results of research conducted in 29 European universities on autonomy issues. Further, the step-by-step application of this methodology in Kazakhstani universities was presented, as well as issues related to data collection and analysis, and the expected results of this study were discussed.  The Kazakh partners actively participated in the discussion of questionnaire questions, transparency and clarity of the answers provided, and the possibility to invite other universities that are not part of the project to identify the state of university autonomy.  The results of the study are planned to be discussed in an extended meeting with all representatives of Kazakhstan's universities in November this year.
The staff of the European Association of Universities provided information on the definition of university autonomy, its advantages and structural conditions based on European benchmarking.
The rector of the University A.A.Taltenov and the director of the Department of Strategic Development D.A.Tuyakova attended the seminar.

Clustered meeting

     On May 15, 2018, a clustered meeting "Ensuring the impact and sustainability of Erasmus+ structural projects to increase the potential of higher education in Kazakhstan" was held at Kazakh National Agrarian University. The clustered meeting was organized and conducted by the National Office of the Erasmus + program in Kazakhstan.
    The objective of the clustered meeting was to get acquainted with the goals and results of the Erasmus + structural projects aimed at increasing the potential of higher education.
    The clustered meeting was attended by members of the Erasmus+ structural project teams, representatives of 35 universities and other organizations, members of the Erasmus+ national team for higher education reform, and foreign coordinators. Only 75 people. At the clustered meeting, 7 structural projects implemented in 21 universities of Kazakhstan were presented.
     On behalf of the TRUNAK project ("Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan"), the clustered meeting was attended by representatives of the M. Ospanov WKSMU, KSMU, MUA, M.Kozybayev NKSU, KEU of Kazpotrebsoyuz, and Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University. The project coordinator, Director of the Department of Strategic Development of Karaganda State Medical University Hugo Bragioni presented the key positions of the project.

Online meeting within the framework of the TRUNAK project

     On May 23, another online meeting was held within the framework of the Erasmus+ project with the participants of the TRUNAK project. According to the agenda of the meeting, the project coordinator provided the following information: on external quality experts, on the project management board, on the results of the cluster meeting in Almaty (May 15), on the reallocation of funds for equipment. The project participants discussed the implementation of data collection on the questionnaire "University Autonomy" and set the date of the next online meeting.

Study of autonomy using the EUA model

     During May 2018, the project working group conducted a study of the state of autonomy in state universities according to the EUA methodology.
     The completed research report was translated into English and submitted to the EUA in June 2018.

Working meeting of the project participants

     As part of the Erasmus+ project, a meeting of participants of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (TRUNAK) was held in Karaganda State Medical University on November 19, 2018. Representatives of European University Association, Lund University, Ljubljana University, the Aga Khan University, Lublin  Technical University, Savonia university of applied sciences, Catholic University del Sacro Cuore, JSC "Astana Medical University", M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan state medical university, M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan state university; Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau state university, Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, as well as representatives of the Kazakhstan Organization of Medical Youth (KazMSA) attended the meeting. During the meeting, the results obtained so far were discussed: the developed database system for project management, a training seminar on the methodology of university autonomy research, preliminary results of the survey on university autonomy in Kazakhstan, purchase of equipment by Kazakh partners, a quality assurance plan, preparation for the conference on autonomy. Future plans were also discussed: development of recommendations on the university management model, a discussion group, a seminar at Lund University in 2019.

     

International Conference "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Prospects"

     On November 20-21, 2018, the Karaganda State Medical University hosted the global international conference "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan: Challenges and Prospects", which aims to discuss various aspects of institutional autonomy.
    The conference was organized by the Karaganda state medical University, the national office of Erasmus+ in Kazakhstan with the support of the Ministry of health and the Ministry of education and science of RK.
    Over 500 international experts in the field of education from Belgium, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, Finland, France, Slovenia, Lithuania and Russia, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Office of Erasmus+ in Kazakhstan, members of the National Team of Experts on the Reform of Higher Education in Kazakhstan, heads of educational organizations, as well as specialists of personnel and financial services, academic work, scientists, teachers, students of the university took part in the conference.
    During the conference, the most pressing issues of expanding the possibilities of university autonomy were discussed: organizational and managerial autonomy, financial autonomy, personnel policy of the university, the university's powers in academic autonomy, the principles of organizing the educational process, the state's educational policy in the field of higher education.
    At the plenary session, the reports of the members of the Erasmus+ project "Transition to university autonomy in Kazakhstan /TRUNAK", Director of Management, Finance and Public Policy Development of the European Association of Universities Thomas Estermann and his deputy Enora Pruvot, reflecting the analysis of the world experience in the implementation of university autonomy and the current situation in Kazakhstan, were presented. S.M.Omirbayev, Rector of M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University, told about the progress of the reform of the introduction of institutional autonomy in Kazakhstan in his report.
    Foreign universities-partners of the Erasmus+ project Increasing the potential of higher education "Transition to university autonomy in Kazakhstan / TRUNAK" conducted master classes on four types of autonomy: personnel, organizational, academic and financial. The moderators of the master class on organizational autonomy were Thomas Estermann, Director of Management, Financing and Public Policy Development of the European Association of Universities and M.Z.Shaidarov, Rector of the Astana Medical University. The speaker of the master class was Tomas Mars, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Ljubljana University, Slovenia. During this master class, the issues of organizational and managerial autonomy, working in conditions of organizational autonomy, and the principles of the distribution of powers between top-level bodies and operational and executive-level bodies were discussed.
    On the same day, a master class on personnel autonomy was held, moderated by Enora Pruvot, Deputy Director for Management, Finance and Public Policy Development of the European Association of Universities. Speakers of the master class was made by the head of the international Department of the medical faculty of Ljubljana University, Slovenia - Jernea Chelofiga, Director of the Department of Strategy, Quality and Internationalization of M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University - Pogrebitskaya M. V. and Vice-rector for Clinical and Scientific Work of M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan State Medical University - Smagulova G. A., where examples of European universities, regulatory requirements in Kazakhstan, recruitment of employees, problems were discussed..
    On the second day, S.M.Omirbayev, Rector of M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University and Vaiva Hendriksson, First Vice-Rector of KSMU and Professor of Vilnius University, Lithuania, were moderators at the academic autonomy. Speakers of the master class: Marek Miłosz, Deputy Dean of the faculty of electrical engineering and computer science, Deputy Director of the Institute for Informatics of Lublin Technical University, Poland and David Taylor, Director of the  Aga Khan University, UK. The main points of discussion were the selection of students in universities, the rules for the development of educational programs, the formation and implementation of quality assurance, and the management of the educational process.
    In parallel to the academic autonomy, financial autonomy was held, where the moderators were Kamshat Tussupova from the Department of Water Resources of Lund University, Sweden and  A.T.Abdikarimova, Head of the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurship of the Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz. Speakers: Professor of the Department of water resources, Lund University, Sweden - Ronnie Berndtsson, head of the management and control of the section of hygiene, Catholic University del Sacro Cuore, Italy - Francesco Maddalena, an expert in the field of management and Finance universities of Savonia University of applied sciences, Finland - Veli-Matti Tolppi and Director of educational programs and development of the Aga Khan University, UK - Stephen Lyon.
   All the partner universities of the project and the guests of the conference participated in the master classes. At the end of the training seminar and master classes, participants were issued certificates of participation.
   At the end of the conference, a panel discussion was held, where European and Kazakh universities, in cooperation with the ministries, exchanged views on the progress of reforms in higher education, developed recommendations for further improving the process of expanding university autonomy in Kazakhstan.

  

Analysis of EUA reports

    In order to implement the next stage of the Erasmus+ TRUNAK project "Matching the needs of Kazakhstan's universities and the existing EU models for university management" at Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University was created the working group by order of the rector. The working group includes vice-rectors, heads of structural divisions, and teachers. The Working Group analyzed the report of the European Association of Universities (EAU) on the state of autonomy of Kazakh universities, discussed the conclusions and recommendations of the EAU, identified specific areas of university management that are negatively affected by the current rules, and prepared a list of changes to the proposed recommendations and proposals of the EUA.
    The results of the work were presented to the university staff as part of the Methodological Decade on January 15, 2019. After discussion, the report is presented to the TRUNAK project working group.

Master class at Lund University

  From 4.02.19 to 08.02.19, a seminar on creating a model of university autonomy was held at Lund University, Sweden, as part of the project " Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan "(TRUNAK).
   Representatives of Karaganda Medical University, European Association of Universities, Lund University, Ljubljana University, the Aga Khan University, Lublin Technical University, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Catholic University del Sacro Cuore, Astana Medical University, M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan State Medical University, M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan State University, Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz took part in the seminar. Vice-Rector for Science S.N.Idrissov made a report at the master class on behalf of Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University..
    During the seminar, the report of the European Association of Universities on the current situation in the management of universities and recommendations on the process of reforming higher education were presented. European partners shared their experience in creating university autonomy. At the end of the seminar, a draft of the basic model of university autonomy was developed. In addition, within the framework of the seminar, the partners discussed further activities of the current stage of the project.

  

Master class at Ljubljana University

    From 25.02.19 to 01.03.19, the second seminar on the creation of a model of university autonomy was held at Ljubljana University, Slovenia within the framework of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (TRUNAK). The first seminar was held at Lund University, Sweden from 4.02.19 to 08.02.19. Participants of the seminar were representatives of Medical University of Karaganda (Kazakhstan); the European University Association (Belgium); Lund  University (Sweden); Ljubljana University(Slovenia); the Aga Khan university (UK); Lublin University of technology (Poland); Savonia university of applied Sciences (Finland); Medical University of Astana, M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan state medical University, M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan state University; Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University, Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz (Kazakhstan). The seminar was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of education and science of Kazakhstan and Ministry of health. The moderator of the seminar was the rector of the Medical University of Karaganda Professor R.S.Dosmagambetova
    This seminar, like the previous event at Lund University, was held in two stages: in the first half of the day, partners from European countries presented the concepts and principles of autonomy in European universities, in the second half of the day, participants worked in small groups under the guidance of foreign experts.
    On the last day of the seminar, the working groups presented recommendations on the reform process and proposals for making changes to the regulatory legal acts of Kazakhstan. The developed draft model on academic, organizational, personnel and financial autonomy of Kazakhstan's universities has been submitted to the next working group of the TRUNAK project for further discussion at a seminar in Lublin Technical University, Poland, which will be held on 04.03.2019-08.03.2019.
    At the seminar, the university was represented by the Vice-rector for academic affairs G.S.Dzharasova and the chief accountant G.Ryskulova.

  

Master class at the Lublin Technical University

    From 04.03.19 to 08.03.19, the third seminar on the creation of a model of university autonomy within the framework of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (TRUNAK) with the participation of universities from partner countries was held at the Lublin Technical University, Poland. The first seminar was held at the University of Lund, Sweden from 4.02.19 to 08.02.19, the second from 25.02.19 to 01.03.19 at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. These seminars were held as part of the implementation of the Working Package 2.1. Discussion groups on University Autonomy.
     The seminar was moderated by Professor A. A. Turmukhambetova, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development, Science and International Cooperation of the Karaganda Medical University together with Dr. David Taylor, Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilization of the Aga Khan University (Great Britain). At the master class, the university was represented by the Vice-rector for social affairs and youth policy L.Y.Koishigulova  and the manager A.Y.Chukurov.
     This seminar was held in two stages: in the first half of the day, partners from European countries presented the concepts and principles of autonomy in European universities, in the second half of the day, participants worked in small groups under the guidance of foreign experts.
     On the last day of the seminar, the working groups presented recommendations on the reform process and proposals for making changes to the regulatory legal acts of Kazakhstan. The developed proposals on the academic, organizational, personnel and financial autonomy of Kazakhstan's universities will be considered by the working group at a seminar at Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University, which will be held from 15.05.2019 to 17.05.2019 in order to develop a basic model of autonomy.

   

The Academic Council Report

    The report "On the implementation of the ERASMUS+ project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan/ TRUNAK" was presented at the meeting of the Academic Council. Vice-Rector for     Academic Affairs Gulzhan Dzharasova presented the main stages of the project, proposals for expanding the autonomy of universities and further measures for the implementation of the project.

Working meeting on the basis of the NCJSC "Medical University of Karaganda"

    From 05.04.2019 to 06.04.2019, a working meeting was held on the basis of the NCJSC "Medical University of Karaganda" within the framework of the Erasmus+ project "Transition to University autonomy in Kazakhstan/ TRUNAK" to discuss the results of the recommendations developed during the seminars at European universities and the development of the report with representatives of M.Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University and the Medical University of Karaganda, responsible for the implementation of the WP 2.Development working package.

  

Seminar on the basis of Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University

   On May 15-16, a seminar on the development of the basic model of autonomy was held at Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University within the framework of the project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" (TRUNAK). The program of the first day of the seminar was devoted to the presentation of the results of the 2. Development work package, proposals for expanding the 4 types of autonomy discussed at seminars in Slovenia, Poland, Sweden, and mechanisms for implementing autonomy in universities of European partners. On the second day, the Kazakhstani partners, together with the Ministry of Health, European partners, and the Association of European Universities, developed the basic principles for building a basic model of university autonomy, as well as discussed the choice of a pilot organization for the implementation of the autonomy model in Kazakhstan and further steps.

       

Meeting of the working group 

      On June 14, 2019, the University held a regular meeting of the members of the working group of the project Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education "TRUNAK/Transition to university autonomy in Kazakhstan". The project participants, led by the Vice-Rector for academic affairs, G.S.Dzharasova, discussed the academic, organizational, personnel and financial model of university autonomy for its further implementation in pilot organizations within the framework of the project.

Association of European Universities Report

The Association of European Universities, as part of the implementation of the WP 1. Preparation Deliverables 1.1 and 1.2 working package, presented a report on the current state of university management in the Republic of Kazakhstan and recommendations for expanding autonomy.

Erasmus Days at Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University

The University is a participant in two projects of the international Erasmus+ program-SUSDEV and TRUNAK.

On October 10, 2019, at a round table meeting on the TRUNAK project, various aspects of the transition of universities to autonomy were discussed with interested parties.
On October 11, the university alumnus - participants of the projects planted trees. Some of the trees were purchased with the sponsorship of the US Embassy in Kazakhstan as part of the Green WAY project.

At the Science Cafe meeting, the city's public and university students were introduced to the experience and results of the projects, and the university's ECOCAMPUS staff conducted a master class on promoting the sustainable development of the university and the city as a whole. 

Online conference "TRUNAK WINDOW"

On October 17, 2020, the partner universities of the TRUNAK project "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan" jointly with the National Office of the Erasmus+ program in Kazakhstan organized an online conference "TRUNAK WINDOW". This conference was organized as part of the celebration of the International Day #ErasmusDays 2020.

         

The purpose of the conference is to present and disseminate the interim results of project 586205-EPP-1-2017-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP-TRUNAK "Transition to University Autonomy in Kazakhstan".

The conference was held in an online format on the Cisco Webex platform.

The speakers were the First rector of Astana IT University – S.M.Omirbayev, Vice-Rector for academic work of the NCJSC "Medical University of Karaganda" – V.P.Ricklefs, Vice-Rector for educational work of the NCJSC "Medical University Astana" – G.A.Zhaksylykov, the Director of the Department of strategy and quality of education M.Kozybayev NKU – M.V.Pogrebitskaya, Director of the Department of academic Affairs of Kh.Dosmukhamedov AU  – Zh.U.Suleimenova.

Taking into account the relevance of the conference topic for the higher education system, universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were invited to the conference.

The conference was attended by representatives of universities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia: L.N.Gumilyov ENU, O.A.Baikonurov Zhezkazgan University, International Higher School of Medicine (Kyrgyz Republic), Karaganda Economic University of Kazpotrebsoyuz, M.Ospanov West Kazakhstan Medical University, M.Ryskulbekov Kyrgyz Economic University (Kyrgyz Republic), Abu Ali Ibni Sino Bukhara State Medical Institute (Uzbekistan), etc..

During the conference, S.M.Omirbayev presented the participants a presentation on the model of autonomy, the concepts of autonomy, the basic principles of autonomy, and indicators on four types of autonomy; V.P. Ricklefs spoke about the pilot implementation of organizational and personnel autonomy at the Karaganda Medical University; G.A.Zhaksylykova and M.V.Pogrebitskaya spoke about the institutional impact of the project and the implementation of academic autonomy in the NCJSC "MUA" and the M.Kozybayev NKU; Zh.U.Suleimenova presented a presentation on the implementation of financial autonomy in  Kh. Dosmukhamedov Atyrau unuversity.