VI CENTRAL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON QUALITY ASSURANCE IN EDUCATION

On October 7, 2022, the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) held the VI Central Asian International Forum on Education Quality Assurance: "Transnational Cooperation in the Global Educational Space" in Almaty in the premises of al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The main goal of the international forum on education quality assurance is to create an international dialogue platform for discussion and exchange of best practices in the field of education in the context of digital transformation.

The plenary session of the International Forum was opened by the IAAR General Director – Dr. Alina Zhumagulova, noting the key landmarks for the development of the education system in Europe and Central Asia, aimed at improving the quality of higher education, the achievements of IAAR in conducting cross-border accreditation, as well as the interest of the international community in cooperation and exchange of the best world experience in promoting a quality culture.

The Rector of al-Farabi Kazakh National University - Zhanseit Tuymebayev delivered a welcoming speech, who emphasised the importance of ensuring the quality of higher education and increasing the competitiveness of universities in the context of global changes.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev addressed the participants of the international Forum with words of welcome, which were conveyed on his behalf by the deputy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakytzhan Zhumagulov, emphasising the important tasks of transforming the education system at the present stage of development of society, aimed at improving the quality of training of graduates and their demand in the labor market, where radical changes are taking place today.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, welcomed all the participants of the International Forum and called for a joint discussion of a further model for the development of higher education in the context of digital transformation and global change.

More than 300 delegates took part in the work of the International Forum, including deputies of the Senate and Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the of Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan - Gulzoda Mahmadshoh Kurbonali,

ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Science and Education of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan; Chairman of the IAAR Supervisory Board, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Senators at the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Byrganym Aitimova;

President of the Association of Higher Educational Institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Rakhman Alshanov,

as well as heads of international European networks and associations for quality assurance in higher education: President of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) - Karl Dittrich,

President of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) - David Gordon;

who annually participate in the International Forum and actively support the events held by IAAR.

Within the framework of the International Forum, the Award Ceremony for the participants of the International Ranking "IAAR Eurasian University Ranking IAAR EUR-2022" was held, which the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR) has been holding among the universities of the countries of the Eurasian region since 2020, being the first in Kazakhstan and the 5th organisation in the world, methodology which has successfully passed the audit of the International Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence (IREG) and was awarded the IREG Seal of Approval “IREG Approved”. This means that the "International Ranking of Universities IAAR-EUR" fully complies with world standards and focuses universities on the quality of education.

Universities from Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Tajikistan participated in the International Ranking "IAAR Eurasian University Ranking IAAR EUR-2022".

At the Forum, according to the results of the Ranking, prof. Olga Yanovskaya, Advisor to the IAAR General Director, solemnly handed cups and certificates to the rectors of the winning universities.

In the second half of the day of the Forum, 4 Panel sessions and a Round Table meeting, discussions were held:

Panel Session 1. «The Influence of Global Reality on the Prospects for the Education Development»

Panel Session 2. «University Architecture: New Models and Opportunities»

Panel Session 3. «The Quality of Medical Education in the Digital Transformation Era»

Panel Session 4. «Student-Centered Approach: Management and Culture»

Round Table. «Ranking – the Way to Academic Leadership»

The Panel sessions of the Forum were actively attended by: Board Member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), Director of the Quality Agency for Higher Education (AIKA) - Jolanta Silka and other heads of foreign accreditation bodies, international organisations in the field of education (Belgium, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, India, Latvia, Moldova), rectors of Kazakh and foreign universities, students and employers.

The holding of the International Forum allowed to identify problems and determine ways to improve the education quality in the countries of Central Asia and Europe; to increase the competitiveness of educational services; to raise the level of specialists training, demand and employment of graduates; activate academic mobility, internationalisation of education and form an effective system of interaction between universities, employers, stakeholders on the basis of the balance of all participants’ interests in the educational process.

The discussion platform of the VI Central Asian International Forum on Quality Assurance in Education: "Transnational Cooperation in the Global Educational Space" made it possible to exchange best practices on creating an effective education system in the context of digital transformation, summarise the results and develop a Resolution of the event.