TAM Report / Kazakhstan - Inclusive Higher Education

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: The Development of Inclusive Higher Education

Type of Event: Seminar

Modality: Presential

Location: Astana IT University, Astana, Kazakhstan

Country: Kazakhstan

Dates: 12–13 June 2025

Participants: The seminar registered 66 participants, with 50 participants attending both days. The audience mainly consisted of vice-rectors for academic and social affairs, representatives of university inclusion centres, researchers, experts, HERE members, as well as some faculty members and PhD students, representing 33 universities and organisations.

THEMES COVERED

• Equity and inclusion in higher education within the EHEA context
• National and European policies, frameworks, and good practices on inclusion
• Institutional development of inclusive universities
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
• Student and staff support mechanisms and student well-being
• Regulatory frameworks and monitoring of support measures for students with disabilities

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

• Raised awareness of equity and inclusion challenges in higher education in both the Kazakh and EHEA contexts.
• Gained an in-depth understanding of EHEA policies, frameworks, and good practices supporting inclusive higher education.
• Examined institutional approaches to inclusive university development, including UDL principles and student well-being measures.
• Contributed to the review and refinement of a draft national regulation on monitoring support measures for persons with disabilities in higher and postgraduate education.

OVERVIEW

The two-day seminar focused on raising awareness and deepening understanding of equity and inclusion in higher education, combining European Higher Education Area (EHEA) perspectives with the national context of Kazakhstan. On the first day, vice-rectors and representatives from Kazakh universities, together with invited speakers, presented institutional experiences in implementing inclusive education. A key component of the programme was the discussion of the draft Regulation on Monitoring the Support Measures Provided to Persons with Disabilities in Higher and/or Postgraduate Education Institutions. Participants actively contributed proposals to refine the draft, which were later submitted to the Committee on Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The second day concentrated on institutional development and implementation aspects, including Universal Design for Learning, support for faculty and students, and European practices related to student well-being. Discussions also addressed cooperation between universities and local communities as a mechanism to promote inclusion. The seminar concluded with a synthesis of key findings, identification of priority areas for further work, and outlining next steps to advance inclusive higher education policy and practice in Kazakhstan.

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Meeting of the Coordination Council on Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities

Dates: 24 July 2025

Audience: Representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Enlightenment/Education, higher education institutions (including Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Margulan Pavlodar Pedagogical University, Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, and the Kazakh National University of Arts), the National Academy of Education, the National Centre for Higher Education Development, and public organizations.

Description: The follow-up activity took the form of an online meeting between HERE experts and the Coordination Council on Social Protection of Persons with Disabilities. The meeting focused on disseminating the outcomes of the TAM seminar and presenting the recommendations developed for the draft Rules on Monitoring the Support Measures Provided to Persons with Disabilities in Higher and/or Postgraduate Education Institutions. As a result of the discussions, the recommendations prepared during the TAM were reviewed and approved by the Coordination Council, supporting further policy development and implementation in the field of inclusive higher education in Kazakhstan.

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

• Develop and approve a national roadmap for inclusive higher education aligned with EHEA principles and the national context.
• Conduct regular internal assessments of accessibility of facilities and services in higher education institutions and document results.
• Revise the draft Regulation on monitoring support measures to remove subjective or hard-to-measure formulations.
• Clarify obligations of enterprises to provide safe and adapted conditions for students with disabilities during internships or practical training.
• Expand the role of student support offices and implement Universal Design for Learning principles in teaching and learning processes.
• Strengthen cooperation between universities, local communities, and employers to support sustainable inclusion policies.
• Systematize data collection and analysis on inclusion measures to support monitoring and evidence-based decision-making at institutional and national levels.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

• Bologna Follow-Up Group (BFUG) Working Group on Social Dimension (2024) Principles, Guidelines and Indicators to strengthen the social dimension of higher education in the European Higher Education Area. Tirana: Bologna Follow-Up Group.
  Available at: https://ehea.info/Immagini/BFUG_Board_BE_VA_87_WG_SD_4_4_1_Principles,_Guidelines,_Indicators.pdf
• European Commission / EACEA / Eurydice (2022)Towards equity and inclusion in higher education in Europe. Eurydice report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.
  Available at: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/publications/towards-equity-and-inclusion-higher-education-europe