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TAM Report | Kazakhstan (Regional TAM for Central Asia) | Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education

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Petya Mitova • 10 July 2026
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GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education (Regional TAM for Central Asia)

Type of Event: Seminar / Conference (combined with Regional Erasmus+ Infoday)

Modality: Hybrid (in-person at Seifullin University, Astana, with online participation via Zoom)

Location: Seifullin University, 62 Zhenis Avenue, Astana, Kazakhstan

Country: Kazakhstan (regional event covering Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

Dates: 21–22 May 2026

Experts:

Matteo Testa, Project Manager of the Digital Transformation Unit, CIMEA (in person, Day 1 & 2); 

Martin Ebner, Head of the Service Department Educational Technology, Graz University of Technology, Austria (online, Day 2)

Participants: Approximately 100 participants, including representatives of Ministries of Higher Education, Rectors and Vice-Rectors, faculty and administrative staff of universities, researchers, Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, and representatives from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The event was organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan and Seifullin University, with support from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MSHE RK) and EACEA.

               

THEMES COVERED

  • Regional and international cooperation in higher education (ENIC-NARIC network, Erasmus+ CBHE projects, Jean Monnet projects)
  • Erasmus+ programme opportunities for Central Asia, including Horizon Europe and MSCA
  • The Bologna Process and AI: implications for the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
  • AI in national higher education systems (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)
  • Digital transformation of higher education institutions
  • AI applications in credential evaluation and qualifications recognition
  • Impact of AI on teaching strategies and assessment systems
  • Ethical use of AI and data in teaching and learning
  • University governance in the context of AI

  • University-based AI ecosystems and best practices

     

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

  • Gained awareness of Erasmus+ funding opportunities, priority areas, and guidance for developing competitive Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) and Jean Monnet project proposals
  • Explored the impact of AI on the objectives of the Bologna Process and its implications for the European Higher Education Area, drawing on CIMEA's experience with qualifications recognition and digital transformation
  • Heard from Martin Ebner (TU Graz) on the impact of AI on teaching strategies, including an introduction to the LISA Framework (Level and Interaction Scope of AI in Learning Design) and practical implementations from Graz University of Technology such as AI-assisted MOOCs, chatbots, Echo-Quiz, multilingual AI avatars, AI-generated video paths, educational podcasts, and prompting tools
  • Discussed how universities in Central Asia are currently integrating AI into teaching, assessment, governance, and learning ecosystems, with country-specific presentations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan
  • Participated in panel discussions on adapting university governance in the context of AI and on how AI can improve the quality of higher education
  • Signed Memoranda of Cooperation between participating institutions
  • Showcased Erasmus+ and AI projects at an interactive networking fair

 

OVERVIEW

The two-day hybrid event brought together approximately 100 participants from across Central Asia for a combined Regional Erasmus+ Infoday and TAM Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education, held at Seifullin University in Astana, Kazakhstan. It was organized by the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan and Seifullin University, with the support of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency.

Day 1 focused on regional cooperation and Erasmus+ opportunities. Following high-level welcome remarks from the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, the EU Ambassador, and representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, the programme addressed practical guidance on developing competitive Erasmus+ project proposals, common mistakes in CBHE submissions, Jean Monnet best practices, and Horizon Europe/MSCA funding opportunities for Central Asian researchers. Expert Matteo Testa (CIMEA) presented on the new logic of internationalization and the Bologna Process in the context of AI. A Q&A panel with Central Asian HERE teams identified barriers and solutions for regional cooperation. The day concluded with a Fair of Erasmus+ and AI Projects and a networking session.

Day 2 focused on AI in higher education. Participants began with a tour of the AI centre at Seifullin University. Sessions covered the Bologna Process and AI (Matteo Testa), AI in Kazakhstan's higher education system, AI-based learning ecosystems, training specialists in AI, and country-level perspectives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on AI's impact on teaching and assessment. Martin Ebner (TU Graz) delivered a keynote on the impact of AI on teaching strategy, introducing the LISA Framework and demonstrating concrete applications already implemented at TU Graz. Panel discussions explored university governance in the context of AI and how AI can enhance higher education quality. The event concluded with wrap-up recommendations, a group photo, a signing ceremony for Memoranda of Cooperation, and a second networking fair.

The visit highlighted strong interest among participants in both regional cooperation and AI's impact on higher education. Participants showed particular interest in CIMEA's experience in digital transformation and the potential use of AI to support qualifications recognition, as well as in practical, framework-based approaches to embedding AI responsibly into teaching strategies.

 

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY – upcoming

 

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

  • Strengthen the digital transformation of higher education institutions in the region, including developing digital infrastructures, building staff capacities, and creating institutional strategies for the responsible use of AI.
  • Enhance regional and international cooperation by promoting academic partnerships, mobility opportunities, joint initiatives, and the exchange of good practices with institutions and networks in Europe and Central Asia.
  • Further develop transparent and efficient systems for quality assurance and qualifications recognition, aligned with international standards, to support student mobility, internationalisation, and trust in higher education outcomes.
  • Develop institutional strategies for the responsible use of AI in higher education, with attention to governance, quality assurance, and ethical considerations.
  • Encourage participants to apply for Erasmus+ CBHE funding to advance collaborative AI-in-education projects across the region.

 

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

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