TAM Report / Kazakhstan - Mission and Values of HE

GENERAL INFORMATION

TAM title: Mission and Values of Higher Education

Type of Event: Seminar

Modality: Presential

Location: Academy of Physical Education and Mass Sports, Astana

Country: Kazakhstan

Dates: 15–16 October 2025

Participants: Between 50 and 60 participants attended both days of the seminar, mainly rectors, vice-rectors, deans, department heads, faculty members, researchers, and policy experts from public and private higher education institutions across Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the HERE team.

THEMES COVERED

• Historical heritage and evolution of the mission of higher education
• Fundamental values of higher education in the EHEA context
• Social, democratic, and cultural missions of universities
• Transformation of higher education missions in modern societies
• National qualifications frameworks and their role in higher education
• Governance, autonomy, academic freedom, and public responsibility

KEY OUTCOMES

During the workshop, participants:

• Developed a deeper understanding of the historical heritage, missions, and fundamental values of higher education.
• Examined EHEA perspectives on academic freedom, institutional autonomy, integrity, and public responsibility.
• Reflected on how university missions and values can be operationalised in institutional governance, teaching, and quality assurance.
• Strengthened dialogue between higher education institutions, public authorities, and stakeholders on value-based higher education reform.

OVERVIEW

The two-day seminar focused on examining the missions and values of higher education from historical, European, and national perspectives. The programme consisted of expert-led plenary presentations, national contributions from Kazakh higher education stakeholders, and moderated group discussions. Topics included the historical evolution of universities, the four major purposes of higher education, the transformation of university missions in contemporary societies, and the development and implementation of fundamental values within the EHEA.

Interactive group work enabled participants to reflect on how fundamental values—such as academic freedom, institutional autonomy, integrity, and public responsibility—can be translated into everyday higher education practice in Kazakhstan. The second day addressed national qualifications frameworks, professional standards, and the relationship between higher education, employment, and quality assurance. The seminar concluded with collective discussions, a Q&A session, and the formulation of recommendations for institutional and national follow-up.

THE FOLLOW UP ACTIVITY

Title of the activity: Culture of Quality in Higher Education

Dates: 21 November 2025

Audience: 180 participants (63 on-site and 117 online), including rectors, vice-rectors for academic affairs, deans, department heads, educational programme managers, and university compliance officers. Participants represented 34 HEIs and organisations, 11 cities, and 4 countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan).

Description: The follow-up seminar focused on deepening understanding of the mission and values of higher education through the lens of quality culture. Delivered in a hybrid format, the event included presentations by HERE team members, representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and higher education institutions. Interactive discussions and Q&A sessions enabled participants to exchange best practices related to academic integrity, quality assurance, and institutional governance. The seminar concluded with the development of a set of conclusions and recommendations, which were disseminated through the NEO KZ newsletter and shared with the Ministry to support policy development and institutional quality enhancement.

ENHANCING IMPACT: PROPOSED NEXT STEPS

• Continue national dialogue on the missions and values of higher education alongside structural reforms.
• Integrate fundamental values into institutional strategies, governance frameworks, HR policies, and internal regulations.
• Promote academic freedom, integrity, and institutional autonomy through training and awareness-raising activities for staff and students.
• Strengthen the role of higher education in fulfilling social, cultural, and democratic missions.
• Use national qualifications frameworks systematically to support quality assurance and learning outcomes formulation.
• Encourage regional and institutional peer-learning activities to disseminate TAM outcomes.
• Deepen cooperation with international higher education organisations and networks.

RESOURCES AND BACKGROUND MATERIAL

• European Higher Education Area (n.d.) Ministerial declarations and communiqués. Available at: https://ehea.info/page-ministerial-declarations-and-communiques
• European Higher Education Area (n.d.) Working Group on Employability (2007–2009). Available at: https://ehea.info/page-working-group-on-employability-2007-2009
• European Higher Education Area (n.d.) Annex II to the Communiqué: Principles and guidelines for the social dimension. Available at: https://ehea.info/Immagini/2_BFUG_Annex-II-Communique_PaGs_SocialDimension.pdf
• Council of Europe (n.d.) Recognition of refugees’ qualifications. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/education/recognition-of-refugees-qualifications
• Council of Europe (n.d.) Resolution CM/Res(2021)8 on the recognition of qualifications held by refugees. Available at: https://search.coe.int/cm#%7B%22CoEIdentifier%22:%5B%2209000016805d5dae%22%5D,%22sort%22:%5B%22CoEValidationDate%20Descending%22%5D%7D