ZHANSEIT TUYMEBAYEV Minister of Education

"The younger generation is eager to learn"

Creating a highly educated citizenry, not simply exploiting abundant natural resources, is Kazakhstan’s strategy for becoming one of the fifty most competitive nations in the world. The priority given to education comes from the top of the political leadership. President Nursultan Nazarbayev has demanded a total upgrade of the system across the ocountry and the government is now spending, as a percentage of GDP, the same amount on education as such countries as Germany and Spain.

The job of fulfilling the president’s vision goes to Zhanseit Tuymebayev, the minister of education and sciences. “Today, when the country’s shift to a knowledge-based economy is so topical, it is essential to have a modern and efficient system of education. The younger generation is eager to upgrade its intellectual level. And the fact is, Kazakhstan’s key competitive advantage should be highly qualified and mobile human capital.” Mr Tuymebayev is a perfectionist and a zealot in terms of raising education standards, making the minister a powerful advocate for students, educators, and future employers. Mr Tuymebayev here sets forth his priorities:

To what extent are education and science key to shifting from a raw materials-based economy to one based on knowledge?

We have become aware that abundant natural resources are no indication of high living standards. Kazakhstan needs not only highly qualified people but also elite universities that represent powerful educational, research and production complexes closely linked with industry. There are major efforts underway to integrate science and education, to develop up-to-date infrastructure for scientific and innovative activities. We are also establishing a new research park, the International Research and Scientific Centre.

How will the establishment of vocational retraining centres help increase opportunities for Kazakhstan’s labour force?

The development of human capacity is possible when the State recognizes its full responsibility towards society and the younger generation. To realize their potential, people should be able to gain relevant knowledge, skills, etc. To improve methods of training highly qualified technical and service people, we are putting in place inter-regional centres for training and retraining. Such centres specialising in the oil and gas sector will be set up in Atyrau, centres specializing in textile and processing industries in Chimkent, in machine-building in Ust Kamenogorsk, and for the fuel and energy sector in Ekibastuz.

How does the Ministry cooperate with the private sector to develop collaboration in science and education?

Public-private partnership will be exercised in the construction of 100 schools and the modernisation of school buildings over the next three years in all the regions of Kazakhstan. We are looking to involve entrepreneurs in the financing the construction of schools. We are planning to develop a grant-based system to fund R&D. Additional types of funding for innovative activities are being expanded. Science in Kazakhstan will develop along six prioritised lines: nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, technologies for the hydrocarbon and mining sectors, nuclear technologies and technologies for renewable energy sources, information and space technologies, and the national idea as the foundation for the sustainable development of Kazakhstan.