Department of Artificial Intelligence and lnformation technology

The origins of the department originate in the 80s of the last century, when the development of computers and information technologies required the training of IT personnel. It was during this period that the training of specialists for the rapidly developing IT industry began on the basis of mathematical basic departments. The active initiators of the development of working educational programs of computer science in higher educational institutions in the East are Doctors of Technical Sciences Sinchev B.N., Belgibaev B.A., Candidates of physical and mathematical sciences Shamsutdinov I.G., Kalenova B.S.

In 1986, the first specialized departments were opened: computer mathematical support, economic informatics and VT. The first head of the specialized department was a graduate of KazGU named after S.Kirov (KazNU named after al-Farabi), Doctor of Technical Sciences Belgibaev Baurzhan Abdrakhimovich (excellent student of the USSR higher school, winner of the 3rd prize of the State Committee for Public Education of the USSR).

Today, the Department of Computer Modeling and Information Technology worthily continues the traditions of the founders of IT educational programs, being a graduate of 4 bachelor’s degree programs, 4 master’s degree programs, 1 pedagogical educational program of doctoral studies. All educational programs are accredited and as of the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, full-time specialists are being trained on the basis of secondary school, on the basis of technical and vocational education, on the basis of higher education.

The department has trained graduates who are in demand and are employed in educational institutions of the city, region and republic, research institutions, design organizations, information technology departments, industrial enterprises by software engineers in the banking system in the near and far abroad.

From 2005 to 2021, the head of the Department of Mathematical Modeling and Computer Technology was appointed Ph.D., Associate Professor Zhantasova Zheniskul Zeyneshovna.

Since June 2015, the department has been renamed the Department of Computer Modeling and Information Technology.

From 2021 to 2022, the department was headed by PhD, Associate Professor Kadyrova Ainagul Sabenovna.

From 2022 to 2024, the department was headed by the master of pedagogical sciences in the specialty 6M011100-informatics Kabdrakhmanova Zaur Gadylzhanovna.

Currently, since September 2024, the department has been headed by Zhunusova Gulnur Tashkenovna, Master of Informatics, specializing in 510250-Applied Mathematics and Informatics (510252-Informatics).

Starting from December 5, 2025, the department was renamed to the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Information Technologies.

VKU | Educational Programs — AI & IT Department

6B01514Bachelor's

Informatics (IP)

Duration: 4 years

Digital TechnologiesInnovative Program

6B01522Bachelor's

Mathematics-Informatics

Duration: 4 years

STEM ApproachesPython, Big Data

6B06101Bachelor's

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

Duration: 4 years

AI, IoTIndustry 4.0

6B06102Bachelor's

Information Systems

Duration: 4 years

IT InfrastructureDatabases

7M01501Master's

Informatics

Duration: 2 years

Research & TeachingCS Education

7M01513Master's

STEM Education

Duration: 2 years

Cross-disciplinaryDigital Education

7M06102Master's

Information Systems

Duration: 2 years

Big Data, AIJoint Program with AltSU

7M06101Master's

Computer Engineering

Duration: 2 years

Hardware SolutionsSystem Architecture

8D01501Doctoral

Informatics

Duration: 3 years

PhDScientific Research

Department of Computer Modeling & IT | EKU

Partners & Achievements

Leadership, Grants & International Recognition

Program "6B01501 – Informatics" ranked in the top 3 of the Atameken NCC ranking (2020–2022). "7M01501 – Informatics" ranked 2nd in the IAAR ranking (2021, 2022). "7M01513 – STEM Education" ranked 2nd in the IAAR ranking (2023/2024).

Best University Teacher

National Competition Winners

Nugumanova A.B. (2018), Zhantasova Zh.Z. (2019), Adikanova S. & Tlebaldynova A.S. (2020).

🏆 Award Winners

International Project

Erasmus+ "Integrated STEM Teacher Training"

Universities from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Finland and Sweden participated. Department — active contributor, 2019–2022.

Student Achievements

Tazhibay Aray – "Best Student of the Year"

Forum "Talented Youth of New Kazakhstan", Diploma 1st degree & medal (Astana, 2022). Akhmetova N.M. – Ministry of Science 1st degree (2022).

Victory

State Awards

Ministry of Education Commendations

Zhantasova Zh.Z. and Adikanova S. — Ministry of Education diplomas. Zhantasova Zh.Z. — member of the REC on ICT (IITU, Astana).

🎓 Faculty have published 26+ articles in Web of Science and Scopus journals. 10 staff hold CEPT certificates, 5 hold IELTS. Training abroad: UK, Turkey, Finland, Russia.

Educational Work

Civic Education, Ethics & Student Development

Educational work is a vital component of the department's activity, carried out continuously both during academic studies and extracurricular time. The goal is to develop a highly moral, spiritually mature and professionally responsible individual.

Priority

Civic & Patriotic Education — discussions on the President's Address, prevention of extremism, drug abuse and delinquency among students.
Ongoing Work

Scientific and cultural mass events. Psychological support and advisory assistance for students throughout the academic year.
Health & Sport

Promotion of physical culture and a healthy lifestyle. Fostering environmental awareness and aesthetic values among students.
Student Life

Organizing leisure activities, supporting student media, information support, and creating conditions for creative self-expression.

💬 The department actively strengthens the educational component of every class and implements new technologies and methods of student development.

Research Activities

Models and Methods for Formalizing Engineering & Educational Environments

Seismic Resilience Assessment of Urban Structures Using Data Analysis Technologies

Development of methods for assessing the seismic resilience of urban objects using data analysis technologies. Grant-funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (2024–2026).

Lead: PhD Karmenova M.A.

Ontological Engineering & STEAM Approach for Digital Skills Development

Developing digital competencies of learners through ontological engineering and the STEAM approach. Grant "Zhas Galym" №AP25793611 (2025–2027).

Lead: PhD Bazarova M.Zh.

Training Science Teachers in a Changing Information-Educational Environment

Pedagogical management of STEM education, preparation of ICT and science teachers in conditions of a rapidly evolving educational environment.

Leads: Cand.Sci. Kubentaeva S.N., Cand.Sci. Kadyrova A.S.

26+ articles published in Web of Science and Scopus journals over the past 5 years. Highest h-index: Adikanova S. (h3 Scopus, 85th percentile), Malgazhdarov E.A. (h3 Scopus, h2 WoS).
Implemented IT projects: information-educational portal, AIS, distance learning portal, license plate recognition system (RK standards), atmospheric pollution modeling system.
State intellectual property registration certificates (computer programs): Adikanova S., Bazarova M.Zh., Zhantasova Zh.Z., Karmenova M., Kadyrova A.S. and others.
Student achievements: Amankul A. — 3rd place (Moscow, 2022), Kusainov G. & Bekkaliev R. — 3rd place (Nizhny Novgorod, 2022), NMC "Ziat" 2nd degree diploma (Astana, 2022).

Academic Mobility

Outgoing & Incoming Mobility, Visiting Professors

Partners: Altai State University (Russia), Karaganda University named after E.A. Buketov, Eurasian National University named after L.N. Gumilyov, Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland), Kokshetau University named after A. Myrzakhmetov, KASU.

Visiting Professors

🇷🇺

2018, 2023

Oskorbin N.M. (AltSU, Dr.Sci., Professor)

Overview lectures in computer science for bachelor's and master's students of the department.

🇷🇺

2021, 2023, 2024–2025

Ponkina E.V. (AltSU, Cand.Sci., Associate Professor)

ICT lectures; "Academic Writing and Research Methodology" course (2024–2025).

🇵🇱

2018, 2021

Wojcik Waldemar (Lublin University of Technology)

Professor of the Institute of Electronics and IT; lectures on electronics and information technologies.

🇺🇦

2018

Krak Yu.V. (Taras Shevchenko KNU, Dr.Sci.)

Head of department, professor; lectures on current topics in computer science.

Student & Faculty Mobility

🇵🇱

2022–2023

Rakhymbek Kamila (6B06102 program)

External academic mobility — Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznań, Poland), semester 1.

🇷🇺

2023

Dildebay B. (doctoral student)

Altai State University (Barnaul, Russia), January–May 2023.

🇷🇺

2022

Sarbasova K. (doctoral student)

Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V.P. Astafiev, November–December 2022.

🇹🇷

November 2022

Agyzam D., Amangeldyn A. (master's students)

STEM & Makers Fest/Expo Festival — Cappadocia (Turkey), Erasmus+ program.

🧑‍🏫 Internal mobility: 9 students (6B01511) — online course at KarU; 12 students (6B06102) — visits to ENU, ATU, "Turan". Kubentaeva S.N. delivered a course for KarU; Bazarova M.Zh. and Zhaksalykova A.K. — online classes for Kokshetau University.

Methodological Work

Teaching Materials, Digitalization & Professional Development

From 2019 to 2023 the department published 23 educational and methodological works: textbooks and monographs in Kazakh, Russian and English.

Publications 2019–2023

26⁺

Scopus/WoS Articles in 5 years

100%

Faculty complete regular PD

Selected Department Publications

Zhantasova Zh.Z. — "Information Security" (monograph, 2022), "Databases in Information Systems" (2019), "Cryptographic Methods of Information Protection" (2023)
Adikanova S. — "Autonomous Mobile Robots" (2023), "Innovative Teaching: STEM Elements" (2023), monograph "Information system for modeling air pollution" (2022, English)
Bazarova M.Zh. — "Ontological Engineering and Thesauri" (2023, Russian)
Nugumanova A.B. — "Modeling physical processes in NetLogo" (2020, English)

Teaching Materials (PDF)

Doctoral Program

8D01501 – Informatics: Training Highly Qualified PhD Researchers

Since 2018 the department has offered the doctoral program 8D01501 – "Informatics", training top-level pedagogical researchers capable of contributing to AI and IT teaching methodology.

Infrastructure

STEM Center & Laboratories

Robolabs, Digital Pedagogy Lab, Inclusive Education Labs at "Dana bala" Center, National Scientific Laboratory.

Research Internships

International Partner Universities

Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk), Altai State University (Barnaul) and other partner universities.

Scientific Mentorship

Leading Partner Universities

Abai KazNPU (Almaty), Institute of Physics, Mathematics & Digital Technologies, KazNWPU (Almaty).

Multilingual Training

Multilingual Preparation Courses

The program includes multilingual preparation disciplines giving graduates a competitive advantage in the international academic environment.

Doctoral Students

📚

2017–2020

Ualkhanova A.T.

PhD program 8D06102 – "Information Systems" (D.Serikbaev EKTU).

📚

2021–2023

Tukushova A., Tolykbaeva M.

PhD program 8D06102 – "Information Systems" (D.Serikbaev EKTU).

📚

Currently enrolled

Sarbasova K., Dildebay B., Anafia P., Tleubekov N., Baltabaeva N.

PhD program 8D01501 – "Informatics" (S.Amanzholov EKU).

🔜

Planned 2024–2025

Zhaksalykova A., Kaidarova M., Alpysova A.S.

Planning to continue doctoral studies.

7М01513 STEM Education

Master's Program: Integrated Approach to Teacher Training

The program was developed based on the best national and global STEM teacher training practices. Launched in 2021 with EU Erasmus+ support. IAAR Ranking 2023/2024 — 2nd place. Applicants: Bachelor of Education, Natural Sciences, or Engineering.

Core Disciplines

Program Foundation

"Information-Educational Environment of STEM", "STEM Teaching of Natural Sciences", "Digitalization of Education and Learning Issues".

Career Opportunities

Graduate Positions

Digitalization methodologist, ICT teacher/lecturer, startup mentor. Universities, schools, digitalization centers, enterprises of all ownership forms.

International Project

Erasmus+ STEM (2019–2022)

Universities from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Finland, Sweden. Participants: Adikanova S., Zhantasova Zh., Kadyrova A.S.

Student Achievements

STEM Festival (Cappadocia, 2022)

Amangeldyn A. — STEM & Makers Fest/Expo (Turkey). Satybaldi A. — International STEM Festival at NRU BelGU (2021).

International Participation

Abdykarimova U., Satybaldi A., Imasheva I. — research internship at L.N.Gumilyov ENU (Astana, June 2022).
"STEM Ambassador Training" mini-training with professors from the University of Helsinki and LUMA Centre Finland (2021); master's students received certificates.
Karmenova M.A. — project lead for urban seismic resilience assessment, Ministry of Science grant (2024–2026). Adikanova S. — participant of the "Competence Center for Children with Special Educational Needs" project.

🎓 Program hallmark: interdisciplinary approach using robotics projects, natural science knowledge, and multilingual personnel training.