QUALITY CULTURE IN HIGHER EDUCATION: REPUBLICAN SEMINAR AT AMANZHOLOV UNIVERSITY

At East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, a republican seminar “Quality Culture in Higher Education” was held, organized by the National Team of Experts on Higher Education Reform (HERE), the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan, and the Committee of Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The event was dedicated to discussing key aspects of quality culture and developing practical recommendations to strengthen it. The seminar brought together more than 200 participants: vice-rectors, deans, department heads, educational program directors, and students, attending both in person and online. The moderator was Rauza Mendalieva, head of the department of internationalization of higher education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, who noted that the development of quality culture requires open professional dialogue among all participants in the educational process.

Laura Paluanova, coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office, delivered a welcome speech, emphasizing the importance of university cooperation and experience exchange to improve education quality and strengthen academic culture.

The rector of East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Mukhtar Tolegen, noted that forming a quality culture is a priority direction for the university:

“We strive to make responsibility for quality a conscious choice of each teacher and student,” he said.

One of the key presentations was delivered by Serik Omirbekov, first vice-rector of Astana IT University and chair of the HERE team. He described quality culture as a system of values that should be integrated into the daily work of the university:

“Quality is not a top-down directive; it is the university’s way of life. Only the involvement of teachers, students, and management can ensure sustainable improvement of the educational process.”

Continuing the discussion on higher education modernization, participants addressed the implementation of artificial intelligence in the educational process. It was noted that AI provides opportunities to improve teaching quality, personalize learning, and optimize routine procedures. The importance of this topic aligns with state development priorities: the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s message highlights the strategic role of digital transformation and the training of personnel for a technology-oriented economy.

After substantive discussions, the seminar became not only a platform for experience exchange but also a starting point for further practical steps. Participants formulated initiatives aimed at developing tools for internal and external quality control, strengthening academic integrity, and increasing student engagement in quality management processes.

At the conclusion of the seminar, organizers emphasized that improving education quality is impossible without international cooperation. In this context, participation in the Erasmus+ program is an important tool for Amanzholov University. In 2025, the university participated in two Erasmus+ KA171 academic mobility projects in partnership with the University of Genoa (Italy) and Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania), which promotes the expansion of international connections and the implementation of best educational practices.

The event, held under the Erasmus+ program, became a significant step for Amanzholov University, strengthening its role as one of the key drivers of quality culture development in higher education in Kazakhstan and enhancing its position as a university confidently moving toward global competitiveness.