PRIORITY AREAS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Message of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the people of Kazakhstan, which defines the main vectors of reform and further progressive socio-economic and political development of the country in modern conditions, has been discussed at an extended meeting of the Academic Council of Al-Farabi KazNU.

Important and specific instructions of the Head of State are primarily aimed at implementing anti-crisis and post-crisis measures and improving the welfare of the people. Rector of KazNU academician Galym Mutanov highlighted that in his Message the President paid special attention to further diversification of economy, increase of competition, development of small and medium business, and powerful social support, which is necessary for the population in the difficult period of pandemic.

He has emphasized that qualitative growth of human capital through support of education, science and health care, remain a high priority for the President. Important tasks in the conditions of spreading pandemic are set before the education system in the Message. The President instructed to develop the concept of continuous education, to actively introduce alternative learning options and certification of professional skills, and to increase the responsibility of institutions of higher education for the quality of specialist training. The head of KazNU noted that in this regard, the task is to bring the open education platform moocs.kz developed by the University to a qualitatively new international competitive level.

As the President has pointed out, professional education should focus on preparing a new wave of entrepreneurs. Therefore, the subject «Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship» should be studied at all levels of education – from schools to Universities. Today KazNU has more than 20 student business incubators, where 75 student start-ups and innovation projects are implemented. The training trajectory is aimed at ensuring that after graduation from the University graduates do not look for work, but create new jobs themselves by opening small innovative enterprises.

The priority area in the Message is healthcare. The Coronavirus pandemic has revealed systemic problems in medicine, including a shortage of professional staff. Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich has instructed to provide personnel training for medical institutions based on the long-term forecast. It should be noted that KazNU is actively working in this direction and in partnership with leading foreign HEIs is training specialists at the Faculty of Medicine, first established at the classic University.

Speaking at the online session of the Academic Council, professors and scientists, supporting the President noted that the Message is a timely and carefully verified strategy that will give a powerful impetus to the ongoing reforms. The implementation of complex measures suggested by the Head of State will help to ensure sustainable development of the country at the present stage and take a worthy place in the world community.

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