D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University brought together leading experts, government officials, business representatives, and academics to discuss the future of engineering education in Kazakhstan. The university hosted the Republican Strategic Session "Engineering Education of the Future: Development and Implementation of a National Model" and the DualEdu Forum, an international expert platform, "Dual Education in Engineering Training: From Competencies to Industrial Solutions."
The events, organized with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, marked an important milestone in the development and promotion of the National Model of Engineering Education, aimed at training a new generation of specialists for the country's technological development.
The forum was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, heads of leading universities in Kazakhstan, international experts from Germany, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of major industrial companies and the business community. The key event of the strategic session was a discussion of the architecture of the National Model of Engineering Education, presented by Saule Rakhmetullina, Chairman of the Board - Rector of D. Serikbayev EKTU. The model is based on the principle of continuous training of specialists along the Pre-University - University - Post-University pathway and aims to create a modern system for training engineering personnel that meets the needs of the economy and industry.
During the plenary session, Gulzat Dzharasova, Chairman of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, outlined the strategic priorities of state policy in engineering education and human capital development for the country's technological growth.
Participants paid special attention to the international CDIO (Conceive - Design - Implement - Operate) initiative, recognized as one of the most effective models for practice-oriented engineering training. EKTU presented the results of implementing the CDIO approach, the experience of the Lu Ban Workshop, and the activities of leading engineering schools and competence centers, demonstrating successful practices for integrating education, science, and industry. One of the distinguishing features of the strategic session was its practical format. Representatives from universities, employers, and the expert community worked in project groups, developing specific solutions for scaling CDIO in Kazakhstani universities and promoting domestic engineering educational programs internationally.
The logical continuation of the strategic session was the DualEdu Forum, dedicated to the development of dual education as a key tool for implementing the National Model of Engineering Education. International experts presented best practices for university-enterprise collaboration, mechanisms for corporate training, and the formation of innovative ecosystems integrating education, science, and industry.
The presentations by representatives of leading industrial partners, including Allur, Kazzinc, enterprises from the East Kazakhstan energy sector, and other organizations actively involved in engineering training, generated considerable interest. Participants discussed new formats for cooperation between universities and employers, the development of industrial internships, and mechanisms for adapting educational programs to the needs of modern industry. The forum included interactive sessions and the "Interaction Builder" marketplace, where participants jointly developed proposals for improving the dual education system and implementing best international practices in the training of engineering specialists.
The university's guests also visited EKTU's modern research and educational centers, engineering laboratories, competence centers, and the Lu Ban Workshop. The program concluded with technical visits to Kazzinc facilities, the Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydroelectric Power Plant, and Ust-Kamenogorsk Thermal Power Plant, where participants were able to learn about existing models of interaction between universities and industrial partners.
Following the strategic session and the DualEdu Forum, a set of recommendations was developed for the further development of the National Model of Engineering Education, expanding international cooperation, and strengthening ties between universities, businesses, and the government.
These events confirmed EKTU's status as one of the leading centers for the development of a modern engineering school in Kazakhstan and a national platform for developing strategic solutions for training the engineering workforce of the future.
