• 10 January 2023
• 1303

How science and higher education will develop in 2023: the Board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The results of work in the field of science and higher education for 2022 and the tasks for the coming year were discussed at an expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Altai Kulginov.

The head of the department, Sayasat Nurbek, reported on the main results of the work over the past year.

- "In 2022, the volume of state orders for admission to universities has been increased by 10%, with 60% of grants allocated to technical areas. The scholarship of students has been increased by 20%, 10 thousand targeted grants have been allocated. On behalf of the Head of State, branches of three leading foreign research universities have been opened," S. Nurbek said.

The Ministry has started work on differentiating the cost of grants (from 30% to 100%) depending on the results of the UNT. The issues of providing long-term preferential loans to pay for education at universities at 2-3% per annum are also being worked out. To provide students with housing, the heads of universities together with Government will attract investors for the construction of dormitories.

In 2022, funding for science has been increased by 70%, the number of scientists and researchers has increased by 1.5 times. The salary of leading scientists is included in the basic funding. Direct full funding of 11 research institutes has been introduced.

In 2023, a phased increase in funding for applied science is envisaged, including through co-financing of scientific research by business.

Specialized engineering centers, scientific and technological parks at leading universities and large enterprises will be developed.

This year, a new Law "On Science and Technology Policy" will be developed, providing for norms to increase the economic effect of scientific research, development and transfer of new technologies.

On behalf of the Head of State, in order to improve the state policy in the field of science, taking into account the best world experience, the National Council for Science and Technology with the participation of leading scientists will be established.

Kulginov noted the importance of high-quality execution of the instructions of the Head of State in terms of the development of science and higher education.

- "Today it is not enough for universities and research institutes to have only academic indicators and publication activity in the ratings. First of all, we need concrete research results and their implementation in production. It is necessary to form effective platforms for interaction with the domestic industry and business. It is necessary to consider in detail the mechanisms of state support for research institutes and universities, taking into account their readiness to create science and technology parks. The involvement of enterprises in scientific research and development should become a mandatory criterion for state funding," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that all universities should have a transparent, honest, creative academic atmosphere.  The infrastructure and expenses of universities should be focused on creating conditions for students and teachers to engage in research work.