The rise of generative artificial intelligence in education has revived an old spectre: plagiarism. Written assignments displaying unexpected fluency, correct answers produced in seconds, and outputs that are difficult to trace have led many educators to question once again whether they are assessing genuine learning or merely the efficient use of a tool. Yet remaining […]
Higher education was once built around libraries, dependent on lecture halls filled with the lecturer’s voice, and handwritten notes, and the slow discipline of understanding. Today, when almost everything has shifted online, students increasingly move between screens, prompts, instant summaries, and AI-generated responses, reflecting not merely a technological transition, but a deeper transformation in how […]
During a recent visit to a book fair, some unusual covers caught my eye — familiar authors, but unfamiliar editions. They turned out to be reprints of landmark Qazaq scientific texts written in «tote jazu» (the «new spelling» devised by A. Baitursynuly based on Arabic script) in the early twentieth century. Baitursynuly understood that the […]
A unique educational project came to fruition in 2012 through collaboration between a UK school and sport governing bodies. Sports participation improves physical and mental health and develops social and teamwork skills. But can sport act as a catalyst for educational advancement in a different way — one that does not require direct involvement as […]
KAZAKHSTAN’S EDUCATION SYSTEMAT A DIGITAL TURNING POINT Kazakhstan’s education system is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in Central Asia. The key drivers of this process are digitalization, demographic pressure, and the country’s evolving geoeconomic position. Kazakhstan aims to establish itself as a regional hub for training digital talent. However, this transition remains uneven, […]
THE DIPLOMA IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE DIPLOMA: LIFELONG LEARNING LEADS THE WAY IN CENTRAL ASIA Just twenty years ago, the educational trajectory of most people was fairly predictable: school, university, employment. A diploma served as a gateway into a profession, and a career was built within a single field — sometimes a single organisation. […]
SEEDS OF CHANG: KAZAKHSTAN’S BETON SMART FARMING Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has accelerated the modernisation of its agricultural sector and higher education system in response to climate change, water scarcity, and rapid technological change. Its agro-education system is emerging as one of Central Asia’s leading AgriTech and innovation drivers. By integrating artificial intelligence, digital […]
¿HABLAS KAZAKH?WHY ARE PEOPLE IN LATIN AMERICA BEGINNING TO LEARN THE LANGUAGES OF CENTRAL ASIA? Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional […]
SMALL NATION, BIG AMBITION: KYRGYZSTAN’S HIGHER EDUCATION PROSPECTS IN A GLOBAL DIGITAL ERA A SMALL COUNTRY WITH A LARGEEDUCATIONAL AMBITION Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous republic at the heart of Central Asia, is emerging as one of the region’s most dynamic higher education markets. With a population of 7.4 million, a growing economy, and expanding international enrolment, […]
THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE: IS ASIA WINNING THE EDUCATION RACE? Is this the Asian century in higher education? On the numbers alone, it may well be. More than half of the world’s university students are already in Asia, and that share is set to grow as ageing industrialised democracies give way demographically to younger populations […]
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE END OF THE FAMILIAR WORLD: WHAT UNIVERSITIES MUST LEARN AGAIN In the spring of 2026, I attended two international conferences on sustainable development and the role of universities. The first was the GREEN.DIGITAL.SMART Forum 2026 in Dushanbe, organised by the International University of Tourism and Entrepreneurship of Tajikistan. The second was […]
A NEW-GENERATION UNIVERSITY:THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCIENCE AT KAZNU In today’s era of global change, universities are no longer merely institutions for the transmission of knowledge. The world’s leading universities are transforming into intellectual hubs where breakthrough technologies emerge, digital agendas are shaped, and the foundations of economic resilience are established. Kazakh National University named after […]
HELPING EVERY CHILD THRIVE: MONTESSORI, INCLUSION AND THE SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE Teaching and medicine have been part of Lidia Belozerova-Solonovich’s family heritage for generations, inspiring a lifelong commitment to education and child development. Her professional journey began at the Rostov College of Arts, where she trained as a violinist and music educator, before continuing […]
OCA#59 EDUCATION WELCOME WORD Dear Reader, I was talking recently with a hiring manager at one of Astana’s energy companies in March who told me something that has stayed with me. “I stopped reading cover letters six months ago,” he said. “I can’t tell if I’m reading the applicant or ChatGPT.” He paused, then added […]
