Prospects for the development of the Bolashak program
February 10, 2024
Today a meeting of the Republican Council for Youth Support under the AMANAT party took place.
The prospects for the development of the Bolashak program were discussed at the meeting. The meeting was attended by deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dinara Shcheglova, Vice-Minister of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Edil Ospan, Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Asset Baisynov, Chairman of the Board of JSC Center for International Programs Aliya Ospanova, graduates of the program “Bolashak”, council members, representatives of youth organizations, journalists and others.
The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Council, member of the Committee for Social and Cultural Development of the Mazhilis Nartay Sәrsengaliev. The deputy noted that over 30 years, the Bolashak program has contributed to the creation in the country of a personnel reserve with advanced knowledge and competencies. On behalf of the Head of State, in recent years the program has focused on training engineering, technical and medical personnel, but nevertheless it is necessary to regularly update the list of required specialties for which there is a need for highly qualified personnel in the country.
Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dinara Shcheglova announced the development of the Development Strategy for the Bolashak international scholarship for 2024-2026, within the framework of which it is envisaged to create a list of specialties taking into account the analysis of the labor market, training specific personnel for the regions, training doctoral students according to the model Split PhD, improvement of the internship program and digitalization of competitive selection and admission processes.
The Chairman of the Board of the “Center for International Programs” presented the work of the Center on administering the program, providing round-the-clock support to students studying abroad, providing assistance with visa support, drawing up an individual curriculum, preparing the Center for the start of admissions in 2024. Aliya Ospanova also shared plans for digital transformation of the Center. Since the end of January this year, holders of scholarships for internships and “500 scientists” have already concluded contracts online.
“An important fact is that students abroad in everyday life experience a lack of Kazakh-language content and language clubs. Many students strive to maintain an interest in language and culture abroad, but experience a number of difficulties. Therefore, it is appropriate to organize a “Qazaq speaking club” abroad under the supervision of responsible government agencies, emphasized A. Ospanova.
Experts – graduates of the Bolashak program – took part in the discussion. According to journalist Kanat Auesbay, special attention should be paid to the creation of an ombudsman club at diplomatic missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who regularly supervise students abroad. The owner of the “Stipendium Hungaricum” intergovernmental grant Erdaulet Rakhmatulla expressed a request to the responsible government agencies to assist in intensifying the work of the “Abai Center” in Budapest, which opened in 2019, but is not available to Kazakh students.
At the end of the meeting, deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurgul Tau and Nurlan Auesbaev, members of the council asked a number of questions on the further development of the Bolashak program.