The Rector's speech on the ceremonial meeting on September 1, 2014

Dear guests, faculty, students!

August 30 marked the Constitution Day, which is the golden pedestal of the sovereign state. The Constitution of our country embodies the common values of mankind, formed over hundreds of years.

Today I congratulate all of you on the first day of the school year, September 1 - the Day of Knowledge!   

Dear freshmen and guests! Today's solemn event is attended by Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Mukhamedzhanova Ainagul Tastemirovna, Vice-Rector for Research and External Relations Kairzhanova Laura Sovetovna, Vice-Rector for Educational Work Taizhanova Mukaram Murzatovna, Vice-Rector for Administrative and Economic Affairs Kushumbayeva Akbay Bakhytkereevich, Director of the Language Institute , heads of departments, curators.

The first day of a new school year is always a social event. On the basis of the Constitution, our country is building a strong state in which more than 130 nationalities and over 40 confessions peacefully coexist. Thanks to the balanced, constructive policy of the President of the country, who is the guarantor of the Constitution, civil peace and interfaith harmony have been consolidated in society.

In a global world with an increasing mobility of technology and capital, the competitiveness of any country as it enters the post-industrial era largely depends on the quality, productivity and flexibility of human resources. It is the young generation who will have to raise the bar of national competitiveness. Only patriotic, educated, professional, healthy physically and morally, socially and civically responsible youth can do such a mission.

This year was marked by an important historical event in the life of Kazakhstanis - the signing of an agreement on the Eurasian Economic Union. The upcoming international exhibition EXPO-2017 in Astana, as one of the key projects of Kazakhstan, will provide a unique opportunity to get acquainted with world achievements in the field of economics, technology, science. In 2017, the city of Almaty will host the World Student Winter Games. The ongoing large-scale processes of social and economic modernization, innovative breakthrough and economic integration instill optimism and confidence in all Kazakhstanis in the future of our state as a strong, dynamically developing, competitive and having international authority.

We welcome a new replenishment - 1st year students who have successfully passed all competitive tests and will study at our university - a major scientific, educational and cultural center in the country and the region.

The competition commission of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for awarding state educational grants in 2014 allocated 333 grants, including 150 educational grants within the framework of the state social project "Mangilik el zhastary - industryaga" under the program "Serpin - 2050".

Welcome to the "Mangilik el zhastary - industryaga" grant holders! We hope that you will receive a special applause and quality education.

In 2013, M. Kozybayev NKSU passed the international accreditation of three specialties in the German Agency ASIIN.

("Power Engineering", "Power Engineering" (Master's degree), "Instrument Engineering"). Graduates of internationally accredited programs this year for the first time received European Diploma Supplements with the EUR-ACE® Bachelor's and EUR-ACE® Master's marks of quality. This mark is issued as a confirmation of the compliance of programs with the pan-European requirements defined in the EUR-ACE Framework for Accreditation of Engineering Programs.

Last academic year, our university passed institutional and specialized accreditation for six clusters of educational programs (34 specialties) through the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In the new academic year, the university is preparing to undergo international accreditation in five educational programs (bachelor's and master's degrees in Radio Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications, bachelor's and master's degrees in Information Systems, bachelor's degree in Informatics).

The results of national and international ratings testify to a sufficiently high level of quality in training professional personnel of M. Kozybayev NKSU. In 2013, according to the results of the international rating company QS Word, M. Kozybayev NKSU entered the top five universities of Kazakhstan in the direction of training "Engineering and Technology".

According to the results of the independent rating of universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan IAAR (Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating) in 2014, the following specialties took the 2nd place: "Social pedagogy and psychology", "Initial military training"; "Mechanical Engineering", "Russian Language and Literature" (Master's degree); 3rd place - "Geography", "Journalism", "Instrument Engineering", "Agronomy", "Forest Resources and Forestry", "Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages" (Master's degree), "Instrument Engineering". According to the results of the IAAR rating, the university entered the top 20 best universities and took 12th place in the total number of prizes.

Our university announced a recruitment for 43 undergraduate specialties (36 of them are in Kazakh), 25 for magistracy and 2 for doctoral studies.

969 students, 63 undergraduates and 2 doctoral students entered the 1st year of our university. For the first time in the new academic year, we launched a double-degree master's program with Omsk State Pedagogical University.

We are convinced that all of our students made the right choice.  

The university takes effective measures to enhance the competitiveness of the university, improve the quality of training on the basis of a modern material and technical base, qualified personnel and advanced information technologies of education.
In the experiment mode, students are trained in three languages ​​in 7 undergraduate specialties and 2 magistracy specialties.
The book fund of the university library has more than 1 million copies. There are electronic reading rooms equipped with modern technology.

Research activity is an important component of the development of the university. An effective research infrastructure has been created, consisting of 5 research centers and 10 research laboratories.

Today, a new vector of science has been set - progress towards the world level of research and a real contribution to the economy. Our university is following the path of creating a research university based on the innovative experience of Nazarbayev University. Research activities are aimed at the development of competitive scientific developments, assistance in the implementation of the industrial and innovative strategy of the country and the northern region of Kazakhstan, improving the quality of higher education through innovation and the introduction of research results and new technologies.

As the Head of State noted, "the time is coming when scientists should make the most decisive contribution to the development of Kazakhstan."

Special attention in the university is paid to the scientific work of students, which is carried out through student scientific societies in order to support and realize the creative abilities of gifted youth, develop their scientific and industrial competence. The popularization of research work among students contributes to the active participation of talented young people in applied and fundamental research.

Students participate in scientific conferences, seminars, round tables, scientific circles, research works, research competitions, exhibitions, presentations.

About 300 students' works were sent to the Republican competition of the MES RK last academic year. As a result of the competition, 30 diplomas of I, II, III degrees were received.

In the last academic year alone, about 300 student scientific articles were published in collections of scientific papers.
For the development of academic mobility of students and university staff, the implementation of international educational programs, the university has signed more than 90 contracts and agreements on cooperation with universities and enterprises of the near and far abroad.

Our students and undergraduates within the framework of the academic mobility program have the opportunity to study for one semester at universities in Europe and the United States.

Exchange internship programs are organized in enterprises and organizations of foreign countries, through which research studies of students are carried out.

21 students are holders of the scholarships of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev, two - scholarships of K. Skryabin and M. Zhumabaev. The best students are awarded three grants named after academician Manash Kozybayev and 6 grants from the rector of the university.

The university has a health center equipped with the latest equipment. University students and staff receive quality medical services from specialist doctors free of charge.

Our university has a modern sports base, which includes sports and gyms, a shooting range, a swimming pool, a skating and skiing base, and a sports ground for playing mini-football. There are out-of-town educational and health-improving complexes: "Miras", an agrobiological station.

Students annually take part in the winter and summer Universiades among students of universities in Kazakhstan, taking prizes among the combined student teams of universities in Kazakhstan. Last year, on the basis of our university, swimming competitions were held as part of the VII Summer Universiade of students.

Every year, students' sports and athletics competitions are held, as well as the "Cheerfulness and health" sports meeting among the teaching staff. Sports and fitness sections work free of charge. Students are actively involved in mass sports and cultural events designed not only to popularize sports, but also to educate young people in a healthy lifestyle.

University students take an active part in international, republican and regional olympiads, competitions and projects, in patriotic actions and socially significant projects, they can realize their leadership qualities and active citizenship.
The university has 3 student dormitories, which have been overhauled, good social conditions for living have been created. A set of social support measures is being implemented for students.

A high level of education, professionalism of specialists with higher education is one of the main directions for the implementation of the Strategy "Kazakhstan-2050", voiced by the President of the country N.A. Nazarbayev: to ensure that in the coming years the republic will become one of the most developed and competitive countries in the world.

We are trying to make real steps in this direction and today there are positive shifts in many areas.

Dear students! I wish you success in your studies, the ability to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge in practice and become a qualified specialist. Work for the bright future of Kazakhstan in general and achieve creative success! I wish you all success in any of your initiatives, good health and success!

Good luck in all your endeavors, high, to you, achievements on the way to knowledge!