Kazakh delegation for the first time ever participates in the Bologna Process conference
Louven-la-Neuve hosted Bologna Process-2009, a two-day conference of Education Ministers. Kazakhstan was for the first time ever invited to this forum.
In his speech, Zhanseit Tuimenbayev, Education Minister of Kazakhstan, noted that cooperation and integration into the international education space is a key vector of Kazakhstan’s policy, including foreign policy. Participation in the process should translate in higher quality of education services in Kazakhstan and recognition of Kazakhstan’s scholars and teachers worldwide. “Accession of the Kazakhstan’s education system into the Bologna Process is a tool to upgrade the quality of professional training and a precondition to strengthening Kazakhstan’s positions in the international education space”.
He noted that state expenses on education had been growing from year to year. In 2008, financing grew 2.8 fold as compared to 2004. This makes up 3.7% of the GDP and is compared to such nations as Germany, Slovakia, and Spain and is to reach the average world level of financing in the nearest years. About USD 4.6 billion is allocated for education purposes in 2009.
Minister Tuimenbayev said that in 2004 Kazakhstan – in line with the Bologna Declaration – had introduced a multi-level higher education system, comprising Bachelor, Master and PhD studies. “The most famous international initiative set up by President Nursultan Nazarbayev is the Bolashak Bursaries Program which covers tuition fees for outstanding students, enabling them to study at best universities of the world. For the 14 years, the Program has allowed more than 2000 people to obtain degrees from Harvard, Stanford, Cambridge, Sorbonne and other leading schools. In 2009 five national universities of Kazakhstan will be accredited with international agencies based in Europe and the USA”.
“Development of international ties of Kazakhstan’s universities with foreign universities lays foundation for joint educational programs. First of all, I am talking of double-diploma system. Currently, 50 universities of Kazakhstan are implementing double-diploma projects in partnership with leading universities of Great Britain, Spain, Czechia, Germany, the USA and some other countries”.
The Minister reminded that at the international Bologna Process forum held in Kazakhstan February 5-6 under the aegis of the Council of Europe the attendees lauded education reforms being implemented in Kazakhstan. The parties outlined major vectors of introduction of the Bologna Process principles.
When talking to the local press, Minister Tuimenbayev noted that “Kazakhstan had been invited to the Bologna Process ministerial conference to be held in Vienna in 2010. We plan to be full-fledged participants of the Bologna Process. To this end, preparatory works should be carried out. In terms of legislation everything is ready”.
“We are happy to receive the Kazakhstan’s delegation. The fact that Kazakhstan is attending the event among the 46 nations that are part of the European higher education space testifies that your country supports and consolidates cooperation in this realm”, said Education Minister Frank Vandenbroucke of Belgium.
Kazinform
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