Buoyed by World Bank money and recent prosperity caused by oil, gas and other commodities Kazakhstan has sought to invest in education infrastructure and quality.
A vocational reform plan launched in 2008 has prioritised skills development. In addition to this there is a Presidential directive to seek out the best European systems in all areas of society governance and adapt them to Kazakhstan and also to create a trilingual society. In August 2008 TVET UK signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Education and Science to supply services in three areas, curriculum development, college partnerships and the sharing of UK best practice.
This was the third trade mission to the country in the last 12 months. It was timed to coincide with a student recruitment fare, organised by the Turkish company A2, so that colleges in particular could attend the fare (at a discount negotiated by TVET UK) and combine this with a series of meetings with agents, colleges and government officials facilitated by TVET UK.
This visit has led to concrete developments, as a result of TVET UK’s significant work with agencies in Kazakhstan over the past year. We have made great progress opening a new market in less than 12 months and it is entirely within the remit of TVET UK to be doing this on behalf of British Education. Not one of these opportunities would have existed without our work and the support of the British Embassy in Astana and we are justifiably proud of achieving student recruitment and partnership income in such a short space of time as well as cementing a trust and friendship with the Ministry of Education and Science, three educational departments and many colleges and agents. It is worth noting that the Kazakhs will not deal with people via email and telephone and culturally it is essential to be seen in country with the ministries and the colleges in order to progress business relations and build profile and reputation.
I would like to offer my thanks to the participants particularly SQA who went beyond the call of duty to ensure the high profile Astana seminar was a great success.
Objective
This trade mission was organised into order to facilitate student recruitment opportunities, which will then enable participating colleges to explore additional projects, tenders and generally commit to the country.
Activities Meeting with representatives from Kazakh Association of Educational Agents (KAEA)
The Kazakh Association of Educational Agents (KAEA) unites the nine British Council accredited agents in the country into one association. In the past 12 months TVET UK has enjoyed a dialogue with the association introducing colleges and training providers to them and facilitating one to one meetings. On this mission TVET UK members met with 6 of these agents including the major three, ICC plus, Regent Calderdale and Linguistic Centre. A new agency Study Inn has recently been created by a former ICC Plus employee. Although not yet part of the association TVET UK members were also able to meet with this agency. Outcomes TVET UK has agreed to support and promote KAEA’s annual autumn fair in return for a discount for participating TVET UK members.
Seminar for Almaty’s college principals
Following on from last year’s successful interaction with the Almaty Colleges, TVET UK ran a seminar for the college principals of the 25 association members explaining the British Education system from qualification development to quality assurance in colleges. The seminar was supported by the British Embassy through a UKTI grant and our thanks go to them for their outstanding support of our operation in Kazakhstan. Outcomes The college association proposed a memorandum with TVET UK to partner Almaty colleges with UK colleges in a variety of disciplines including English language training.
Seminar for the Ministry of Education and Science
The seminar,was opened by HMA Paul Brummell, Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Guests included the Director of Vocational Education at the Ministry, Kadyrbek Boribekov along with representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, KazMunayGaz and the Principals of Astana Colleges. Again the event was supported by the Embassy and without their help the logistics and funding would have been impossible. This was a more detailed and higher profile seminar than that held for college principals and SQA sent two representatives to present the principles of a qualification framework, from industry consultation through to the role of awarding bodies and quality assurance. Although the examples used referred to the Scottish system, the brief of the seminar was UK wide principles. Supporting this was a presentation from Promethean, a leading supplier of classroom technologies who offered a vision of how the use of innovative processes can assist a large country like Kazakhstan who a low population density. Cambridge Regional College also presented highlighting their achievement as the first TVET UK member and indeed British College to operate a commercial partnership in Kazakhstan. Unfortunately the Vice Minister of Education was called to Parliament on an urgent issue and was unable to attend, however he is aware of our work which we have discussed in detail on many occasions. The British Council was also invited to participate but had no one available to attend. OutcomeThe seminar was organised in order to share information and promote the UK vocational education system. It was well received, and the Director of Vocation Education suggested that these principles of educational reform were needed ‘yesterday’ in Kazakhstan
One to one meeting with the Ministry of Education
This was arranged so that SQA could discuss how they might address the needs of the Ministry in terms of curriculum development. OutcomeThere is money available for this and the need is urgent so the there is a strong prospect of SQA taking forward this project on a commercial basis.
Meeting with Samruk Kazyna
This agency is under national and regional government control. It is a sovereign wealth fund/government holding company, responsible for a variety of national companies including electricity, rail, road and oil infrastructure. They have also played a key role in nationalising banks who have suffered during the recent economic downturn. Outcome Samruk Kazyna has indicated that it wants to sign a memorandum to supply services to a newly developed project around corporate training. The draft memorandum is being considered and amended by both parties with a provisional signing planned for June 2009.
Meeting with the Winter Asian Games department at the Akimat of Almaty.
This agency stressed the need for rapid development of their sporting and logistical infrastructure in time for the 2011 7th Winter Asian Games in Almaty/Astana. This was of most interest to Bradford College and Loughborough College , both of which have significant experience in training for such activities as the Commonwealth Games, African games, spectator control and volunteer training look likely to carry this project forward. OutcomeA memorandum is expected to be signed in June 2009 for TVET UK to facilitate a supply of services to the Winter Games organisers through these colleges and if necessary other members.
A2 agents fair
This was attended by three TVET UK members and TVET UK was able to feedback as a consortium to the organisers on the positive and negative aspects of the fair to allow them to improve their operation. OutcomeWe now have a good and mutually beneficial partnership for future events and A2 are keen to support and encourage TVET UK members participation. Two of the three delegates attending have planned to book again with A2 for subsequent events in other countries. The organisers also offered free printing and translation services to one member who experienced customs problems with their college materials.
Cambridge Regional College signing ceremony
After the main mission activity, TVET UK and Cambridge Regional College travelled to Shymkent to sign contracts over the supply of services for the first commercial college partnership to be funded by the Ministry as part of the TVET UK Memorandum signed in August 2008. Outcome This was a celebratory occasion with press and TV present but work is well underway on this project.
Presentation to South Kazakhstan College community.
TVET UK also made a presentation to some of the 65 members of the South Kazakhstan College community MOU with the South Kazakhstan Education Department TVET UK also signed an MOU on exploration into further collaboration and partnerships, similar to that signed in Almaty. South Kazakhstan is a very different place to the rest of Kazakhstan and enjoys autonomy not dissimilar to Wales and Northern Ireland in the UK, so this is an important strategic step for us. The second college partnership of the five agreed with the Ministry is likely to be signed between Bradford College and Karaganda Polytechnic. The representative of Bradford College travelled to meet the Principal in Karaganda and enjoyed positive discussions about collaboration in several curriculum areas.
Meetings with individual colleges in Shymkent
TVET UK and Dr Amina Wakefield from Cambridge Regional College attended meetings with a handful of colleges in South Kazakhstan. OutcomesKBTU and Almaty University are both looking to progress a partnership with Cambridge Regional College. Furthermore, since returning from this mission, Cambridge Regional College has agreed to sign three additional contracts with a university and a language centre in Almaty and a private school in Shymkent.
