Asylbek Kozhakhmetov: “We need a new content of education and we need new universities”
President of AlmaU Asylbek Bazarbaevich spoke at the University of KazGUU named after M.S. Narikbaev on the topic "University in the 21st century". In his speech, he dwelled in detail on the issues of quality education, the development of entrepreneurial qualities, and also spoke about the university's mission in the 21st century.
“I will talk about my vision for the future of education. In fact, whether it will be so depends on you as well. Or maybe first of all from you... I have traveled to more than 50 countries. I do not go to see, I despise academic or educational tourism. But I love academic education,” A. Kozhakhmetov began his speech with these words.
The President of AlmaU willingly shared his experience in promoting the university. He clearly showed how the University of Management has expanded from 1988 to the present day. He also noted that the business school, opened with only 200 students, has become the best entrepreneurial university in Kazakhstan today, uniting 5,000 students.
He proudly spoke about the schools of Media and Film, Creative Industry, which opened last year. The School of Media and Cinema was opened jointly with the largest partner in this field, Kazakhfilm. The university has an international partner in Arizona State University, which has a film academy in Los Angeles.
“A person cannot be successful if he is in poor health. And health should not be treated, health should be maintained, protected, created starting from the age of 18. Therefore, we opened the AlmaU Sharmanov School of Health Sciences,” A. Bazarbayevich said.
The transmission of culture, training in professions, scientific research and the training of scientists are the tasks of the university. When organizing higher education, creating a university, it is necessary to rely on the student, and not on knowledge and the teacher. It’s not bad to study a profession, but it’s more important to study where the world is going, who a person is, what he himself needs.
According to Mr. Kozhakhmetov, there are three fundamental components of the mission of the university:
- Training.
- Research.
- Service to the community.
Of great importance are the connections between universities and industry, business, government agencies and the connections of educational institutions with each other.
The sphere of education determines the psychological aspects, forms the ideals of the individual. The educational environment can and should correct the undesirable mental characteristics of both the individual and society.
3 concepts about the content of education:
- Knowledge is authority.
- Knowledge is education of the mind.
- Knowledge – navigational and spatial literacy.
According to him, the student should be his own navigator. The transition of universities from disciplinary functions to the management of self-education is the responsibility for their own education.
In the 21st century, self-governing learners are needed. Student autonomy includes 3 components:
- Responsibility.
- Leadership.
- "Right to vote."
Between words, A. Kozhakhmetov noted that in the future pensioners will have the opportunity to study at AlmaU. An 18-year-old student and an educated retiree have the same rights under the law. Both have leadership qualities and the right to vote.
The university is not just an environment in which an academic education is received, it is an environment conducive to the development of a person's personality and culture.
“We need a new content of education, we need new universities in order to be effective. Otherwise, we will always look at the last car of the departing train,” Asylbek Bazarbayevich said.
In the end, he noted the need to develop the relationship between education and culture.
