Nazarbayev University is delighted to announce the annual international conference within the framework of Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum – 2014.

The conference aims to bring together education stakeholders from the continent of Eurasia and beyond to contribute their ideas and participate in vibrant discussion on questions and challenges facing higher education leaders throughout the world. Every year this event attracts more than half a thousand of scholars, university top management, policymakers, students and other parties interested in discussing and promoting issues of higher education. With its atmosphere of lively debates, the Forum welcomes participants to share their opinions and engage in a multilateral dialogue on the most recent issues in the field of education. 

The theme of this year’s Forum is: Successful Universities: what are they and how to build one? 

Under this umbrella theme, following subthemes will be discussed in sessions:

What is a Successful University? 

How to build a Successful University: new or from existing? 

Students’ Perspective on Successful University 

Academic Freedom and Autonomy 

Successful Research Universities 

Conference includes following session types: 

Plenary Sessions involve Keynote speeches by distinguished experts on a particular theme.

Panel discussions include presentations of three-four panelists with contrasting or complementary points of view, who engage in discussion with each other and with the audience.

Poster presentations combine text and graphics to highlight unique ideas in case studies education institutions. The poster presenters held a question and answer session with delegates. 

Participants of the Forum include but is not limited to: university vice-chancellors, presidents, rectors and their advisors, college principals and their advisors, ministers and government representatives – central, regional and local journalists – press and media, professional and trade bodies working in Eurasian education, students. 

Registration fee for EHELF 2014 Conference is 9500 tenge (or $50 US Dollars). Pre-forum events: Session Sharing NU Experience and Session Development of Strategic Directions for Education Reforms in Kazakhstan for 2015-2020 on June 10 are free of charge. 

Eurasian Higher Education Leaders’ Forum - 2014

Successful Universities: what are they and how to build one?

1. Panel session: What is a Successful University?

Keynote speaker: Aslan Sarinzhipov, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Moderator: Alan Ruby, Senior Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Panelists:

- Jane Knight, Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

- Humphrey Tonkin, President Emeritus, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA

- Jan Vermunt, Deputy Head, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK    

2. Panel session: How to Build a Successful University: new or from existing?

Keynote speaker: Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, Office for Fair Access, UK

Moderator: Simon Jones, Provost, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Panelists:

- Mary Canning, Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland 

- Asylbek Kozhahmetov, Rector of International Business Academy, Kazakhstan

- Stavros Yiannouka, Senior Advisor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore     

3. Panel session: Students' Perspective on Successful University

Keynote speaker: Rok Primožič, Chairperson of the European Students’ Union, Belgium    

Moderator: Timothy Reagan, Dean of the Graduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Panelists: 

- Kamila Rollan, Student, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

- Liz Winter, University Lecturer, Cambridge University, UK

- Angela Yiu, Vice President for Academic Exchange, Sophia University, Japan  

4. Panel session: Academic Freedom and Autonomy 

Keynote speaker: 

Moderator: Andrew Wachtel, President of the American University in Central Asia, Kyrgyz Republic 

Panelists: 

- Matthew Hartley, Chair, Higher Education Division, Professor, University of Pennsylvania, USA

- Beibit Mamrayev, Rector of Dosmukhamedov Atyrau State University, Kazakhstan

- Aida Sagintayeva, Chief Executive Director of the Graduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University, Kazakshtan

- Fatima Zhakypova, National Educational Expert, Kazakhstan    

5. Panel session: Successful Research Universities 

Keynote speaker: Simon Jones, Provost, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Moderator: Dennis de Tray, Advisor to President, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan

Panelists: 

- Zheksenbek Adilov, Rector, Satpayev Kazakh National Technical University, Kazakhstan

- William Boulding, Dean, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, USA

- Zhumakhan Myrkalykov, Rector, Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, Kazakhstan    

Within the framework of Eurasian Higher Education Leaders' Forum following events will be held: 

Special session on “Development of Strategic Directions for Education Reforms in Kazakhstan for 2015-2020”  on June 10, 2014.

During the special session the results of the wide-scale project “Development of Strategic Directions for Education Reforms in Kazakhstan for 2015-2020” will be discussed. The project is implemented by the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education with the goal to support the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in further modernization of education system. Highly qualified team of international experts has analyzed each level of education: preschool, secondary, technical and vocational, higher.  The project encompasses identification of major systemic issues of education in Kazakhstan and development of the Action Plan with the most effective ways of solving them.

Conference 

It is with great pleasure that we are inviting you to attend most important education event of the region - annual Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum at Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan on 11-12 June, 2014.  Last year the Forum gathered around 500 established policy makers, distinguished educational leaders, senior researchers and practitioners from 32 countries of the world. The Forum is a pioneering initiative to provide the platform for international constructive debates on higher education governance and management. Your participation is of utmost importance to us as it helps to contribute to highlighting current education trends in Eurasia.

Seminar for Librarians  Library Connect 2014: Emerging Global Trends in University Library Development A two-day professional development seminar for staff and administration of Kazakhstani academic libraries (a part of Eurasian Higher Education Leaders' Forum)

Exhibition  EHELF also invites universities, educational organizations and vendors to take part in the exhibition. Participation in the exhibition gives you an opportunity to build international connections, find business partners and learn more about Eurasian trends in education.

Session on Sharing Nazarbayev University Experience  Session on Sharing Nazarbayev University Experience aims at introducing participants with certain aspects of the Nazarbayev University Schools' operation, including student advising, curriculum development, etc.    

Workshop for University Acedemic Registrars  Within the framework of sharing NU experience Office of the Registrar organises workshop for registrars of Kazakhstan universities.

Eurasian Higher Education Leaders Forum also invites universities, educational organizations and vendors to take part in the exhibition. Participation in the exhibition gives you an opportunity to build international connections, find business partners and learn more about Eurasian trends in education. 

The exhibition might be of interest for vendors of products and services in education, companies working in service to libraries in providing Electronic Resources, Classrooms & Laboratory Equipment and Infrastructure, Bookselling, IT etc.

Location: Nazarbayev University, (53 Kabanbai Batyr avenue, Astana, Kazakhstan, 010000).

Registration Fee: 180 000 tenge (or equivalent amount in US Dollars). The registration fee covers rental cost of an exhibition stand, production and mounting of company label, table, chairs and light fixtures.

Registration is open until May 19, 2014.

For any questions please contact the exhibition organizers:

Department of Communication and Marketing

Nazarbayev University

pr@nu.edu.kz, +7 (7172) 70 89 54, 70 60 91, 70 60 89, 70 60 90