Abay kuni at Shakarim University: Program of the “Adilet” party and key issues of the country’s development

10 August is the birthday of Abai Kunanbayuly. On this day, the Republican election headquarters of the Adilet party, headed by party chairman Aibek Dadebay, arrived in Semey. After laying flowers at the monument to Abai, the visit program continued at Shakarim University, where a meeting was held with elders, representatives of the intelligentsia, science, education and the public of the Abay region.

The meeting was moderated by the rector of Shakarim University Duman Orynbekov. The Republican headquarters was represented by the chairman of the Adilet party, the head of the Republican election headquarters Aibek Dadebay, members of the headquarters and candidates for deputies of Kuryltai.

The main topic was the five-year election program of the “Adiletti Bolashak Ushin” party. The format of the meeting initially involved an open conversation: after the main directions of the program were presented, the floor was handed over to the participants to discuss issues of direct concern to residents of the region.

Why “Adilet”?

The first to speak to the participants of the meeting was the candidate for deputy of Kuryltai, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dikhan Kamzabekuly.

He began the conversation with the very concept of “Adilet” and its place in the socio-political development of Kazakhstan. Dikhan Kamzabekuly recalled the words of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev: “Adilet - bizdin basty bagytymyz” - “Justice is our main guideline.”

According to the candidate, the party’s mission is related to supporting government reforms and the practical implementation of the principles of justice. At the same time, the party must ensure interaction between society, the legislative and executive powers.

This conversation has acquired a special meaning. Dikhan Kamzabekuly addressed the role of scientists, teachers and intelligentsia in the development of the state, spoke about the quality of education, support for science and innovation, preservation of national culture and public values.

He paid special attention to the Abay region. The decision to create the region returned Semey to the status of an administrative center and opened a new stage in the development of the territory with enormous historical, cultural and intellectual potential. The further development of the region, the candidate noted, largely depends on the professional and civic participation of the people who live and work here.

For the Abay region, these issues are of practical importance: the region simultaneously needs new industries, modern infrastructure, strong science, qualified specialists and conditions that allow young people to realize themselves on their land.

Anar Fazylzhan: state policy must be tangible for people

Kuryltai deputy candidate Anar Fazylzhan focused on the social component of the program and government support for science.

She said that she had not previously been a member of political parties, but systemic changes in recent years have become for her one of the reasons for more active socio-political participation.

As a specific example, Anar Fazylzhan cited the situation of young researchers at the institute she leads.

- The fact that young undergraduates and doctoral students of the scientific institute that I direct today have the opportunity to purchase their own housing is clear evidence of real support for science from the state. It was precisely such systemic changes that became one of the reasons for my joining the Adilet party. “I want to contribute to the continuation of these endeavors,” said Anar Fazylzhan.

Her speech emphasized that the political program should be assessed by specific results. Among the benchmarks until 2031 were increased housing affordability, an increase in average life expectancy to 77 years, the creation of 1 million new jobs, an increase in the share of medium-sized businesses to 20%, and an increase in the incomes of 1 million rural residents.

A separate area is related to the technological transformation of the country. The program provides for training 5 million Kazakhstanis in the skills to effectively use artificial intelligence tools. The agenda also includes digital literacy, protecting citizens from new digital threats and training for the technology economy.

For the meeting held at the university, this part of the program was of particular importance. The development of AI, new industries and the digital economy directly changes the requirements for specialists, and therefore for the education system and scientific environment.

Five-year program: housing, work, villages, technology

During the meeting, participants were presented with the main social and economic guidelines of the “Adiletti Bolashak Ushin” program.

One of the large blocks is related to housing policy. An increase in construction volumes is simultaneously seen as an opportunity to increase housing affordability and stimulate employment: the construction sector creates demand for specialists and products from related industries.

Another direction is the creation of quality jobs and the protection of working people. In the program, this task is associated with the development of medium-sized businesses, the growth of incomes of the population and the expansion of opportunities for professional fulfillment of citizens.

The task of increasing the incomes of residents and developing a modern rural economy has been outlined for rural areas. In a broader context, we are talking about food independence of Kazakhstan, the development of its own production and reducing dependence on external factors.

A significant block is devoted to energy security, digitalization, development of culture and sports infrastructure. At the meeting it was said that 16 sports facilities are currently being built in the Abay region alone.

Thus, the five-year program was presented through specific indicators and areas by which the result of its implementation can subsequently be assessed.

The word of the public of the Abay region

After the candidates’ speeches, the open part of the meeting began.

It was she who made it possible to move the conversation from the national level directly to the Abay region.

Representatives of the older generation, science, education and creative intelligentsia spoke about what they consider important for the further development of the region. The questions concerned regional infrastructure, domestic science, education, youth, culture and territorial development.

The discussion was attended by representatives of the public included in the meeting program, including Kairat Zekenuly Sabyrbaev, Zhanar Chushekova, Kusmiliya Nurkasym, Kenzhesh Mukashev and Alin Muratkazy.

Individual questions and proposals were related to specific tasks of the area.

The Chairman of the Commission on Patriotic Education of the City Council of Veterans, Zeinolla Tokaev, raised the topic of the infrastructure of the regional center. Dean of the University named after Alikhan Bokeikhan Liliya Muslimkyzy drew attention to the development of domestic science. The poet Merey Kart and the director of the Pedagogical College named after M. Auezov Shagangul Zhanaeva expressed their positions on the presented initiatives.

During the discussion, proposals were also made for modernizing infrastructure, further development of the Alakol coast and reconstruction of the airport in Urjar.

So the overall program received a regional projection: the participants already talked about what solutions are needed in Semey, the regions of the region, the scientific and educational environment and the people living in this territory.

Aibek Dadebay: “We came first of all to listen to you”

The results of the meeting were summed up by the chairman of the “Adilet” party, head of the Republican election headquarters Aibek Dadebay.

He emphasized that the purpose of the trip to the region was not only to present the election program.

— We came today not only to express our position and present our program. First of all, we came to hear you,” said Aibek Dadebay.

According to him, the “Adilette Bolashak Ushin” program was formed taking into account the requests of citizens and is based on the national course of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the principles of “Zan Men Tartip”, “Adal Azamat”, “Taza Kazakhstan” and the further development of the concept of “Halyk Unine” Kulak asatyn memleket.”

The chairman of the party specifically focused on the understanding of the principle of “Law and Order”. Its content, Aibek Dadebay emphasized, is primarily to protect the rights of every citizen, and public policy should be based on the real needs of a person.

He called the next stage in the development of the “Hearing State” the transition to a model in which citizens’ appeals and proposals become the basis for making specific decisions. To achieve this, it is proposed to more actively use modern digital tools, artificial intelligence and Big Data.

At the same time, Aibek Dadebay emphasized the importance of direct feedback from the regions and encouraged participants to make suggestions and criticisms:

- Express all your opinions and suggestions. Both you and we will benefit from this. “We are always ready to hear constructive solutions from you,” said the party leader.

Thus, the final part of the meeting was devoted to the mechanism for implementing the program: the tasks set for five years require specific deadlines, responsibility for the result and constant interaction with citizens.

Duman Orynbekov: the university has been and remains a platform for meaningful public dialogue

Summarizing the meeting, the rector of Shakarim University Duman Orynbekov drew attention to the breadth of questions that were raised during the conversation.

According to him, it is important for the university that a direct dialogue took place in one classroom between representatives of a political party, scientists, teachers, creative intelligentsia, elders and residents of the region.

- Today we heard not only the provisions of the election program. We heard questions from the residents of the Abay region themselves. We talked about science and education, infrastructure, employment, rural development, technology, artificial intelligence, and quality of life. These are different directions, but they all ultimately determine human capabilities and the prospects of the region. It is fundamentally important for Shakarim University to be a platform where such a conversation can take place professionally, openly and with the participation of people who know the area well and are responsible for its development, - noted Duman Orynbekov.

The rector emphasized that for the university, the questions raised at the meeting are directly related to the activities of the university. The region's economy requires trained specialists, technological development is impossible without science, and the large-scale introduction of artificial intelligence poses new requirements for the content of personnel training for the higher education system.

According to him, it is especially significant that the meeting took place on August 10, Abai’s birthday.

- On Abai’s Day on his land, we talked about what Kazakhstan should be like in the coming years and what solutions are needed for this. And here the word “Adilet” takes on a very specific meaning. The question is how the stated principles will work in education, economics, social sphere, technology, regional development and in everyday human life. Ultimately, it is the result that determines the value of any program, - summed up Duman Orynbekov.

The meeting at Shakarim University became one of the sites of the working visit of the Republican election headquarters of the Adilet party to the Abay region. The discussion showed a wide range of requests from the region from infrastructure and social issues to science, digitalization and personnel training, which the participants proposed to take into account in further work on the implementation of the five-year program.