Duman Orynbekov, Rector of Shakarim University: Technological Breakthrough and Digital Transformation: Shakarim University's Contribution to New Initiatives Arising from the Message
This year's Address of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is an important document that defines the strategic direction of the country's development in the face of global instability. This time, apart from economic reforms, the head of state prioritized issues of technological progress, increasing investment potential and ensuring digital sovereignty. From this point of view, the initiatives raised in the Address impose a great responsibility on the field of education and science, especially on higher educational institutions.
In his message, the President set a specific goal: "Kazakhstan should become a digital country within three years." One of the first and concrete steps in this direction is the creation of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence. Such a structure opens the way for universities to directly participate in national digital projects.
Shakarim University has already introduced several artificial intelligence agents into the educational process within the framework of the national project "AI-Sana".
Among them, our own system called AI-Check was included in the top 6 projects of the AI-Sana program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The system automatically analyzes student works in Kazakh, Russian and English according to quality, structure and originality criteria.
The university intends to become a digital hub of the region, that is, to spread our experience to schools and colleges and train a new generation of EdTech-pedagogues. In general, higher educational institutions should be the laboratory of the country's digital future. From this point of view, the creation of the new ministry mentioned in the Address will allow universities to directly participate in national projects.
One of the important issues mentioned in the President's Address is investment attraction, which he considered as the main factor of national security and the country's competitiveness. At the same time, Shakarim University is achieving real results in this direction.
If you remember, in June 2025, the university signed an investment agreement with Xi'an Jiaotong University of China. According to the agreement, "International Electrical Automation Laboratory" will be established on the basis of Shakarim University, a regional higher educational institution in Abay region. The project will be implemented in cooperation with Xi'an Jiaotong University, one of the leading technical higher educational institutions of China. The laboratory is engaged in applied research in the fields of electric automation, "green" logistics, smart transport systems, digital solutions and intelligent production.
Investment will be allocated for this by China. This money will be spent on equipment, software, personnel training and modernization of laboratories.
Thus, Shakarim University is the first among regional educational institutions to implement specific projects on international education and science transfer. This agreement is not only a financial investment, but also a manifestation of deep cooperation in the field of technologies, experience, personnel training and scientific research.
Today, Shakarim University is actively involved in multi-vector international cooperation. As proof of this: the opening of a branch of the Polish state higher education institution at Shakarim University; Implementation of double degree programs with leading universities of Turkey, China, Korea, Russia; large-scale activities such as academic mobility and participation in international research projects are being carried out.
These initiatives not only increase the competitiveness of the university in the global educational space, but also show its contribution to regional and national development.
In general, this year's Address of the President is not only a direction, but the beginning of an intellectual breakthrough in shaping the country's future. Shakarim University actively participates in this process and contributes to the development of the country through innovative education, integration of science and technology, regional development and investment boom.
As the rector of the university, I can say with confidence that we are ready to rise to a new level of development of education and science together with our team, with a deep understanding of the tasks arising from the Address.
