Perspective on Distance learning in Kazakhstan Akhmed-Zaki Darkhan Head of computer science department of al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Republic of Kazakhstan Population - more than 15,8 million Capital - Astana Industry - oil-and-gas, chemical, textile, food, etc. Education- Secondary education free-of- charge, High – gov. allocates grants for : bachelor, master’s, PhD Students Distance learning at all national and regional universities

Problem Analysis Distance learning is at all national and large regional universities, but each university trains on themselves. The technology and methodology of DL are not fulfilled. Low levels of infrastructure and computerization Qualification of teaching and industry staffs Raising of an educational level in the country

«Al-Farabi Kazakh National University is a leader of education and science of modern Kazakhstan» President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

U N I V E R S I T Y T O D A Y A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY Kazakh National University a major educational and research center in Kazakhstan renowned for its innovative development of higher education and research,ranks the first in the general university rating of Kazakhstan. The university was the first among Kazakhstan educational institutions to be awarded the Prize of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan “For outstanding Quality achievements”. The university had a clean audit of QI with competence of international standards ISO 9001:2000(agency Bureau Veritas Certification,France). 10 education programms are accredited (agency ASIIN, Germany) Above 20, 000 undergraduate, graduate and 2000 postgraduate students are studying at the University. Academic programs with more than 200 majors are offered by 98 Departments at 14 Schools. Since 2005, 100 undergraduate and graduate students are awarded a scholarship established by the President of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev.

There are more than 2000 faculty members working at KazNU, including: more than 1000 doctors and candidates of sciences, professors and associate professors; more than 100 full members of major academies of sciences; 21 Honored Workers of the Republic of Kazakhstan; authors of scientific discoveries, developers of unique technologies; more than 30 laureates of state and personalized scholarship awards and 40 laureates of young scientists awards; 45 owners of state scientific scholarships; and 150 Doctors of Philosophy. There are 15 Doctoral Councils that supervises the defense of doctoral dissetations in 56 majors working at the university. Currently, there are more than 1500 candidates assigned to defend their dissertations. At present, KazNU is collaborating with more than 418 leading international universities, and is a member of the International, European and Eurasian Association of Universities. KazNU was the first among Kazakhstan universities to sign the Great Charter of Universities in Bologna, Italy, in A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY School of Biology School of Geography School of Journalism School of History School of International Relations School of Mechanics and Mathematics School of Physics School of Philology School of Philosophy and Political Science School of Chemistry School of Economics and Business School of law School of Oriental Studies College KazNU For the preparation of the highly skilled staff only KazNU got rights from Education Ministry for training students on base of experimental educational programs, which developed in additionally with world standards

A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY S C I E N T I F I C & R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E THE EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL PHYSICS RESEARCH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MATHEMATICS AND MECHANICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ECOLOGY CENTER FOR PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL METHODS OF RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF NEW CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS INSTITUTE OF STATE AND LAW INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE INSTITUTE OF COMBUSTION PROBLEMS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGICAL PARK (TECHNOPARK) OPEN NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY T h e S C I E N C E L I B R A R Y The library stock is about 2 million copies, which is annually replenished with thousand new editions. The Internet room opened in 1998 ensures free access to Internet for the students and faculty. university students have access to global information network. Scientific Libraryof KazNU is the largest Academic Library of Kazakhstan. The scientific Library founded at the same time with University. In April 2004, the Library was awarded a diploma the best Library by the Association of Higher Educational Institutions of Kazakhstan.

10 Physics Mathematic Dep. Chemistry Dep. Oriental Dep. Ph&P Dep. Administration Law Dep. B&E Dep. International relations Dep. Bio Dep. Geo Dep. History Dep. Journalism Philology Network Highway – fiber optic cable - 9 km Number of networked computers - over 2000 All University’s Departments and some dormitories are joined to network. Internet center – 300 computers Network Highway – fiber optic cable - 9 km Number of networked computers - over 2000 All University’s Departments and some dormitories are joined to network. Internet center – 300 computers Internet KIC UNIVERSITY’S COMPUTER NETWORK SCHEME

DL in KazNU – MOODLE

12 Teaching Competency and Infrastructure for e-Learning and Retraining CANDI, TEMPUS TEMPUS AT-JPCR

13 Goal of project CANDI The CANDI project will develop both the infrastructure for e-Learning / Retraining, and the skills necessary to transfer existing courses and curricula to an e-Learning environment.

14 Partners 1 University of Vienna 2Vienna technical university 3Technical university of Munich 4The Open University 5Kazakh National University 6Kazakh Turkish international University 7National University of Uzbekistan 8Chemical technological university of Tashkent 9Urgench state university

e-Learning in Europe and Central Asia Europe e-learning based on strong university system complements existing education Kazakhstan e-learning is an approach to improve education processes in university system Challenge: take two steps at once strengthen universities+ e-learning Solution: European partners

CANDI for Kazakh partners Help educate many students with small investment in infrastructure Train the trainers – Learning, presentation technology, and related didactic skills – Train e-learning by e-learning Retraining of industry staff Focus on cheap open-source software Import of European courses Convergence of academic systems

Technical Goals Low-Cost Technical Framework e.g. Moodle Poor Network Scalability and Equipment text-based, DVD, internet cafe, … Decentralized Training Facilities students of one institution study at other institution Support for Multiple Languages English, Russian, Kazakh

Multiple target groups – remote students – students of remote universities – Industrial staff retraining – teaching staff Flexible Modularization Integration of Local Industry Prototype Implementation of e-Training – Engineering sciences – Computer science – Chemistry – Computational Science – Soft skills Curricula Modernization

A l - F a r a b i KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY