Seminar on Transnational Education (TNE) in Kazakhstan: Ensuring Quality and Overcoming Barriers

As international partnerships in higher education continue to expand, particularly with UK institutions, ensuring the effectiveness and quality of TNE programmes remains a priority for the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The seminar focused on presenting and further developing the Quality Assurance Framework for Transnational Education - a strategic initiative designed to standardize and enhance the quality of international programmes in Kazakhstan. The framework aims to establish a shared understanding of quality standards and best practices, ensuring a structured and sustainable approach to international higher education in the country.

The event gathered Kazakhstani university leaders, faculty and researchers, government representatives, UK QAA experts, and accreditation agencies to address pressing issues in TNE implementation. Among its contributors was Dr. Zhadyra Makhmetova, a postdoctoral scholar in Strengthening Regional Universities, who provided contextual insights based on the Strengthening Regional Universities project and her experience as Head of the Academic Quality Enhancement team at Zhubanov University.

Participants engaged in critical discussions on:

• Barriers to TNE implementation in Kazakhstan, informed by insights from a QAA report
• The introduction of the TNE QAF, outlining principles for maintaining high-quality education
• Small-group discussions on TNE policy integration and institutional improvements

Through collaborative discussions in working groups, participants contributed valuable recommendations to refine and adapt the quality framework principles to the Kazakhstani higher education context. This seminar marked a key step toward establishing a robust framework for transnational education in Kazakhstan.