On 17th of October, Dr. Gulbakhyt Sultanova delivered a seminar, "The Role of Non-Cognitive Skills in Kazakh Secondary Education: STEM vs. Non-STEM Subjects," . This study investigates the role of non-cognitive skills in academic achievement within STEM and non-STEM subjects in secondary education.
Using survey data from 795 teachers and 12,965 students across 20 STEM schools in Kazakhstan, the research examines how 26 non-cognitive skills impact performance in Math, Physics, First Language, and History. Regression and mediation analyses were applied to assess the direct influence of students' self-reported non-cognitive skills on academic achievement, as well as how teachers' evaluations mediate these effects.
Findings show varying direct and total effects of non-cognitive skills, with more consistent mediation effects across subjects. In Math and Physics, Information Processing Skill and Grit had the strongest direct and total effects, while Responsibility Management and Teamwork were most impactful in First Language and History. Except for Capacity for Optimism and Growth Mindset, all skills showed mediated effects across all subjects.
This study highlights how non-cognitive skills influence academic performance, offering insights for curriculum design and equitable educational policies. By focusing on Kazakhstan, it contributes to the global discourse on education and provides valuable recommendations for enhancing STEM education.
Dr. Gulbakhyt Sultanova is a leading researcher in the Research and Data Analysis Department at the Center for Pedagogical Measurements, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, Kazakhstan. She completed her PhD in Education Economics at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and further pursued her postdoctoral studies at the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain. Dr. Sultanova has published in top-tier international journals on intellectual capital, knowledge management, and the assessment of cognitive and non-cognitive skills. She currently serves as the Chair of the Steering Committee for the Special Interest Group on Holistic Assessment at the Association for Educational Assessment - Europe.
You can watch the entire seminar below.
