White
Paper from the International Conference “Governing for Autonomy:
Framing the Challenges; Noting the Progress”
On
September 19, 2016 research staff of Nazarbayev University Graduate
School of Education (NUGSE), in conjunction with Professors Matthew
Hartley and Peter Eckel from the University of Pennsylvania’s
Graduate School of Education, conducted an international conference
entitled “Governing for Autonomy: Framing the Challenges and Noting
the Progress”.
This
particular topic was chosen as the theme of the Conference because
Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education in partnership
with the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
(USA) have been carrying out a major research project entitled
“Advancing Models of Best Practice in Academic Governance and
Management in Higher Education Institutions in Kazakhstan". That
project, led by Aida Sagintayeva (Nazarbayev University Graduate
School of Education) and Matthew Hartley (University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education), has focused on a thorough analysis of
the current governance reforms in HEIs in the Republic of Kazakhstan,
involving visits to twenty-five universities in seven cities.
Governance
reform is a stated priority of the State Program for Education and
Science Development for 2016-2019 (SPESD), which seeks to enhance the
management and monitoring of the development of higher and
postgraduate education. The SPESD emphasizes the need to implement
the principles of shared governance through the gradual expansion of
academic freedom and administrative and financial autonomy across
Kazakhstani HEIs. The Conference provided a platform for
representatives of Kazakhstani universities leading the development
of shared governance in their institutional settings to discuss these
important issues.
The
leaders of Kazakhstani higher education institutions attending the
conference discussed the development and implementation of shared
governance in Kazakhstani universities: the most promising approaches
to HEI management and governance for the next 10-years, effective
mechanisms for university management and governance, the performance
and accountability of governing boards, and the implementation of
autonomy in higher educational institutions of Kazakhstan.
This
white paper reflects the key insights from the Conference including
recommendations for further work on the development of institutional
autonomy in Kazakhstani higher education system.
