Recently, at the invitation of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Education and other departments, Director Zhang Minxuan, Deputy Director Hu Guoyong, Professor Ning Bo (Vice Dean of the School of Education and Director of the Belt and Road Initiative Advanced Education Training Program), and Associate Professor Zhang Huafeng (part-time Deputy Director) from the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (hereinafter referred to as the Centre) visited multiple departments and institutions in Kazakhstan to conduct discussions on cooperation in teacher education, digital education, joint research, personnel exchanges, and other areas.
On the 21st, the Centre's delegation first attended Kazakhstan's National Teachers' Congress. Ms. Tamara Bosymbekovna Duisenova, Deputy Prime Minister, along with the Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Minister of Science and Higher Education, Minister of Health, and Minister of Education, attended and delivered speeches. Professor Zhang Minxuan delivered a speech themed Teachers' AI Competence in Education and Teaching, which received a warm response. After the congress, Professor Zhang Minxuan held exchanges with the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education of Kazakhstan, and invited them to visit the TEC in the second half of the year.
Professor Zhang Minxuan delivering a speech at the congress
The TEC's delegation exchanging views and taking a group photo with the Minister of Education (4th from the left) and Deputy Minister (1st from the right) of Kazakhstan
On the 22nd, the TEC's delegation visited Nazarbayev University. Founded on the initiative of then-Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, this is a new research-oriented university and the country's top institution of higher learning. The Centre's delegation held separate meetings with Mr. Ilesanmi Adesida, Vice Rector and Provost of the university, as well as the Associate Dean for Research, Associate Dean for Teaching of the Graduate School of Education, and teacher representatives. Both sides had in-depth discussions on student exchanges, joint research, and faculty exchanges, and agreed to advance the signing of a cooperation memorandum. After the meeting, the Centre's delegation visited the auditorium where President Xi Jinping put forward the initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt at Nazarbayev University in September 2013. Professor Zhang Minxuan also exchanged views with participants of the ongoing National Rural Principals' Training Program.
Professor Zhang Minxuan exchanging views with training program participants
On the 23rd, at Kazakhstan's National Institute of Education, the TEC's delegation met with the institute's leadership. They discussed cooperation in curriculum development and other fields, and communicated on the institute's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative Advanced Education Training Program hosted by the Centre.
The TEC delegation visits Kazakhstan's National Institute of Education
On the 24th, at the UNESCO Almaty Office, the TEC's delegation held exchanges with Dr. Nurbek Teleshaliyev, an education expert, on cooperation in areas such as rural teacher professional development in China-Central Asia, teacher education in STEM fields, and climate and sustainable development education.
The TEC delegation visits the UNESCO Almaty Office
Central Asia is a key pivot and core region for the Belt and Road Initiative. This visit to Kazakhstan has effectively promoted multi-faceted cooperation in education between the Centre and Kazakhstan. It is not only an important measure for the Centre to implement the Ministry of Education's Action Plan for Promoting Belt and Road Educational Cooperation but also helps to jointly advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals in education.
Text and Photography: UNESCO Teacher Education Centre
