Goal 1. No Poverty
Support for Vulnerable Groups
The University offers a large support program for people with disabilities. For example, when applying for a place in a dormitory, students with disabilities have absolute priority along with orphans and other groups of students from socially vulnerable groups.
Students with disabilities are also entitled to a discount on tuition fees of up to 100% depending on the financial situation of their families. The decision on a financial discount is made at the beginning of each academic year based on the decision of a collegial commission. In general, about 10% of University students receive support in various forms from the University.
The campus is equipped with ramps over stairs, elevators, tactile tiles for people with disabilities, and Braille textbooks for students with vision problems. In 2023, the University introduced a specialized class on the first floor for students with limited mobility.
Zhubanov University did not stand aside and always provided all possible assistance to all those in need. About 50 students of Zhubanov together with the Aktobe Regional Department of Youth Policy actively participated in flood prevention activities as part of the "We stand together" campaign.
Volunteers took part in the construction of a dam in the direction of the village of Kirpishti due to the rising water level in the Ilek River. During flood prevention activities on March 31, employees of Zhubanov University prepared food boxes for rescuers of the Department of Emergency Situations, and also distributed hot pilaf to housing and communal services workers who worked in the territory of the 11th microdistrict.
Since March 27, about 500 volunteers of Zhubanov University took part in disaster prevention activities, including sand removal, construction of dams, fences and evacuation. Humanitarian centers also helped with the transportation and delivery of necessary goods, reception and regulation of humanitarian aid from other regions.
University staff, students and teachers of the Food Technology specialty distributed hot meals to more than 250 specialists working in the evacuation zone. To provide psychological support to families in evacuation points, students and teachers of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Management conducted psychological training. More than 50 artists and 12 teachers of the Professional and Creative Faculty organized master classes in art therapy and drawing for children. These events had an important educational function, and students who volunteered to work as volunteers during the emergency were provided with benefits for tuition fees.
Goal 3. Good Health and Well-Being
The University has a student Medical center and a Health and wellness center. The Medical center is located on campus and is well equipped to meet the needs of students. The Medical center has permanent staff (therapist, general practitioners, neurologist, ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist, gynecologist, obstetrician-gynecologist, surgeon, physiotherapist, ultrasound diagnostics doctor, laboratory doctor, radiologist, dermatologist). It also has auxiliary treatment and diagnostic rooms, a clinical and biochemical laboratory, a treatment room, a vaccination room, a physiotherapy room, etc. All students undergo a mandatory medical check-up annually.
The functional responsibilities of the Health and wellness center include ongoing monitoring of the psychological state of staff and students, assistance in solving psychological problems. The center provides advice on physiological well-being to students and employees, especially before midterm and final exams. Students with potential problems are reported to the Health and wellness center and, in some cases, to their parents if they are under 18 years of age. In addition to professional knowledge and skills, the psychological health and well-being of employees and students are of great importance for productive work and study. Students and employees of Zhubanov University can undergo personal therapy, participate in closed therapeutic groups, and reveal their potential in training and seminars.
In the Health and wellness center, students and teachers will be able to undergo personal therapy, participate in closed therapeutic groups and get to know themselves in a new way, revealing their potential in training and seminars.
The center employs practicing psychologists specializing in the psychoanalytic approach. In the future, large-scale joint events with the Institute of Psychoanalysis of Central Asia are planned.
This year, during the orientation week, psychologists of the University met with first-year students and informed them about the Health and wellness center and its services. On September 1, as part of the orientation week, activists of the "Mental Health" club also met with students in an informal setting.
Every month, the psychological assistance center hosts “Cinema Therapy” evenings, which are followed by discussions and therapy.
Silver University: Lifelong Learning Opportunities
Zhubanov University is constantly working to prepare competitive specialists for both the region and the country by updating educational programs, making changes to educational processes, focusing on talented youth, and developing human resources.
The aim of Silver University is to educate senior citizens with the aim of activating them and fulfilling their potential. Zhubanov University invites local residents to study in the following areas:
- Computer literacy
- Legal literacy
- Financial literacy
- Language courses
The courses are conducted by University teachers for representatives of the local community on a voluntary basis only. The courses are usually held in the summer and winter with the invitation of University employees specializing in digital literacy, finance, languages, and other relevant areas.
Digital Literacy
The University also offers free digital literacy courses in cooperation with Samsung Kazakhstan Inc., primarily for citizens aged 16-30. The main idea behind these courses is to help the younger generation navigate the world of modern programming and computer science. High school students attend these courses to decide on their future career choice.
The University is implementing various measures to improve the quality of training competitive specialists. For example, most master's programs, with the exception of language profile programs, have been transferred to multilingual education. In addition, we are actively working with regional employers to introduce current labor market trends into the educational process.
English Language Courses
In order to improve the language skills of the University's faculty, intensive English courses have been held since 2022. More than 200 teachers have successfully completed the course and mastered English language skills.
In order to exchange experience between teachers and University staff, the Summer School and Winter School were organized. During the summer school, 100 teachers improved their skills in one of the most relevant topics today - "Application of Artificial Intelligence in Education". At the dialogue platform, together with the speakers, the participants discussed current issues in the field of education: the use of IT technologies, the optimal use of Chat GPT in education.
Start-Up Academy
Start Up Academy, which has more than 50 residents, has been operating since September 2023.
Start Up Academy is a space that provides universal structural knowledge and tools for launching business within the walls of Zhubanov University.
The Academy's program is based on a combination of techniques and methods that help develop an entrepreneurial thinking, provide knowledge and form a network for building investment-attractive projects.
The Academy closely cooperates with Aqtobe IT Hub, Kaubia – a partner of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in developing a new approach to innovation policy in countries with transition economies of the subregion of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), and also annually participates as a partner in the workshops of the ERG Student Entrepreneurship Ecosystem.
Training for Teaching Staff
The training “Scaling Educational Programs” was held in January 2024 for 80 teachers, focusing on modern teaching methods.
Goal 5. Gender Equality
Prevention of Harassment
The University has zero tolerance for any form of harassment. In this regard, the University hosts various seminars and curatorial hours dedicated to such pressing social issues as harassment and bullying. Our compliance office has anonymous helplines: +7 707 737 1935, +7 705698 6344, where any student or employee can share their problem. Based on these facts, the University management takes the most severe measures.
International Projects
An international project, “Gender, linguistic and social inequalities in history textbooks of Kazakhstan”, funded by Ulster University (UK), has been won and work is being carried out to implement it.
Goal 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation, and Environmental Responsibility
The University strives to reduce energy consumption and implement energy-efficient technologies. It invests in environmental projects and technologies to minimize energy consumption. For example, the Faculty of History has completely switched to heating the building with natural gas.
The University is proud of its status as an environmentally advanced institution and actively cares about the environment. We have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at reducing the negative impact on nature and supporting sustainable development.
One of the key steps was the installation of machines for accepting plastic and glass bottles. This waste is sent for recycling, which helps to reduce the volume of garbage in landfills and reduce environmental pollution. We also organize waste sorting on the campus of the Faculty of History, which allows for effective waste management and an increase in the share of recycled materials.
In addition, we plan to implement digital systems that will help reduce paper consumption in the educational process and administrative activities. This will not only reduce the burden on forest resources, but will also make our work more efficient.
The University also held discussions on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The event was organized to inform students about the importance of energy solutions in the country.
Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The Primary Trade Union of the University protects the rights of its members in accordance with the laws of Kazakhstan. It provides fair wages, workplace safety, legal support and representation for awards, benefiting the faculty and staff.
As part of this work, during the month of science, employees who demonstrated active work and made a significant contribution to the development of the university's research sphere were recognized. Five young scientists of the university received certificates for apartments under the "Young Scientist" program, which became a significant incentive for their further professional activities.
Training Qualified Personnel for Western Kazakhstan
The University supports the local economy by creating employment opportunities and upgrading the skills of workers. This contributes to sustainable economic growth and the creation of decent jobs in the region. It is worth noting that 85% of graduates find employment in the first year after graduation.
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Within the framework of the state program "Digital Kazakhstan" in accordance with the Strategic Plan of the University, the project "Smart Zhubanov University" was developed and implemented, which is a single environment of digital services that automate educational, research, educational and other processes.
Smart Zhubanov University is a unique information and analytical center where all information about the University is collected. Work continues to supplement the information and systematize the data of the "Smart University", expand the functions of the mobile application "SmartARSU", the Situation Center, the "Univer" program, and the educational portal of the University.
In September 2024, the University won a mega-grant to create a Center for Academic Excellence, which is aimed at supporting research on the processing of man-made waste.
Goal 10. Reduced Inequalities
Equality and inclusion
The University promotes inclusion and facilitates the creation of an accessible environment. It provides equal opportunities and creates conditions for the realization of the potential of all employees and students based on common values, cultural diversity, gender, racial and other forms of equality.
The campus is equipped with ramps over stairs, elevators, tactile tiles for people with disabilities, textbooks in Braille for students with visual impairments. In 2023, the University introduced a specialized classroom on the first floor for students with disabilities.
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Development of regional infrastructure through education
The University participates in the formation of the regional academic environment and promotes the development of local communities. Through educational programs and projects such as the Winter Research School and Silver University, the University supports the integration of people of different ages and social groups into the educational process, which helps to create a sustainable and inclusive society.
Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Zhubanov University actively supports small and medium-sized enterprises by organizing a regional selection round of the startup projects competition "Startup Bolashak - Menin Armanym", which helps young entrepreneurs implement their ideas. The competition includes acceleration programs and startup weekends, where participants receive support from experienced mentors and specialists. The University is also a base University for the Regional Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, which registers startups and provides consulting services. In addition, the educational institution develops maps of personnel needs, which helps to identify the requirements for specialists in the SME sector and train appropriate personnel. These initiatives contribute to the creation of a favorable ecosystem for the development of entrepreneurship in the Aktobe region.
Workforce Development
The University, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of the Aktobe region, held the opening of foresight sessions with the aim of creating a system of early personnel training in the region. The development of a regional map of personnel needs in the Aktobe region is being carried out within the framework of the project of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "My profession is my future" within the framework of the program to increase the income of the population until 2029. It should be noted that the oil and gas, mining, metallurgy, transport and logistics, renewable energy and water management industries have been selected for the Aktobe region. It is planned to form a demand for specialists in these priority industries, provide career guidance to students in schools in the region, as well as update the educational programs of universities and colleges.
Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Waste Sorting and Recycling
The University won a mega-grant in September 2024 to establish a Centre for Academic Excellence. This center will be specifically designed to encourage and support research into the recycling of industrial waste that will improve the environmental situation in the region.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Green Initiatives and Student Involvement
The University won the “Best Higher Education Institution” nomination of the Zhasyl El project in 2021. This achievement confirms the University's active participation in environmental initiatives and its contribution to the sustainable development of the region.
Greenhouse and Sustainable Agriculture
The University's greenhouse can be used to teach students about sustainable agriculture and ecology, as well as to conduct research in this area.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Employee Safety
The health and safety of employees are an integral part of the University's commitment to its employees. Special assessments of working conditions are carried out regularly. All University employees undergo scheduled training and testing of knowledge on occupational health and safety in accordance with approved documents.
Anti-Corruption Measures
In pursuance of the Concept of Anti-Corruption Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026, approved by the President of the country Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Combating Corruption", the Anti-Corruption Compliance Service was established. The main tasks of the Anti-Corruption Compliance Service are to ensure compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on combating corruption, control the implementation of anti-corruption measures, as well as identify and eliminate corruption risks in the activities of the University.
Transparency and Information Openness
The University implements a policy of information openness and transparency aimed at disseminating and raising awareness among students and employees about the activities carried out. The University also constantly identifies and evaluates new risks, including external and internal risk factors. The risk management system is improved by involving representatives of the University's structural divisions in the risk identification process, which allows for timely decision-making on risk minimization and updating plans.
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
International Partnerships
International cooperation is an integral part of the University's activities and is aimed at promoting the internationalization of the University through the development of international relations and partnerships, positioning the University in the global educational space and further integration into the global educational and scientific community.
The University closely cooperates with diplomatic missions of foreign countries in Kazakhstan (embassies of USA, China, Poland, Turkey, Italy, Korea, Uzbekistan) and the embassies of Kazakhstan in Turkey and Poland.
Adhering to the "Open Policy" of international cooperation, the University has become a participant in the Bologna Process and the Magna Charta Universitatum; Shanghai Organization for University Cooperation (SOC); Association of Eurasian Universities (EAU); Association of Asian Universities; Association of Caucasus Universities and the Scientific and Educational Consortium of the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Heriot-Watt Partnership
Heriot-Watt University has launched a new partnership with the University in Aktobe, bringing its unique learning and teaching services to a wider international audience. This new strategic development will initially see the delivery of double degree undergraduate engineering programmes. All programmes will be integrated into Heriot-Watt’s wider global ‘One Heriot-Watt’ – wherever a Heriot-Watt student is located, the learning outcomes of their programmes are identical, with one Heriot-Watt University degree certificate globally.