08/01/2026
The Main Global Development Trend
Laura Karabassova, Member of the National Kurultai, Chair of the Board–Rector of K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University:
— In 2025, artificial intelligence has become the main global development trend, directly influencing the economy and the labor market. Given the potential of young people and human capital in general, it is logical and important for Kazakhstan to enhance its competitiveness through digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
The interview of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, published in the Turkistan newspaper reflects the key principles of state policy in the field of artificial intelligence development.
There are already the first results of this strategy. According to the Government AI Readiness Index 2025 published by Oxford Insights, Kazakhstan ranked 60th out of 195 countries in terms of government readiness to implement artificial intelligence, improving its position by 16 places over the year.
At the regional level, Kazakhstan ranked third among the countries of South and Central Asia, after India and Turkey, which indicates progress in digital transformation at the institutional level.
It is no coincidence that countries leading in artificial intelligence adoption—such as China, the UAE, and Estonia—are actively integrating AI into the education system, improving the quality of education and developing digital literacy among teachers.
Universities around the world are opening new specialized institutions, faculties, and launching academic programs in artificial intelligence.
Research in artificial intelligence is often concentrated in major international laboratories and centers. Notable examples include the National Robotarium in the United Kingdom (a joint project of Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh), the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT in the United States, and Stanford’s Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
At K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University, all undergraduate students—more than 14,000 people—have completed training in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence on international online platforms, where they acquired practical skills in working with AI tools. This systematic step aligns with the principle of “technological training of the entire nation.”
In addition, within the national AI-SANA project, students have already begun developing specific startup projects.
From cybersecurity and education to sports and university services, these projects demonstrate that artificial intelligence is becoming a practical tool for solving real-world problems.
The activity and energy of young people are the best confirmation of the President’s statement that «society’s mindset is ready for innovation.» It is important to understand that every student who masters artificial intelligence skills is a future civil servant, engineer, teacher, or entrepreneur.
As the Head of State has emphasized, the key condition for becoming a digital nation is human capital. Therefore, higher education plays a special role in this process. That is why the President’s words expressed in the interview are of particular importance for universities, serving as a key guideline for the development of digitalization in the educational process.
Laura Karabassova,
Chair of the Board – Rector of K. Zhubanov Aktobe Regional University