UNIVERSITY RECTOR PRESENTS REPORT TO THE PUBLIC

News Report Translation (English)

Today, true to annual tradition, the Rector of our university, Zhanar Temirbekova, presented a report to the staff and the public on the activities carried out during the 2024-2025 academic year.

The event was attended by honorary citizens of the Turkistan region, representatives of the regional and city administration (Akimat), public activists, deputies of the regional Maslikhat, members of the regional Council of Elders (Aqsakals), media representatives, as well as university staff and students.

Opening the momentous event, University Rector Zhanar Temirbekova stated: "In the 2024–2025 academic year, our university strengthened its reputation at the national and international levels, joining the ranks of leading higher education institutions.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, 2,874 students were admitted to our educational institution for bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and residency programs. This figure is 16.3% higher compared to the previous year. Today, the university trains specialists in 175 educational programs.

Furthermore, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025, our university is ranked between 761 and 770, and holds the 193rd position in the Asia University Rankings. It also secured the 9th place among Central Asian universities. Our university significantly improved its positions in the QS Subject Rankings, QS Sustainability Rankings, and Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

These indicators testify to the systematic increase in our academic quality and international prestige."

In addition, during the event, Rector Zhanar Temirbekova presented a comprehensive report on the work accomplished in the university's academic, scientific research, international relations, socio-cultural development, administrative, and other fields.

The elders of the Turkistan region, veteran teachers of the university, and public figures highly evaluated these large-scale efforts, wishing the university further rapid development and offering their blessings (aq bata).

During the event, Zhanar Temirbekova was awarded a special Letter of Appreciation from Bakytkozha Izmukhambetov, a Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Central Council of the "Organization of Veterans" Republican Public Association, for her active participation in organizing the Council's event in the Turkistan region.

Moreover, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Kentau city, our Rector was awarded the special "70 Years of Kentau" badge for her contribution to the city's prosperity. Kamalbek Berkimbaev, Director of the Kentau Campus and a Deputy of the Kentau City Maslikhat, conveyed the warm wishes of the Mayor of Kentau, Zhandos Tasov.

Thus, the reporting meeting highlighted the university's sustainable development in the fields of education and science, outlining priority directions and strategic tasks for the upcoming period.

WE PRESENT A BRIEF SUMMARY OF RECTOR ZHANAR TEMIRBEKOVA'S ANNUAL REPORT:

One of the most important decisions for the university in 2025 was the opening of new faculties. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, the "Faculty of Law" was opened, and to develop the creative direction, the "Faculty of Art, Media, and Design" was established.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development – A Priority Direction

Under the "AI-SANA" national project, initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the university was recognized as one of the supporting higher education institutions. Within this program, 9,161 students and teachers received international certificates in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. Additionally, four digital agents were launched within the university: AIJan, I-Talapker, AI-Kitapkhanashy, and Help Desk AI. These projects aim to facilitate the educational process and improve service quality.

The source of knowledge – the total collection of the university library exceeded 523 thousand items. During the year, 7,390 new books were purchased, and 45 million 521 thousand tenge was spent on replenishing the book collection. The operation of the electronic library system was also revitalized.

Science and Innovation – A Strategic Priority

Our educational institution also achieved concrete results in developing scientific research areas during the 2024–2025 academic year.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, our scientists won scientific projects worth 1 billion 229 million tenge. This is 1.7 times more than the previous year

To update the scientific base in 2024, 8 new laboratories were opened at the university. Among them are "New Materials for Nanotechnology and Energy," "STEM and Creativity," "Clinical Diagnostics," "Molecular Diagnostics," "Pathomorphology," "Cell Biology," as well as the artificial intelligence laboratory "AI Research Lab." A modern engineering research center was also launched at the Kentau campus, providing students and young scientists with broad opportunities to conduct experimental research work.

It is worth noting that a Big Data and Medical Bioinformatics laboratory is planned to be launched at the university in 2025.

During the reporting period, our university's scientists also won a large-scale international project. The program-targeted funding project with a total budget of 4 billion tenge is titled "Development of Innovative Technologies and Creation of Modern Infrastructure for the Sustainable Development of the South Kazakhstan Region." The project's research team includes leading scientists from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, and many other countries. This multidisciplinary project, covering the fields of medicine, biotechnology, and ecology, will make a significant contribution to industry research within the main theme.

In 2020–2025, our scientists published 983 scientific articles in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Publication activity has been growing annually: from 105 articles in 2021 to 221 articles in 2024. This indicator shows a nearly twofold increase over five years.

To encourage scientists, 29.4 million tenge in reward funds was allocated in 2025 for their scientific works.

Our university is an international educational institution with a prominent place in the Turkic world. In line with this status, scientific events and projects are continuously organized and implemented. As a result, during the reporting period, 18 international conferences, 13 republican congresses, 125 scientific seminars, and 40 round tables were held at the university. Among them: the international scientific-practical conference "The Turkic World: Traditions, Experience, and Prospects for the Development of Electoral Systems," the II International Symposium "Monuments of Turkic Civilization: Methods of Research, Preservation, and Restoration," the exhibition "Language – The Source of Virtue" dedicated to the 950th anniversary of Mahmud al-Kashgari's work, and other large-scale events.

Culture, Sports, and Education – Experiencing Rapid Development

In the 2024–2025 academic year, extensive events were carried out to increase the social activity and creative potential of students. More than 70 events dedicated to spiritual-moral, national-patriotic, ecological, and legal education were held. Cultural life gained special momentum, with concerts, exhibitions, and theatrical performances staged with the participation of our students.

The university's achievements in the field of sports are highly commendable. Over the past academic year, more than 200 of our athletes reached the podium at World and Asian championships, as well as at international and republican competitions. Furthermore, at the XVI Summer Universiade-2025 of the Republic of Kazakhstan among higher education institutions, our young athletes excelled and became the winners in the team standings.

Another notable news item for the university in the past academic year was the establishment of the "Yasawi Endowment" public fund, initiated by our alumni, paving the way for student support and the development of a culture of charity.

Social support for students is also constantly in focus. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the Turkish quota was granted to 45 applicants who are orphans, half-orphans, or from low-income families. 21 students left without parental care were provided with free hostel accommodation. In addition, students needing social support were provided with free meals twice a day.

Infrastructure Renewed, New Opportunities Opened

In the 2024–2025 academic year, more than 200 million tenge was allocated for the renovation of academic buildings and dormitories. Dormitory No. 5 and the student canteen were completely modernized, and classrooms and new laboratory rooms named after individuals who have made significant contributions to the university were opened. Several lecture halls were renovated, and the new material and technical base was replenished.

The campus territory was landscaped, and several new alleys were opened. Also, 360 new monoblock computers and medical equipment worth 46 million tenge were purchased. These efforts aimed to align the educational process with modern requirements and create comfortable conditions for students and staff.

Cooperation and International Opportunities

In 2024, our university signed memorandums with the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Constitutional Court, the Tashkent State Transport University, as well as the TURKSOY and TİKA organizations.

Our international educational institution constantly creates conditions for teaching staff and students to exchange experiences abroad and acquire new knowledge. To this end, 31 teachers who have served at the university for many years went to Ankara, Turkey, for an experience exchange program.

Additionally, 40 students who showed excellent results during the 2024-2025 academic year visited historical cities and institutions in Turkey as part of the "Yasawi Turkology Summer School – 2025".

In conclusion, our university has elevated its regional and international reputation to a new level during the 2024–2025 academic year.

By combining education, science, and innovation, our university successfully continues its mission as the scientific and spiritual center of the Turkic world. Our educational institution aims to unite the intellectual potential of the Turkic people and become a world-class research university.