Human Resource management in higher education: case from

Kazakhstan

Rimma Sagieva, Doctor of economic sciences, Associate professor, Kazakh al-Farabinational university, member of HERE

Human Resource management in higher education: case from

Kazakhstan

Rimma Sagiyeva, Doctor of economic sciences, Associate professor, Kazakh al-Farabi national university, member of HERE

‘Do not attempt to [seeklearning] for the sake ofprofit. You should lovelearning for its own sake andstrive for it. If you valueknowledge as a supremeblessing, each new truth youuncover will bring peace andsatisfaction to your soul.’

Abai Book of Words Word 32

Structure of presentation

1) Information about the country and system of HE

2) Legislation on HRM development

3) Current situation in HRM 4) Conclusions and future

perspectives

Population -16 442 000

Territory -2.724.900 square km

(9th in the world)

146 HEIs, including: National - 9,

International - 1, Nazarbayev University - 1,

State – 33 (incl. 13 non-civic) Joint stock companies - 16,

Private – 73.

24,4 % of population of specific age group are

involved in HE

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

767,3 760,6707,9

662,4610,2 620,4 599,4

Number of HEIs and students

Number of HEIs (units) Number of students (thousand)

Number of HEIs and studentsNumber of teachers - 40531

Challenges defining HR management reforms in HEIs

rapid change of technologies, increased volume ofscientific and technical information, active use of ICT,increased growth of science intensive production in theworld and on the other hand – insufficient level ofqualification of specialists fit for developing knowledgeeconomy;

lack of qualified staff competitive on the internationallevel fully able to implement Strategy of innovativeindustrial development adopted in Kazakhstan;

globalization processes in HE requiring highcompetitiveness of scientific and teaching staff.

State human resource development policy in higher education -

strategic documents

1995-2010 Law of

Education (1999 ), State Programme

of Education (2000 г.),

Strategy of education

development before 2010

(2001 )

State Programme of Education Development

for 2005-2010 (2004).

Amended Law of Education (2011),

new Law of Science (2011) , etc.

State Programme of Education

Development of the Republic of

Kazakhstan for 2011-2020 (2011).

Law of Education and enhancing HRM in HEIs

Enhancing quality of

training and retraining teaching

staff:

• State grants for training Masters and PhD specialists ;• New principles of operation of dissertation councils;• Institute (National Centre) for upgrading qualification of

HEI administrators and teachers established• Voucher based system of qualification up-grade adopted;

Encouraging and

strengthening research

activity of academic

staff:

• New type of university -“research university” introduced. • Requirements to awarding scientific titles of professors

and associate professors increased.• Setting up consortia involving HEIs, core research

organisations and enterprises.• Allocation of state scholarships and awards for research

achievements to scientists

Law of Education and enhancing HRM in HEIs :

Furthering integration

of academic staff with

world education

area

•International academic exchange : Tempus, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, JICA, KOICA, and covered privately; •‘ Bolashak’ programme• Inviting visiting professors

Extending “social

package ” of

academic staff

• Topping up salaries of academic and administrative staff of public HEIs , of PhD title holders, of Candidate of science and of full Doctor title ;

• 2) Annual paid summer leave - 56 calendar days (academic staff) .

• 3) Holders of “Best university teacher of the year” title receive grants (annually 200 teachers receive by 22 000 USD each).

Share of financing research in the

overall state budget in 2011 made up 19,7 billion KZT (0,07% GDP).

By 2014 it is planned to increase funding

of research

(to 1% of GDP).

Law of Science

More transparent and simplified model ofresearch regulation.

New forms of financing research: core (foresearch institutions), grant based (for

individuals), and programme designated(for state programmes )

New structures established: Nationalscientific councils and National Centre o

state scientific expertise

Recruitment of staff in HEIs: rectors, deans, heads of chairs

Academic staff

Heads of chairs

Deans

Rectors (once in three years pass attestation in established order)

Ministry of education and science

Process of employment

Skills and competences

Selection on competitive basis, for 3

years

• corresponding level of education сand scientific degree ;

• required level of job experience;

• age limits;

• availability of scientific works;

• good reputation in scientific community;

• orientation on cooperation with enterprises and foreign colleagues

•knowledge of foreign languages is welcome;

Training Masters and PhD s

5410 6507 7337 8348 8447 7807 905611395

1421616586

Number of MSc in 2001-2010

285 262 400 412 303 366 508 439666

960

Number of PhDs in 2001-2010

Increasing state education order for post-graduatetraining

In Master programmes –

2013 - 3139, 2014 - 5139, 2015 - 5639 In PhD

programmes-2013 - 700, 2014 - 1250, 2015 - 1250

International accreditation of HEIs as factor to enhance HR development

Sets conditions for improving training programmes

Facilitates transfer of credits and obtaining academic degrees

Acknowledges that HEIs or programme meets international standards

Promotes academic mobility of academic staff and students

Enhances chances for getting grants or sponsorship from the state, individuals and companies

• 50% of HEIs pass institutional accreditation

• 20% of HEIs pass specialised accreditation

2015

• 65% of HEIs pass institutional accreditation

• 30% of HEIs pass specialised accreditation

2020

State Education Programme stipulates:

National Register of accreditation agencies includes

Independent agency on

accreditation and ranking

(Kazakhstan)

Independent Kazakh agency on education

quality assessment

АSIIN , Germany

ACQUIN , Germany

AQA, Germany ABET , USA

From 2014 onwards – stage by stage provision of autonomy to HEIs

Autonomy to implement education, research, financial, international and other areas of activity.

State HEIs will become independent non-commercial organisations.This process will in parallel be accompanied by:

nhancing the activity of Boards of Trustees, to whom HEIs will be accountable ;

Mechanism towards ensuring transparency of the HEI operation.

Autonomy of HEIs supposes:

Development of student–oriented, problem basedproject based curricula meeting demands of employers

New role of academic staff

Programme for up-grading qualification of HEI administration «Best practices of corporate

governance under the autonomy» launched by Nazarbayev University in 2012

•Jointly with School of Post-Graduate Education, Pennsylvania University, USA

• Over 40 rectors and deputy-rectors involved in the programme

Topics cover:• Strategic planning and budgeting• Operation of Boards of Trustees• University governance under autonomy and

academic freedom • Use and allocation of resources …

TO CONCLUSIONS :

Overall attitude to teaching profession is changing, its prestige is increasing.

HR M reforms have affected each HEI teacher, encouraging strive for competitiveness – both on the national and international levels.

Systemic approach to enhancing quality of HR in HE - supporting legislative, administrative and economic measures - are in place

Perspectives of HRM we link to

International and national

accreditation of HEIs as tool for

providing quality of educational

services.

From 2014 onwards gradual transition to

providing full autonomy to

universities. At present only Nazarbayev

University has full autonomy.

Encouraging integration of academic staff with

world scientific community:

New forms of up-grading qualification;

Training and study visits in the framework of

international programmes;

New forms of evaluation and financing research

activity of academic staff

Thank you for your attention !