On June 1, 2024, a conference titled "Back to the Classroom – New Framework, New Balance?" was held in Astana, organized by NU jointly with the British Association of Teachers of English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP).
The conference featured speeches by Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev, Professor Liz Wilding from the University of Reading (UK), NU Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs Loretta O'Donnell, and other experts in the field of English for Academic Purposes.
The International Conference on Academic English, as highlighted by Maulen Ashimbayev, serves as an important platform for discussing current issues and developing practical recommendations in the fields of science and education. Proficiency in English is a key factor for the country's development and economic growth.
"Today, English holds a significant place in our secondary and higher education systems. It enables us to communicate, collaborate, and contribute to solving Global problems such as climate change, inequality, and poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly challenged our education system. However, it also accelerated the adoption of Digital technologies. In a sense, the pandemic forced us to rethink teaching and learning methods, pushing us towards innovative solutions," said the Speaker of the Senate, addressing the meeting participants.
"Information technology has become a catalyst for revolutionizing education, capable of changing the way knowledge is disseminated, making it more accessible and efficient. We stand on the threshold of a new educational paradigm based on information technology and Global challenges. One of the key principles of the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes is ensuring inclusivity and quality in education. Ensuring equal access to quality education is a cornerstone of socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan. In this context, online learning takes on special significance, offering a solution to one of the key issues in education – accessibility," emphasized the Speaker of the Senate in his speech, paying particular attention to the potential of artificial intelligence in education.
The main theme of the conference was the changes in higher education resulting from the pandemic. Participants discussed the hybrid teaching format, which has become possible due to the forced measures to implement online platforms as educational tools, trends in communication between teachers for the exchange of experiences, and the review of traditional assessment models.
Annually, the BALEAP Association holds four forums on professional issues. This year, one of these forums was held outside the UK for the first time. Kazakhstan had the honor of hosting this prestigious event for the field of academic English teaching. This was due to the fact that since 2019, Nazarbayev University has been an institutional member of the BALEAP Association. In February 2020, the English for Academic Purposes course of the Foundation Program at the NU Center for Preparatory Studies was accredited by the Association, making NU the first University in the CIS countries to receive this accreditation.
(Press Office of the Senate. Photos by N. Baybulin)