Penn AHEAD and Nazarbayev University GSE Conduct International Conference

On September 19, 2016 Penn AHEAD Executive Director Matthew Hartley and Senior Scholar Peter Eckel conducted an international conference entitled “Governing for Autonomy: Framing the Challenges and Noting the Progress”, alongside research staff of Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education. The conference program can be accessed here.

This conference is a part of an ongoing collaborative project with Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education and the Penn AHEAD entitled “Advancing Models of Best Practice in Academic Governance and Management in Higher Education Institutions in Kazakhstan" that focuses on a comprehensive study and analysis of current governance reforms in HEIs in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the developing recommendations in this area.  

The topic of the conference is particularly vital due to the fact that the State Program for Education and Science Development for 2016-2019 (SPESD) has planned to implement measures aimed at enhancing management and monitoring of the development of higher and postgraduate education. The SPESD highlights the need to implement shared governance principles through the gradual expansion of the academic freedom, administrative and financial autonomy at HEIs.

The Conference provided a discussion platform for representatives of Kazakhstani universities leading the development of shared governance at their prospective institutional settings. Major discussions highlighted the following topics:

• Best practices of HEI management and governance in the 10 year future
• Effective mechanisms for management and governance
• Performance and accountability of governing boards
• Implementation of HEI autonomy in Kazakhstan