From August 19 to 21, 2026, AlmaU hosted its annual Orientation Week organized by the HR Department. The three-day intensive brought together top management, academic leaders, AI experts, and new AlmaU faculty members. The main goal of the event is to help colleagues quickly integrate into the educational process, get acquainted with the university’s strategy, and receive all the necessary tools for their work.
It is worth noting that this year the university’s ranks were replenished with bright expert-practitioners, working economists, lawyers, film directors, and psychologists.
Asem Sultanbekova, a practicing Gestalt therapist and new faculty member at Sharmanov School of Health Sciences, as well as Akerke Kamal from Media and Film School AlmaU, shared their expectations about working at the university.
Asem Sultanbekova: “I joined Sharmanov School on a permanent basis as a Professor of Practice and will teach Gestalt Psychology disciplines. As a practicing psychologist and Gestalt therapist, I am glad to have the opportunity to share my practical experience with AlmaU students.”
Akerke Kamal: “Right now I am developing a very interesting course on how to use new tools, apply them in work, and prepare prompts for artificial intelligence. We study how to edit and create various videos and visual materials using neural networks like ChatGPT and Claude. This will be very useful for PR majors. Students who gain this knowledge will be able to apply it after graduation in their future jobs. This is a unique discipline offering such a beautiful and systematic approach.
Day 1. Strategic Scope and Academic Direction
The immersion began with an open meeting with AlmaU leadership. University Rector Timur Kerimbekovich Buldybaev presented the AlmaU Development Strategy 2025-2028 and the key development priorities of the University to the participants.
Vice-Rector for Academic Development Asel Arynkyzy Aryn covered academic policy in detail, while Vice-Rector for Research and Commercialization Renata Yerkinovna Kudaybergenova and Vice-Rector for Global Partnership Sholpan Orynbasarkyzy Tazabek talked about support for research activities, commercialization of scientific projects, and international programs at AlmaU.
Day 2. Quality Standards and Individual Plans
The second day focused on the practical role of the faculty member. Participants analyzed work based on credit technology, educational quality standards, and academic ethics.
The block concluded with practical work alongside Program Leaders of Schools and Directors of Institutes – faculty members began drafting Educational-Methodological Complexes (UMKD).
Day 3. Innovations, Services, and Artificial Intelligence
The final day was dedicated to AlmaU’s service ecosystem and modern educational technologies. Director of the HR Department Natalya Nikolaevna Lee presented human capital development programs.
Representatives of the Library and Online Education Department spoke about resources and services available to university staff, while specialists from the IT Department conducted hands-on training on working in the Platonus information system.
Of particular interest was the masterclass by Vladimir Vladimirovich Matsov, Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Business, titled “Developing Course Materials (UMKD) with AI”, which demonstrated AlmaU’s advanced approaches to integrating artificial intelligence into the learning process.
Human Capital and Community
Sharing her impressions about getting to know the university, Asem Sultanbekova emphasized:
“It was a very rich week, with so many great ideas presented. The speakers and management made a wonderful impression – you can really feel that they are not just theorists, but actual practitioners. On top of that, they are open, approachable, and very warm.”
“I really liked Orientation Week and received answers to various questions. AlmaU’s system is set up impeccably, everything is fine-tuned perfectly. I also learned how to direct myself toward research, how faculty members can work with students, and how academic ethics are maintained. I gained deep knowledge across different formats here. Many thanks to the organizers! You could say that by getting to know the university and new colleagues, we have truly bonded,” notes Akerke Kamal.
“Our main task is to create the most comfortable conditions for new faculty members right from their first days at AlmaU. Orientation Week is not just a series of presentations, but a foundation for building a strong academic team where everyone feels supported by the university and sees their career and research growth trajectory,” noted the AlmaU HR Department.
Orientation Week launches the Faculty Onboarding Program, which will run throughout the entire fall semester. New employees can look forward to weekly HR hours, sessions at the School of Pedagogical Excellence, the School of Research Supervisors, and Wellbeing programs.
By the way, the university’s sports and extracurricular life has drawn no less interest from new colleagues:
“I was very interested in AlmaU’s corporate sports initiatives – for example, joint mountain hikes and preparing for the Almaty Marathon. It unites the team so well. All that’s left is to buy running shoes as soon as possible and take to the start line together with the team!” adds Asem Sultanbekova.
AlmaU warmly welcomes its new colleagues and wishes everyone inspiration, productive work, and a successful academic year!