On October 29, 2025, AlmaU held a workshop on “Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Academic and Research Excellence: From Data to Management Decisions.” The event was organized by AlmaU and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The workshop aimed to discuss how quantitative and qualitative research methods – surveys, interviews, bibliometrics, big data analysis, and other approaches-can be used by universities and research organizations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of educational and research processes. Leading experts in higher education and science, as well as representatives of universities and research organizations, gathered in one place. The uniqueness of the event lay in its combination of scientific and managerial approaches: the discussion was based not only on theoretical models but also on empirical data collected at Kazakhstani universities.
Renata Kudaibergenova, AlmaU’s Vice Rector for Research, welcomed the participants, noting the importance of the topic:
“For the first time, issues of academic and research excellence are being addressed within a single venue through the lens of data, analytics, and evidence-based solutions, making the workshop a venue for sharing experiences between researchers, managers,and government agencies. Numerous research projects have been conducted in recent years, and we will be reviewing their results and future developments.”
The discussion was continued by Professor Bulat Kenesov, PhD, Director of the Analytical Center for Scientific and Technological Development of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In his report, “Application of Qualitative and Quantitative Indicators in Strategic Management of Science and Higher Education,” he presented statistical data and analytical findings:
“According to the Bureau of National Statistics (ASPIR RK), in 2024, 40% of Kazakhstani researchers conducted R&D in Almaty,” he noted, emphasizing the activity of the city’s universities.
Professor Kenesov also outlined a number of proposals aimed at developing scientific infrastructure and increasing the effectiveness of research. These include allocating up to 20% of project funds to scientific infrastructure development, increasing the cost of grants for doctoral and master’s programs by two to three times, and taking into account the number and quality of scientific consultants when distributing state educational procurement. He also noted the need to create alternative forms of protection for doctoral students in the social and humanities, support domestic scientific journals and publishers, and expand access to open data on the state of Kazakhstani science.
Next, Rimma Sagieva, Doctor of Economics and Associate Professor, Chief Academic Officer of the Analytical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, presented a report titled “Training Research Personnel: What Did the Sociological Survey Reveal?” She presented the results of the analysis and made several proposals for improving the effectiveness of research personnel training:
“It is necessary to allocate funds to research universities that train the largest number of doctoral students for the acquisition of expensive equipment,” she noted.
She also proposed including indicators directly related to research personnel training in the criteria for research universities, simplifying the process for obtaining licenses for doctoral training for leading research organizations, and providing them with state educational contracts.
Aknur Zhidebekkyzy, PhD, Research Professor at AlmaU, made a significant contribution to the discussion by presenting the results of the study “Academic Excellence in Kazakhstan: Results of a Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of University Stakeholder Opinions.”
“For Kazakhstan, this is a path to transition from declarative reforms to evidence-based policy, where universities become active partners in shaping higher education development strategies,” she emphasized.
Alexey Belyanin, PhD, Director of the Laboratory for Behavioral and Experimental Economics, presented a report titled “The Effectiveness of Universities in the CAP Program: Comparative Results of a Productivity Analysis (DEA).” He recalled that the CAP program has been implemented since 2018 at the country’s leading regional public universities, including 15 regional and five pedagogical universities. In his analysis, Belyanin noted that the technological frontier in publications is determined by the most academically strong universities, while the workload of faculty significantly influences graduate success, although the differences are becoming less pronounced. According to him, universities with a high academic reputation remain the leaders.
The workshop concluded with a lively discussion, during which participants discussed the presented papers, proposed analytical methods, and approaches to data interpretation. The joint organization of this event by AlmaU and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan marked an important step in the development of evidence-based policy in higher education. The workshop emphasized the key role of universities as drivers of scientific and educational reforms and demonstrated the importance of integrating analytical data into management decision-making.
