To Comrade N. – the university and the person
First – a short (and not without skepticism) message:
Nazarbayev is the president, Nazarbayev is the university!Information video portal Stan, 07.12.2010
Today in Astana, Nursultan Nazarbayev gave a lecture at the university that bears his name. The political educational program of the leader of the nation was like a meeting on the distribution of instructions: the Cabinet of Ministers came to listen to the president almost in full. The university has not really earned yet, and Nazarbayev is already asking the Cabinet of Ministers to provide graduates with jobs. It reminds me, it's not for nothing that I allowed the university to be called by its own name. Other theses of the lecture are about Russian education in general. Extremely positive. According to Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan this year broke out into the world leaders in the index of the level of education. This fact seems to inspire the leader of the nation so much that he set a new task for the Cabinet of Ministers: Kazakhstan should become a center for the export of education and scientific discoveries. Inspired by Nazarbayev's statement, the students of the university of the same name promised to serve science faithfully.
It seems that Kazakhstan will start exporting scientific discoveries with the creation of a life sciences center. It will function on the basis of the university. The center will be equipped with the best laboratories and the most modern equipment, and the first studies will be conducted, as the ideological inspirer of the center put it, in the field of anti-aging. Nazarbayev repeated his own idea of fix today in front of his foreign colleagues. The first lecture was attended by ex-leaders of European countries Romano Prodi, Lev Kvasnevsky, Gerhard Schroeder and Alfred Gusenbauer as guests of honor. Many of them have been on a well-deserved vacation for a long time and, perhaps, too - like Nazarbayev - they dream of prolonging their lives, but not in order to go down in history as political centenarians.
And for the particularly curious – a lot of official letters:
An intelligent nation is the foundation of the future.
Yesterday, the Head of State delivered a lecture to students and teachers of Nazarbayev University"Kazakhstanskaya Pravda", 08.12.2010
Yesterday, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev delivered a lecture to students and teachers of Nazarbayev University "Innovative industry of science and knowledge – a strategic resource of Kazakhstan in the XXI century", where he defined guidelines for the Kazakh system of science and education in accordance with the challenges of the time and the new challenges facing the country. During the meeting, the Head of State answered the questions of the first students of the prestigious international university, and also introduced its new rector Shigeo Katsu. Prominent European politicians also made short addresses to the audience at the invitation of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
All 484 students of Nazarbayev University who completed the first semester of the preparatory course, as well as teachers and representatives of foreign partner universities of the university gathered in the spacious atrium hall. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Thanking the President for his attention, Shigeo Katsu expressed hope for further cooperation in order to turn the university into a dream university.
In turn, Nursultan Nazarbayev warmly welcomed the young talents and congratulated them on being the first students of the country's leading university:
– You are studying at a world-class university and should be an example for all the studying youth of Kazakhstan. And on this big way I wish you good luck!
In his speech, the Head of State touched upon the OSCE Summit held recently in Astana, which became an event of epochal scale. In addition, the President identified five strategic tasks in the field of education and science, the solution of which is necessary to increase the competitiveness of the country.
– In our time – the time of knowledge – only with our education we can conquer the world. Today Kazakhstan is recognized as a country that follows the path of global security. I am sure that the republic, which is one of the initiators of peace and security, will make confident steps into the science of the future, will become a generator of ideas, and we will have our own Nobel Laureate," the Head of State stressed.
The first question to the President, asked at the end of his lecture by a student of the Faculty of Humanities Aiganym Kairbekova, concerned the development of alternative energy.
– We need to do this work very seriously, we have great opportunities for the development of solar, geothermal, hydroelectric power, – Nursultan Nazarbayev said. – Kazakhstan produces only one percent of the volume of electricity in an alternative way. Therefore, we are currently developing several projects. For example, our innovator Albert Bolotov came up with a new wind generator, 20 copies of which have already been produced by Kazatomprom at a machine plant in East Kazakhstan. We can generate up to 100 megawatts of wind power.
The President also noted the existence of great prospects for the development of alternative energy in Southern Kazakhstan, Semirechye. There are opportunities for the production of solar panels – a plant for the production of metallic silicon has already been built in Karaganda. In addition, it is planned to develop bioenergy. However, so far this production is too expensive.
– Reducing the cost of alternative energy, – Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the students, – your task.
Shyngys Islam was interested in what specialty the President of the country would choose if he entered Nazarbayev University. To which Nursultan Abishevich sincerely replied to the applause:
– My specialty is a metallurgical engineer. I worked at the Karaganda Metallurgical Combine for 15 years, started from the very bottom, then graduated from the Polytechnic Institute. Of course, I would choose this profession again.
The Head of State noted that the future economy of Kazakhstan will require a lot of specialists with technical education capable of mastering and developing modern technologies. Therefore, he advised students to pay attention to scientific research.
Before asking her question, administrator of the Nazarbayev University Preparatory Studies Center Kristin Hoffman thanked the Head of State for his speech and innovative approach to education in general.
– The University of London is one of the leading universities in the world, and we are proud of our partnership with Nazarbayev University. Its first students were selected and accepted in accordance with the highest international standards," said Kristin Hoffman. – Our students are very hardworking and inquisitive. And we will do our best to help them. We are glad to participate in this serious project aimed at improving the entire education of Kazakhstan, and look forward to new opportunities for cooperation with Intellectual Schools.
Noting that this lecture marks a new stage in the development of not only Nazarbayev University, but also the entire education system of Kazakhstan, K. Hoffman stressed the importance of its holding after the successful OSCE Summit in Astana. To which the Head of State noted that he had already received thousands of telegrams from Kazakhstanis with congratulations on this occasion.
– The OSCE summit was very important. For eleven years, such a powerful international Organization has not held a summit meeting. This indicated its stagnation. We have brought the OSCE out of this crisis and defined a new paradigm," N. Nazarbayev said.
The President also noted that the OSCE Summit in Astana was highly appreciated in the world.
– During the Summit Astana became on a par with such cities as Helsinki, Paris, Lisbon, Budapest, Istanbul. Astana has become famous all over the world. In addition, the whole world showed Kazakhstan from different sides – its culture, education, regional development. We can assume that a new countdown has begun for the republic. We have risen to this level and in no case should we go down," the Head of State said.
The future engineer of the international level Yerbolat Serimbetov met with Nursultan Abishevich for the third time. The President took part in the opening of the capital Lyceum No. 60, where Yerbolat studied. And on the first of September last year, during a meeting of N. Nazarbayev with the best students of the capital, a young man was interested in a new university being built in Astana.
– Today it is open and bears your name. I am proud to be a student of this prestigious university. Here the best Western traditions will be combined with the Kazakh reality, the centuries–old culture and history of our country," Yerbolat addressed the Leader of the nation. – I wanted to know whether the Bolashak program will work as our university develops in full, or will Kazakhstani students be able to receive international education in Kazakhstan?
– We will not send students to the specialties in which they can study at this university under the Bolashak program, – the President replied. – You have received grants to study here, study for free. Stop importing training. The Bolashak program will continue to work, but only for those who have already graduated from our universities. And when four thousand students study at Nazarbayev University, the need for Bolashak will disappear. I hope that by that time other universities will catch up and work at the world level.
The namesake of the Head of State, Nursultan Tompiev, asked when international scientific and medical centers will appear in our country. The guy chose the profession of a doctor and dreams of working in such a center.
– In 2011, the formation of the Life Sciences Research Center will be completed at Nazarbayev University. Transplantation, genomes, stem cells, the science of anti–aging - research will be conducted on all these issues here. We are working to buy ready-made laboratories in the West. In addition, the medical cluster in Astana should be turned into a "Hospital of the Future", students will practice there," the President replied.
Another question came from the mouth of Daria Yurtayeva, it concerned the development of nanotechnology in our country.
– This direction is new, and it is developing rapidly. Naturally, we are also dealing with this issue," Nursultan Nazarbayev said. – Three laboratories will be engaged in research in the field of nanotechnology in Kazakhstan: at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, at the Physics and Technology and East Kazakhstan Universities.
The Head of State also noted that business structures should also participate in the development of nanotechnology, as well as all other branches of science. And finally he joked about the medicine of longevity and life extension, the development of which is very much awaited by people of his generation.
Thanking Nursultan Abishevich for the meeting, the students of Nazarbayev University handed him a declaration signed by all students, which proclaims the principles of the university: leadership, patriotism, autonomy and academic freedom, honesty, transparency and openness, innovation and tolerance.
Prominent foreign politicians, such as former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, ex-Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, ex-Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, former Spanish Foreign Minister Marcelino Aguirre Oreia, also addressed the students of Nazarbayev University. They noted the great attention paid in the country to improving the education system and bringing it to a qualitatively new level. Naturally, the OSCE Summit held recently in Astana was not ignored either. The speakers emphasized the unique role of the President of Kazakhstan in convening the historic summit.
– With the holding of the Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan has reached a new level of international recognition, – Gerhard Schroeder stressed. – This meeting, to which the OSCE participating states sent their high representatives, emphasized the international importance of your republic for peace and security in the entire area of responsibility. In the era of globalization, Kazakhstan has vital importance for our world, your country has become a symbol of stability, and this is a great merit of President Nazarbayev, who has led Kazakhstan on the path of success since 1991.
The former German Chancellor also stressed that in order to strengthen the stability and independence of the state, it is necessary to form innovative thinking in society, social responsibility of citizens and a high level of education. And this, in turn, is impossible without significant investments in education and upbringing at all levels – from kindergarten to university. Therefore, the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to create an international university in Astana capable of training competitive personnel is especially important today. At the same time, Gerhard Schroeder noted the fact that modern education should not be reduced to a banal transfer of knowledge: it focuses on the individual, is aimed at developing individual abilities and talents of a person, at his upbringing.
"Real education should develop young people, teach them to think independently, help them outline a system of values, instill respect for other peoples, cultures, traditions," the speaker noted. – Knowledge is valuable only when it is based on these values and a sense of responsibility for their deeds and deeds.
The German politician was supported by former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who noted that one of the youngest universities in the world, Nazarbayev University, has everything necessary to become a kind of symbol of a great country and raise Kazakhstan to new heights. He also stressed that today the world, more than ever before, needs to create a bridge between cultures, and expressed the opinion that our republic can take on this role. Moreover, according to the Italian politician, Kazakhstan has already demonstrated its capabilities in this capacity at the OSCE Summit held in Astana, for the first time gathered on the territory of the state connecting the European and Asian spaces.
Marcelino Aguirre Oreia, who once headed the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began his speech with congratulations to Nursultan Nazarbayev on the successful holding of the Summit. He recalled that, in addition to the OSCE chairmanship, 2010 was marked by another important event for Kazakhstan – the entry into the Bologna process. The Republic of Kazakhstan became the first state of the Central Asian region recognized as a full member of the European educational space.
– Kazakhstan began to implement the "Bologna reforms" long before it became a member of the process and, I think, the official accession will benefit not only you, but also Europe, – the Spanish politician noted.
Marcelino Aguirre Oreia stressed that the formation of an effective education system is a strategically important part of the development of the country as a whole. And the fact that the President and the Government of Kazakhstan have a clear understanding of this is evidenced by the fact that great attention is paid to building intellectual potential in the republic, significant funds are allocated for the development of education and science.
Former Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski also spoke to the first students of Nazarbayev University, reminding young people about the times that have already become history – about the formation of Kazakhstan as an independent state, about the construction of Astana. Speaking about how much the country has changed over the years since independence, Alexander Kwasniewski did not forget to mention the recent achievements of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He called the holding of the OSCE Summit in Astana a huge success, stressing that at the time of the crisis of the Organization, Kazakhstan managed to "revive" and give a new impetus to its work. The ex-President noted that the Summit was successful not only in terms of organization, but also in terms of content. According to him, European countries have come to the conclusion that Kazakhstan is a benchmark of stability, which it is ready to export both to the Central Asian region and at the global level.
Addressing the students, Alexander Kwasniewski stressed that the task of the current generation is to continue the process of strengthening the republic, and, in addition, to introduce new values into it that will help in the development of the country and society. He congratulated the students on the fact that they had the good fortune to study at a university of such a level, and offered the university management to consider the prospects of cooperation with Polish universities. In addition, the politician shared his opinion about the name of "Nazarbayev University".
– Nursultan Abishevich hesitated about the name of the university, but I want to say that it sounds just great! – I 'm sure A. Kwasniewski. – I think that the fact that the university bears the name of the Head of State gives the educational institution a lot of advantages, since it will undoubtedly be actively supported by the President and the Government. In addition, it is also useful for students: the name of the person who managed to change his country so much will be the best role model, the personality of Nursultan Nazarbayev should inspire students to new achievements.
The guests' speeches were completed by the ex-Chancellor of Austria, Alfred Gusenbauer. Speaking about the new time in which the current generation has to live and which should be filled with events, the Austrian politician stressed that people become the main "raw material", the main resource of any country. In this context, he noted that education systems and the quality of universities play a crucial role, because in modern conditions, those states that can make their education really effective are the winners. On this path, the Kazakh authorities have shown their foresight, investing significant efforts and funds in the creation of the "Nazarbayev University". This university, according to Alfred Gusenbauer, marks a new stage in the development of education in the republic.
At the end of the meeting, Nursultan Nazarbayev officially introduced the President (Rector) of the non-profit joint stock company "Nazarbayev University" Shigeo Katsu to the students. Having listed the main milestones in his career, the Head of State expressed hope that his experience and knowledge will help the university to build its work so that in the future it really becomes the flagship of domestic education, which will be known and appreciated far beyond the borders of Kazakhstan. The President thanked Shigeo Katsu for agreeing to take over the leadership of the university and wished the new rector success.
Asel Mukanova, Yulia Mager, Astana
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru
08.12.2010