1-st stage DoQuP Report on countries

State standards in the area of assurance of education quality are developed with the aim of:  meeting permanent needs and expectations of the State and society of providing quality educational services and development of scientific activity;  standardization of rights and responsibilities of all the participants of higher education institution’s (HEI) activity;  assurance of equivalency of education under conditions of existing variety of programs, forms of education, status and forms of HEI ownership;  establishing the necessary norms, rules, specifications (further – requirements) for the HEI;  creation of the regulatory framework for implementation of the state policy in the area of education, licensing, state accreditation and attestation of higher education institutions in compliance with the requirements of SТ RK ISO 9001, SТ RK ISO 9004.

State standards may as well be applied for:  internal and external evaluation (audit) of the HEI activities;  self evaluation of productivity and efficiency of HEI activities;  used by the developers of corresponding normative documentation;  used by the employers and serve as the basis for quality of training evaluation.

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas Higher professional education. System of quality management of the educational institutions. Date of introduction State standard of the RK Official edition The standard describes general provisions of the quality assurance management systems of the higher education institutions according to the requirements of ISO 9000, 9001, 9004, defines purposes and objectives, basic principles and organization of development, implementation and functioning of the quality management systems (QMS). The basic notions in the area of education quality are defined. Applied by all higher education institutions of the RK that develop and implement QMS. 1. Policy and procedures for quality assurance Institutions should have a policy and associated procedures for the assurance of the quality and standards of their programs and awards. They should also commit themselves explicitly to the development of a culture which recognises the importance of quality, and quality assurance, in their work. To achieve this, institutions should develop and implement a strategy for the continuous enhancement of quality. The strategy, policy and procedures should have a formal status and be publicly available. They should also include a role for students and other parties involved. ЕDЕD

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas Higher professional education. Resources of the educational institutions. Date of introduction State standard of the RK Official edition The standard defines basic requirements for higher education institutions resources management. The present standard is developed with the aim of defining the required norms, rules, specifications for the resource base of higher education institutions. 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered. С2 С3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 3*State compulsory standard RK –2011 HIGHER EDUCATION. UNDERGRADUATE. GENERAL PROVISIONS Approved by the Order of the MES of the RK № 261 The standard defines the requirements for content of education, students’ education perspective, design of educational programs, their structure and evaluation of students’ competence level. The standard is harmonized with ECTS Users’ Guide», «Tuning Educational Structures in Europe». 2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programs and awards Institutions should have formal mechanisms for the approval, periodic review and monitoring of their programs and awards. В2 В3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 4 State compulsory standard RK Educational professional program «Master of business administration» GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction The standard establishes the requirements to the content of the Educational professional program «Master of business administration» (МВА) and for the level of competence of master program graduates. 2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards Institutions should have formal mechanisms for the approval, periodic review and monitoring of their programmes and awards. 5 State compulsory standard of Education of RK DISTANCE LEARNING. GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: The standard specifies general requirements for distance learning in higher and further professional education of the 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered.

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 6 State compulsory standard of Education of RK PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: The standard describes the content of professional internship. The purpose of this standard is to regulate the organisation of professional practice of students in HEIs. Professional internship is aimed at consolidating the theoretical knowledge gained in the learning process at universities, acquisition of practical skills and competences, as well as the dissemination of best practices. 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered. А3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standardsCorresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 7 State compulsory standard of Education of RK MONITORING AND KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: The standard describes the rules for monitoring and assessment of students’ knowledge in HEIs. The purpose of this standard is to establish common criteria and principles for the assessment of students’ educational achievements, to determine the methods and tools for monitoring and knowledge assessment in a single educational space of the country. The assessment system of students’ educational achievements includes a variety of forms: ongoing monitoring of progress, interim and final attestation of students and final state attestation. 3. Assessment Students should be assessed using published criteria, regulations and procedures which are applied consistently. В2 B3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standardsCorresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 8 State compulsory standard of Education of RK PROFESSIONAL STUDY PROGRAMMES GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: The standard describes the content of educational and professional programmes. The purpose of this standard is to define the structure and content of professional study programmes of higher education. Educational and professional programmes are aimed at training specialists in related areas and qualifications, consistent improvement of educational and professional level of students. Professional study programmes are developed independently by universities on the basis of State compulsory standards of education.... Electives reflect individual training of students, take into account the pecularity of socio-economic development and needs of a particular region, established scientific schools in a particular HEI, as well as the individual interests of the student Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards. Institutions should have formal mechanisms for the approval, periodic review and monitoring of their programmes and awards. A1 A2 C4 C5

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 9 State compulsory standard of Education of RK CONTINGENT OF STUDENTS GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: The standard describes the contingent of students in HEIs, the procedure of admission, registration and progress in the process of learning and graduation. For effective organisation of the training process, management of resources involved in the educational activities of HEIs, there are certain requirements to the contingent of students. 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered. D1 D3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 10 State compulsory standard of Education RK FACILITIES AND RESOURCES OF HEIs GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction: This standard specifies general requirements to facilities and resources of HEIs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. It includes the requirements to the resource infrastructure, resources to ensure appropriate working environment and the description of the financial sources. 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered. С2 C3

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 11 State compulsory standard RK INFORMATION RESOURCES AND LIBRARY FUND GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction The standard determines the requirements and general characteristics of information resources and library fund of higher educational institutions, necessary for achieving educational goals. Availability of information resources is one of the conditions for licensing a higher educational institution. The HEI must also have a web-site and an educational portal. 6. Information systems Institutions should ensure that they collect, analyse and use relevant information for the effective management of their programmes of study and other activities. 7. Public information Institutions should regularly publish up to date, impartial and objective information, both quantitative and qualitative, about the programmes and awards they are offering. C2 D,E

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 12 State compulsory standard RK RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MAIN INSTRUCTIONS GENERAL PROVISIONS Date of introduction The standard establishes main requirements to the research activities, carried out in the higher education institutions of Kazakhstan. It determines the order of planning, organizing and developing fundamental research, applied research, experimental design and innovative activities of the university. 4. Quality assurance of teaching staff Institutions should have ways of satisfying themselves that staff involved with the teaching of students are qualified and competent to do so. They should be available to those undertaking external reviews, and commented upon in reports.

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standardsCorresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 13 State compulsory standard RK REQUIREMENTS TO THE CONTENT AND LEVEL OF PHD PROGRAM GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction The standard establishes requirements to the content of Ph.D programs and to the level of preparation of the graduates. The application of the given standard has the following aims: - achievement of high quality postgraduate professional education at Ph.D level; regulation of educational and scientific processes and establishment of a system to monitor the effectiveness of higher education institutions and research organizations engaged in training doctoral students; - defining the rights and responsibilities of students in doctoral programs, promotion of independent learning, research and teaching activity of doctoral students; - ensuring the equivalence of documents conferring the scientific degree "Doctor of Philosophy» (Ph.D) for the smooth entry of Kazakhstan into the international educational space and the labor market. 2. Approval, monitoring and periodic review of programmes and awards. Institutions should have formal mechanisms for the approval, periodic review and monitoring of their programmes and awards.

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standardsCorresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 14 State compulsory standard RK EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES OF HEI GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction The standard establishes general requirements to the educational and scientific material-technical base of the higher education institutions of the Republic and also specifies the requirements to the resource infrastructure, and the provision of appropriate conditions for the production environment. 5. Learning resources and student support Institutions should ensure that the resources available for the support of student learning are adequate and appropriate for each programme offered. C2C2

№ Title of the State standards Content of RK standards Corresponding European standards for internal quality assurance within higher education institutions Corresponding DoQuP areas 15 State compulsory standard РК ACADEMIC WORK AND TEACHING WORKLOAD GENERAL PROVISIONS Official edition Date of introduction This standard describes the types of academic work in higher education institutions, the procedure of developing standards and planning teaching load. 4. Quality assurance of teaching staff Institutions should have ways of satisfying themselves that staff involved with the teaching of students are qualified and competent to do so. They should be available to those undertaking external reviews, and commented upon in reports. С1

 The RK National System for external QA is represented by the National Accreditation Centre (NAC) MES RK. NAC provides informative, consulting and education services for HEIs on public, professional and international accreditation of educational institutions. It coordinates efforts to develop criteria and procedures for institutional and program accreditation in accordance with the requirements of the Bologna process and to develop cooperation with international structures of national systems of QA.  Current NAC standards for institutional accreditation provide a number of parameters for higher education institutions performance, covering the management of the university, strategic development, content of SP, curriculum, quality of teaching and facilities.

 Standard “Institutional Accreditation”;  Standard 1. “Mission, Goals and Objectives”;  Standard 2. “Planning and Efficiency”;  Standard 3. “Leadership and Management”;  Standard 4. “Education Programs”;  Standard 5. “Teaching staff and Teaching Efficiency”;  Standard 6. “Students”;  Standard 7. “Research”;  Standard 8. “Finance”;  Standard 9. “Resources: Facilities, Library and Information”.  The new NAC standards of program accreditation are harmonized with ESG requirements and approved by MES RK.

 In the Republic of Kazakhstan in addition to the State regulation, the quality of education is assessed by independent bodies, on a voluntary basis. As a rule, SP can be accredited only if it has a state license.  MES RK approved and delegated the right to carry out institutional and program accreditation to Kazakh and foreign agencies (National Register, Order № 556 December 30, 2011). On the basis of this document, Independent Kazakhstan Quality Assurance Agency for Education (IQAA) provides both institutional and program accreditation. Particularly for Quality Assurance of Study Programs IQAA has elaborated its own standards. These standards are developed in accordance with national regulations, European standards and international practice.

Every SP has to demonstrate its compliance with the following standards:  Standard 1. “Program Education Objectives”;  Standard 2. “Education Results and Efficiency”;  Standard 3. “Students”;  Standard 5. “Content of Study Program”;  Standard 4. “Teaching staff”;  Standard 6. “Facilities and Information Resources”.  Each standard contains general regulations and about 12 criteria for quality assurance of SP. After close examination of standards proposed in the framework of DoQuP project, no significant differences with IQAA standards have been found. Each proposed standard in areas A -“Needs and Objectives”, B- “Educational Process”, C – “Resources”, D- “Monitoring”, E - “Management System” are included in the content of IQAA standards. Thus, standards proposed by DoQuP project fully comply with IQAA standards for program accreditation.

 Having analyzed the Draft of DoQuP standards for quality assurance of study programmes in partner countries delivered by the Project team, the representatives from Kazakhstan have concluded that proposed standards are fully applicable to the current legal framework of education in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 It is necessary to emphasize the significance of ​​ separating the two areas: “Monitoring” and “Management System”. Despite the fact that “Monitoring” can be viewed as a part of “Management System”, the proposed differentiation could help to focus on each one separately and to develop both processes more effectively, which is important for providing quality study programs.

The following comments are to be taken into consideration:  According to Area D - “Monitoring”, all 5 proposed standards (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5) are concerned with and related to “students”. Because of importance of other main aspects for quality assurance of SP (such as teaching staff, facilities and financial resources), possibly it could be necessary to combine some standards for students and to add 3 other standards to this area: 1) Monitoring of Teaching Staff 2) Monitoring of Facilities 3) Monitoring of Financial Resources  In order to avoid cultural and language misunderstanding it is desirable to re-name Standard D3 from “Monitoring of students’ carrier” to “Monitoring of students’ progress and achievements”.