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CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE • GOVERNMENT
Seedstars Global
JANUARY 6, 2020
Kazakhstan is emerging at the forefront of innovation at the global level. From start-ups to government backing, opportunities for the nation and its citizens are springing up everywhere.
The ultimate goal is to elevate the economy by investing in education and people concerning STEM technologies.
The development of human capital is the primary focus of the nation. Currently, the entire free world is experiencing a shortage of developers in every aspect of the business, so Kazakhstan is in a unique position to quickly make up losses and increase its overall GDP.
One way in which Kazakhstan is developing human capital is by making updates to its education system that works in tandem with the best and brightest industry standards in the world. Over the long-run horizon, public and private education institutions are placing a priority on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs uniformly throughout the nation.
Students are gaining valuable exposure to artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, 3D printing, virtual reality (VR), and much more. The ability to code, develop, and test these forms of technologies is in high demand the world over.
In fact, today’s companies are jumping on these trends and systems since they provide cost and time-saving advantages. Learn to code today for a better tomorrow is the sentiment Kazakhstani people share.
In 2018, the Kazakhstani government innovators saw an opportunity to change the education system and its offerings. Their solution? STEM education will receive a 10 percent increase by 2022 to support the big-picture goals of positioning Kazakhstan as a hub for innovation.
That’s a massive leap considering the jumping-off point. However, there are issues that the Kazakhstani people and markets must address for their plan to go off without a hitch.
First, Kazakhstan ranks 56th of 137 countries in terms of quality in higher education and vocational training. While that isn’t a wrong number (it’s actually quite impressive), it certainly is not at the forefront of leading nations in terms of STEM development, but it’s getting there. With the passage of the Digital Kazakhstan state education programs, this will all change over short and long-run periods. In fact, we’re seeing it happen already.
The good news is that Kazakhstan is now aligning its education system with more modern strategies that include actively participating in the management aspects of a more comprehensive program. While modernization isn’t the end goal of the nation, the methodologies definitely have distinct advantages over more deprecated practices.
Another challenge of providing access to education includes a lack of public funding and loan options available for its citizens to pursue a STEM career path. Last year, there were nearly 500,000 students enrolled at 122 universities across the country. More than 85 percent fund their education from their pockets, while almost 15 percent receive a state-funded scholarship. This is a significant expense for anyone whether you have money or not. So, funding is a significant issue when it comes to elevating Kazakhstan in the tech world.
Aside from recognizing key technology issues and barriers to participation, the Kazakhstan government is supporting efforts to increase access to education while stimulating the economy. The following directives are already implemented at the state level:
Given the previous efforts, Kazakhstan’s future looks incredibly bright. This nation is taking a giant leap of calculated faith in its people and the future of technology. And we think they are right on when it comes to this investment. As older generations retire and newer technologies emerge, there is going to be an even more significant increase when it comes to demands placed from the outside world. Kazakhstan is in a very unique position to fill this role.
To fully appreciate the value of what reform is bringing, there is no better shining example than that of a small start-up called Okoo. Since there is also a shortage of qualified educators, it’s easy to imagine that opportunities for further advancement are already spread thin. There is one such company that is addressing this issue at a big-picture level.
Currently, in its pre-revenue stage, Okoo has developed a platform that leverages AI to teach students. It’s a new technology that acts as an intelligent supplement to assist Kazakhstani grade school children to get ahead. This company is definitely one to watch in terms of supporting tech education in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is a nation that is setting itself up for a bright future in terms of technological education. From strong government backing to exciting startups, this nation of 18 million residents is ready to rise to the challenge and improve upon the lives of themselves and others around them.
It’s a smart investment, and it’s a state that will fair well when they meet their objectives and goals for the technology and education sectors over the next few years, such as increased funding for STEM education and innovation in edtech management. Kazakhstan is at the forefront of modern society in critical areas that businesses around the globe value the most.
