Autonomous management of universities in Kazakhstan: myth or reality?

Abstract

In the article, the authors explore the reforms carried out in the Republic of Kazakhstan to expand the autonomous management of universities. The reforms aimed at the formation of academic freedom of universities have led to changes in legislative acts, expanding the powers of Kazakhstani universities in making independent management decisions. At the same time, the main question posed by the author in the article is how realistically universities have gained academic freedom through reforms and transformed the management system providing autonomy in managerial, academic and financial matters. The study is based on an analysis of the reforms carried out in Kazakhstan in order to identify the processes of deregulation of state control in the management of universities. Based on normative legal acts, empirical data on Kazakhstani higher education and analytical reports from the OECD and the World Bank, the transformations of the management system over the past decades have been analyzed.

This paper examines the issues of autonomous management of higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, analyzes the prospects and challenges associated with the transition to this model. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the current situation in Kazakhstani universities.

The authors conclude that Kazakhstan is characterized by a partially autonomous university management model. The results of the study show that the state retains centralized financial control, the appointment of the rector and chairman of the Board of Directors, the organizational and legal status of universities is approved by law.