ᴄᴀʀᴄᴇɪᴛ - Nazarbayev University

Big News: We are excited to announce the release of a new publication from our project, Nurturing Young Minds!

Title of the Paper:
How to Conduct Ethical Research with Young Children: Insights from a Reflexive Collaborative Autoethnography

This study examines ethical research practices involving young children in early childhood education, offering valuable guidance for researchers in the field. A big congratulations to Laura Ibrayeva, Manat Sergazina, Anara Burambayeva, Aiida Kulsary, and Professor Daniel Hernández-Torrano from Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education for their amazing work!

📎 Click here to access the paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590260126000032

www.sciencedirect.com

🚀 Exciting News from CARCEIT!

A paper, "Universities’ Roles in Regional Development and Evaluating Their Quality: A Systematic Literature Review," has been published online in Industry and Higher Education (Scopus Q1 journal)! 🎉

This publication, part of the Strengthening Regional Universities in Kazakhstan project funded by CARCEIT, highlights the need for a more holistic, multidimensional approach to evaluating universities’ roles in regional development. 🌍

Key findings include:

A comprehensive synthesis of existing literature on universities' regional impact.

The dominance of economic-focused evaluations and the necessity of integrating multiple dimensions: economic, technological, social, cultural, and environmental.

A call for more nuanced, multidimensional approaches to quality and impact assessments.

This research contributes to the ongoing conversation about how universities can effectively support regional development through diverse and inclusive evaluation frameworks. 🌱📚

📝 Read the full paper here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/09504222261417850

🎉 Exciting News from the NU Graduate School of Education! 🎓

The Graduate School has received International Program Accreditation from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), a leader in global higher education quality assurance! 🌍✨

This recognition follows the successful QAA review of three academic programs:

• MA in Multilingual Education
• MSc in Educational Leadership
• PhD in Education

This milestone showcases the commitment to world-class education and academic excellence. 🌟

Warm New Year greetings from CARCEIT, with best wishes for a year filled with innovation, collaboration, and continued academic excellence.

🎉 Congratulations! 🎉

We are proud to share that our ICEP2: Positive Peace Education in Kazakhstan project has contributed to the publication of the paper "Implementing Positive Peace Education in Schools: A Systematic Literature Review of Global Practices" in the Educational Research Review!

This paper, authored by Aizat Arystanbek, Assemgul Bukutova, Gulbagira Toleu, Professor Lynne Parmenter, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, Hilary Cremin, and Assylzhan Ospanbek, explores how Positive Peace Education is implemented in schools globally and offers valuable insights into fostering peace in education.

We are excited to continue advancing research and action towards positive, transformative education systems. 🌍📘

🚀 Research Assistant Opportunity! 🚀

Join the Innovative Models of Universities in Transitioning Economies project!

🔬 Project Overview:

This project, led by Dr Aida Sagintayeva, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Budget and Dean of the Graduate School of Education Nazarbayev University, explores innovative models for universities in transitioning economies.

📍 Location: Astana, Kazakhstan

🗓 Application Deadline: January 11, 2026

Eligibility:
PhD holders are eligible to apply.
Strong interest in higher education research.
Proficiency in English; knowledge of Kazakh & Russian (C1) is a plus.

Responsibilities:
Assist in literature reviews, data collection, transcription, and analysis.
Help organize project activities and support research dissemination.
Contribute to reports, publications, and outreach activities.
Travel within Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Qualifications:
Experience with research tools (NVivo, SPSS, Excel) preferred.
Strong communication and organizational skills.

To Apply:
Send your CV and a cover letter (200-400 words) to [email protected] with the subject: CARCEIT RA Application – Innovative Models of Universities in Transitioning Economies.

Don’t miss this exciting chance to contribute to cutting-edge higher education research! 🌍📚

On this momentous occasion of the Republic of Kazakhstan's Independence Day, we celebrate the spirit of freedom, unity, and the progress we have made as a nation. At CARCEIT, we remain committed to advancing research, innovation, and collaboration in education, ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

As we honor the sacrifices that have shaped our independence, we are reminded of the transformative power of education and research in driving positive change. Together, we will continue to work towards a future of progress, unity, and growth.

On behalf of CARCEIT and our Director, Professor Naureen Durrani, we extend our heartfelt wishes for a joyful and proud Independence Day.

Congratulations to Jonas Cruz, Associate Professor at UMC NU

Nazarbayev University (NU) has successfully concluded its 1st Nazarbayev University International Conference on Planetary Health and Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare, marking a significant milestone in advancing environmental sustainability in healthcare across Central Asia. 🌱

The conference, held in partnership with the University Medical Center and CARCEIT, brought together 235 experts, government officials, researchers, students, and healthcare professionals. A major highlight was the Qaz Green Health Project, funded by CARCEIT, aimed at building sustainability competencies among healthcare professionals in Kazakhstan.

Congratulations to Jonas Cruz, the Principal Investigator of the Qaz Green Health Project, for leading such an impactful initiative! The conference underscored Kazakhstan’s growing leadership in shaping regional and global sustainability agendas.

New Publication: What Makes Young Children Happy?

We’re excited to share a groundbreaking study led by Daniel Hernández-Torrano, Laura Ibrayeva, Manat Sergazina, Anara Burambayeva, Aiida Kulsary, Dianne Vella-Brodrick, and Patricia Eadie. This research explores young children’s well-being through the voices of 316 children aged 4-7 from kindergartens across Kazakhstan.

Using the Draw, Write, and Tell (DWT) method and PERMA-H framework, the study identifies key elements that shape children’s happiness:

🌱 Positive Emotions – Nature, play, toys
🎨 Engagement – Imaginative play, artistic activities, learning
👫 Relationships – Peers, teachers, family

Although Meaning, Accomplishment, and Health appeared less frequently, insights into how celebrations, achievements, and physical activities contribute to well-being were still invaluable.
The findings reveal that while the PERMA-H model captures many aspects of children’s happiness, it doesn’t fully reflect their lived realities, which prioritize joyful, social, and immediate experiences.

🔗 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-025-02081-9

CARCEIT is proud to fund this important research, helping to amplify children’s voices in the global conversation on well-being in early education.

🌍 New Publication on Early Childhood Education Quality 🌱

We are excited to congratulate Professor Daniel Hernández Torrano, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, and Ainur Alpys, MAPP, on their insightful new publication exploring what "quality" really means in early childhood education.

The research, funded by , takes a deep look at how the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale ( ) has been used worldwide to assess quality in early learning environments. Analyzing 154 studies, their findings show how ECERS has been vital in:

🔹 Measuring children’s academic and non-academic outcomes
🔹 Assessing the quality of early education settings
🔹 Evaluating early childhood interventions
🔹 Complementing other quality assessment tools
🔹 Exploring cultural nuances in early learning environments

The review emphasizes that quality in early education is influenced by cultural values, social priorities, and educational systems, and advocates for culturally grounded approaches to assessment.

This article is part of the Nurturing Young Minds project, exploring how kindergartens in Kazakhstan promote children's health and well-being. 🌱

We're proud of this important research and the continued support of CARCEIT.

🎉 Exciting Announcement! 🎉

We are thrilled to share that Dr Gulmira Qanay and her team have been awarded the CARCEIT Educational Innovation and Transformation Project (EITP) grant for their cutting-edge research project "Transforming Initial Teacher Education in Kazakhstan in the Era of AI Advancement: Implementing Lesson Study through Frameworks and Educational Materials for Sustainable Development."

🚀 Project Title: Transforming Initial Teacher Education in Kazakhstan in the Era of AI Advancement: Implementing Lesson Study through Frameworks and Educational Materials for Sustainable Development

📚 Project Details:
This research will explore how Lesson Study (LS)—a practice-oriented approach to teacher preparation—can be integrated into Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Kazakhstan, especially in the context of AI advancements. The study will investigate how AI-driven tools and LS frameworks can enhance pre-service teacher education, fostering reflective practices and improving teaching capacity. Unlike traditional, lecture-based teaching approaches, LS promotes a practice-oriented, inquiry-driven model that encourages student teachers to engage in classroom-based reflection and improvement. This project is a groundbreaking exploration of combining LS and AI in ITE, an intersection that remains largely unexplored.

👥 Project Team:
• Principal Investigator: Dr Gulmira Qanay, Assistant Professor, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of EducationGraduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University
• Co-PI: Dr. Elaine Wilson, Emeritus Fellow, Homerton College, University of Cambridge
• Other Team Members:
• Dr. Assel Sharimova, Postdoctoral Scholar, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of EducationGraduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University
• Dr. Aida Meirkulova, Vice-President, National Centre for Professional Development 'Orleu'
• Dr. Gulnaz Salgarayeva, Dean, Institute of Physics, Maths and IT, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University
• Mariya Kabysheva, Head of Academic Programme Development and Quality Assurance, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University

⏳ Project Duration: 27 Months

This project will contribute significantly to ongoing educational reforms in Kazakhstan, ensuring that future teachers are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in the AI-driven era while advancing Sustainable Development Goals.
Congratulations to Dr. Qanay and the entire team on this incredible achievement! 🎉

🎉 Exciting Announcement! 🎉

We are thrilled to share that Dr Janet Helmer and her team have been awarded the CARCEIT Educational Innovation and Transformation Project (EITP) grant for their groundbreaking research project "Building Inclusive Teaching Capacity: The Role of Initial Teacher Education in Kazakhstan."

🚀 Project Title: Building Inclusive Teaching Capacity: The Role of Initial Teacher Education in Kazakhstan.

📚 Project Details:
This research explores how inclusive pedagogy is integrated within Kazakhstan's Initial Teacher Education programs and investigates how pre-service teachers can develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to support diverse learners. The aim is to enhance Kazakhstan’s Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programs, preparing future educators for inclusive education in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). This will be a significant step in ensuring that teachers are equipped to meet the diverse needs of learners.

👥 Project Team:
• Principal Investigator: Dr Janet Helmer, Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education
• Co-PI: Dr Kairat Kurakbayev Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education

⏳ Project Duration: 27 Months

This study is set to make a lasting impact on inclusive education in Kazakhstan, providing key recommendations for curriculum reform, teacher preparation, and mentorship.
Let's congratulate Dr. Helmer and her team on this remarkable achievement! 🎉