Professional insight from Nazarbayev University

Nazarbayev University, Central Asia’s top merit-based institution, champions innovative research, integrity and educational reform, preparing students for a complex global landscape and fueling Astana’s growth as an innovation hub.

Nazarbayev University

A mentor helps a student

What’s in a name? How to build trust into a student mentor role

A new framework for student support meant the creation of a new role – but what to call it? Dana Abiltayeva explains why it matters

Dana Abiltayeva

Nazarbayev University

An unenthused student receives a test back in the classroom

Why first-year courses should be pass/fail – and how to make the case at your institution

First-year students suffer from disproportionate levels of stress. But there’s one structural fix that costs almost nothing: pass/fail assessment in year one. Find six steps to implement change

Lasha Markozashvili

Nazarbayev University

A researcher uses a laptop inside the library

Why librarians should organise open research support around researchers, not services

Librarians could be key in helping academics navigate the open research life cycle. Here’s how

Assemgul Temirkhanova , Yelizaveta Kamilova , Lazzat Arystanova , Ainash Yeleussizova

Nazarbayev University

STEM students watch and interact with a classroom presentation

Harness the power of ‘what if?’ in STEM teaching

Interactive, computable lecture presentations offer students autonomy and the chance to flex their creativity. Find out how

Dmitry Sizov

Nazarbayev University

Webinar image

Campus webinar: Lessons in academic profile building from those who know how

Hear four academics from Campus+ partner institutions in the UK, Morocco and Kazakhstan discuss how to build a reputation as an expert in your scholarly field

Thomas Gift, Lakshmi Goel, Colin Harvey, Riccardo Pelizzo

UCL, Al Akhawayn University, Queen’s University Belfast, Nazarbayev University

Students hold brightly coloured speech bubbles up to their faces

How to turn student feedback into HR decisions that actually change their experience

Despite the amount of student feedback collected, it is not impacting on students’ day-to-day lives. How can we change that?

Igor Kim

Nazarbayev University

Students write in class

Four changes to help improve multilingual students’ writing

Without academic writing instruction, multilingual students are more likely to rely on AI. Making these small shifts can better support them

Bridget Goodman

Nazarbayev University

A scientist drops liquid into glass vials

Guide research students to think like scientists

Research supervision is about helping students develop a scientific mindset as much as it is about imparting knowledge. Find how to guide them with these practical tips

Kamilya Kokabi

Nazarbayev University

A teacher explains a circuit board to a class

GenAI can join the dots, so teach students to draw new lines in empty space

GenAI tools are getting better at tasks such as sorting data, writing basic reports and generating simple code. That’s why higher education needs to focus on what it can’t do

Darkhan Bilyalov, Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano

Nazarbayev University

Office workers discuss around a meeting table

Don’t forget HR when building a student-centred university

HR staff can be invaluable in shaping the student experience. Here’s how to keep them in the loop

Igor Kim

Nazarbayev University

Students and support staff work together round a laptop

Work with students for an inclusive university culture

Inviting students into the process of making your university campus a more inclusive place can be transformative. Here’s how

Dana Abiltayeva , Ayana Batyrbayeva

Nazarbayev University

Kittens fight each other

Five tips for debating sensitive issues in the classroom – without losing control

Find out how to create a learning environment where controversial topics can be debated fairly and constructively, with these five tips

Hélène Thibault

Nazarbayev University

Academics sit round a table, analysing documents

Write a grant proposal to win government funding

Hone your grant proposal for government funding to perfection with these tips. Yanwei Wang, Baktiyar Soltabayev and Zhumabay Bakenov draw on their experience from Kazakhstan’s funding landscape

Yanwei Wang, Baktiyar Soltabayev , Zhumabay Bakenov

Nazarbayev University

Two people write on a whiteboard

Two heads are better than one: a practical guide to co-teaching

Co-teaching can benefit not only students and academics, but administrative staff as well. Here, Dinara Pisareva and Andrei Semenov explain how to find a compatible partner, plan and navigate when educators’ approaches diverge

Dinara Pisareva, Andrey Semenov

Nazarbayev University

Students welcome each other on campus

Six ways to welcome students to university life

Find out how to design meaningful welcome experiences for first-year students as they arrive at university, and equip them with the tools to start their academic journey

Aikerim Daurenbayeva , Aina Nurtanova, Aruzhan Yergali

Nazarbayev University

A team discusses at Post-It notes on a wall

Communication skills needed for public policy and how to teach them

Effective public policy requires clear communication and public engagement. Here’s how to equip future policymakers with the necessary skills

Lisa Lim

Nazarbayev University

Students pose happily together

Make your university a home away from home

International students need a strong support system to settle them into their new environment. Find out how to provide one with these tips

Aray Saniyazova

Nazarbayev University

Students walk outside in fresh air

Create an environment where good mental health can thrive

How can surroundings affect the mental health of students and staff? Follow these tips to make sure the university environment supports mental well-being

Altyngul Borantay

Nazarbayev University

A magic lamp with a speech bubble

The AI genie is out of the bottle – now what?

Generative AI is here to stay, so let’s build AI literacy, incorporate AI into assessment and craft solid policies for its use

Aida Nuranova, Timothy Wawn

Nazarbayev University

Two young people high five over a boardroom table

Eight steps to launch a student-led peer-review journal

To help PhD students gain the skills required for publication and improve research literacy, consider an in-house academic journal

Andrew Drybrough, Philip Montgomery

Nazarbayev University

A student raises a hand in a classroom

Educate to empower your students and prevent harassment

To make campus safer, why not teach first-year students the principles of harassment prevention? Here’s how

Dinara Pisareva, Nikita Durnev

Nazarbayev University

The dark side of the moon

Moving over to the dark side: academic or academic administrator?

Academics may view administrators with suspicion, but Elaine Sharplin recommends stepping over to the dark side – as long as you stay true to your roots

Elaine Sharplin

Nazarbayev University

Young people work on laptops

Experiencing the workplace can help students’ career readiness

How to help your graduates step straight into the world of work? Give them a taste of it while they’re still students. Gaini Yessembekova and Liliya Tleukenova offer advice

Liliya Tleukenova, Gaini Yessembekova

Nazarbayev University

A woman takes notes from an open textbook

How to navigate the PhD thesis

The PhD thesis may be a mountain to climb, but you can take it one step at a time. Luis R Rojas-Solórzano offers his guidance

Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano

Nazarbayev University

A speaker reads from notes on a podium

The everyday tools you can use to alleviate public speaking anxiety

Research shows that people regard death as less terrifying than public speaking. Thomas Duke offers three ways to speak with confidence

Thomas Duke

Nazarbayev University

A group of people sitting round a laptop

Give educators the skills to bring assessment into the future

How can academics get to grips with the most cutting-edge of assessment tools? Matthew Courtney details how to educate STEM experts on modern assessment systems

Matthew Courtney

Nazarbayev University

A hand holds a paper cut out of a human brain

Let’s break down the barriers blocking neurodivergent people from higher education

How can we help neurodivergent students participate and thrive? Sourav Mukhopadhyay offers advice on making your classroom an inclusive environment for them

Sourav Mukhopadhyay

Nazarbayev University

A librarian in a striped dress stacks books on a shelf

As university librarians, we should embrace open research

Open access represents a new opportunity, and librarians are ideally placed to implement it. Nazarbayev University’s library team offers their advice

Jerald Cavanagh, Darya Zvonareva, Monika Bukowska, April Manabat, Yelizaveta Kamilova

Nazarbayev University

City view of Astana, Kazakhstan

Russia’s intellectual isolation presents opportunities for Central Asian HE

Major universities in this region are now uniquely positioned to build new international partnerships with academic institutions that have lost access to Russia

Daniel Scarborough

Nazarbayev University