On 27 March, the ORTA Community hosted a MIND-Talks lecture on Al-Farabi’s philosophical anthropology. A.S. Tulebekov, Associate Professor at the School of Liberal Arts at MNU, delivered an in-depth analysis of the philosophical legacy of the great thinker and his views on human nature.
Main topics of the lecture included:
- What vital forces, according to Al-Farabi, shape the human being?
- How does Al-Farabi’s methodological approach relate to contemporary scientific concepts in the field of cognitive science?
The lecture attracted both students and specialists with an interest in philosophy and sparked a lively discussion on the relevance of Al-Farabi’s teachings to modern philosophical and scientific discourse.
MIND-Talks continue! Stay tuned for upcoming announcements and join the next event.
On 6 March, the ORTA Community hosted a MIND-Talks lecture dedicated to gender economics. On the eve of International Women’s Day, Dean of the International School of Economics at MNU, Saule Kemelbaeva, delivered a thought-provoking talk on key issues surrounding gender inequality in Kazakhstan and globally.
Main topics of discussion included:
- Why do women in Kazakhstan earn less than men, despite having high levels of education?
- How do social, economic, and cultural factors contribute to income and opportunity gaps?
- What solutions could help narrow these gaps and promote gender equality?
The lecture sparked lively discussion among participants, who exchanged views on potential ways to address these challenges.
MIND-Talks continue! Stay tuned for upcoming announcements and join us at the next event.
On February 27, another session of MIND-Talks took place at the ORTA Community, focusing on the topic of corruption and how it is perceived by society. The lecture was delivered by A. Rodionov, Head of the Social Research Program at the MIND Center, Maqsut Narikbayev University.
Key Questions Discussed:
- How do corruption concealment mechanisms operate, and what strategies do participants use?
- Why are some schemes perceived as “normal” and fail to provoke public condemnation?
- How effectively do Kazakhstanis recognise patterns of corruption?
Participants engaged in more than just a lecture — they explored real-life cases, learning to distinguish between legitimate procedures and corrupt practices.
MIND-Talks is an ongoing series that brings critical social issues into open discussion.
Stay tuned for upcoming sessions and join us in exploring today’s most pressing topics!
On February 20, Maqsut Narikbayev University hosted a visiting meeting of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Legislation, the Judicial System, and Law Enforcement Agencies, chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Senate Zhakip Asanov. The central topic of discussion was the use of readability assessment tools for legal acts and their role in enhancing the quality of lawmaking.
During the session, Dmitriy Serebrennikov, Head of the Department of Sociological Research at the Applied Research and Analytics Center MIND, presented quantitative methods for analysing regulatory legal texts. He emphasised the importance of developing objective indicators to measure text complexity and the need for unified standards for assessing the readability of legislative documents.
In addition, Olga Bektibayeva, Director of the MNU Law School, and Anton Didikin, Associate Professor at the MNU Law School, shared methodological recommendations for improving the clarity and accessibility of regulatory legal acts.
It was noted that automated text analysis tools can play a key role in improving the quality of legal drafting. These tools can make legal texts more understandable for both professionals and the general public, thereby supporting higher levels of legal literacy and more effective implementation of the law.
The meeting highlighted the need for an integrated approach that combines scientific research, technological innovation, and legislative development to create more accessible and effective legal frameworks.
The outcomes of the discussion will inform upcoming parliamentary hearings and contribute to the development of recommendations for the Government.
The MIND Research and Analytical Center took part in the World Government Summit — one of the world’s leading forums where global experts, heads of state, and technology leaders came together to discuss the profound impact of artificial intelligence on the economy, public governance, and cutting-edge technologies.
Key Takeaways from the Summit:
- AI is not just enhancing technology — it is transforming it, giving rise to entirely new solutions and industries.
- We are entering the era of highly specialized AI models, where the speed and accuracy of data analysis are reaching unprecedented levels.
- AI “hallucinations” are increasingly viewed as a source of creative innovation, rather than mere technical errors.
- AI assistants are becoming autonomous agents, capable of supporting not only routine task management but also strategic decision-making.
- AI-driven disaster prediction is opening up new possibilities in crisis response and risk management.
- The race for dominance in AI is accelerating, with the most affordable, fastest, and most precise models gaining a competitive edge.
- Investments in AI are now seen as strategic, going beyond simple return on investment to national-level priorities.
AI is no longer a passing trend — it is shaping a new global reality, revolutionizing how we approach business, governance, and scientific research.
MIND remains committed to studying these transformations, engaging with international thought leaders, and providing forward-looking insights into the AI-powered future.
On 12 February 2025, the first event of MIND-Talks took place at ORTA Community — a new initiative launched to promote research and academic discourse beyond the university setting. MIND-Talks aims to make knowledge accessible to a wider audience and embed academic thought into the urban culture of Astana.
The opening lecture, titled “Logic of the Observer: Exploring Security Regimes Through the Infrastructures of European Cities”, was delivered by Dmitry Serebrennikov, Co-Head of the Social Research Programme at the MIND Research and Analytical Centre.
The lecture explored key questions such as:
- How do surveillance cameras “see” the city, and why is this important for understanding public safety?
- How are monitoring technologies applied across different countries, and what security models do they create?
- How can we balance effective surveillance with the protection of human rights?
The event featured an active and engaged audience, contributing to a dynamic discussion session that made the meeting both informative and interactive.
On 7 February 2025, the inaugural lecture of the MIND Distinguished Lectures series took place — a new educational initiative by MIND at Maqsut Narikbayev University. This platform invites leading Kazakhstani and international experts to share insights on pressing issues in the global economy, international relations, and the social sciences.
The opening lecture was delivered by Sultan Magrupovich Akimbekov, historian, Director of the Institute of Asian Studies, and one of Kazakhstan’s foremost political analysts. His lecture, titled “Central Asia: Between Everyone and Each Other”, was held at the Public Library and attracted students and faculty members from MNU.
Key topics of the lecture included:
- The role of Central Asia in the global system and international relations;
- The region’s engagement with global powers;
- Internal development trends and prospects for regional cooperation.
The event generated strong interest and concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, offering participants the opportunity to engage directly with the expert on the challenges and opportunities facing Central Asia.
On 4 February 2025, MIND at Maqsut Narikbayev University, in partnership with the World Bank, hosted the presentation of the Kazakhstan Economic Update 2025. The event brought together leading experts to discuss key issues related to fiscal policy, sustainable investment, and the financial stability of Kazakhstan.
During the event, the new World Bank report was presented, providing an in-depth analysis of Kazakhstan’s current economic landscape and future development prospects.
Experts focused on the country’s medium-term fiscal policy programme and strategies for increasing public revenue aimed at enhancing macroeconomic stability. Special attention was given to the role of fiscal policy in promoting long-term economic growth and its implications for businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where participants engaged directly with experts, raising questions on key economic challenges and opportunities.
On December 25, 2024, Maqsut Narikbayev University hosted a significant meeting of the MIND Accelerator project and research group as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2): “Ending hunger, achieving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture.”
The meeting focused on pressing issues surrounding the development of agricultural science in Kazakhstan, exploring ways to ensure sustainable growth and national food security. The event was chaired by Kunsulu Daltonovna, Advisor on Science and Innovation to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
During the session, the team presented legislative and regulatory proposals for transforming NANOC into an international agrotechnological centre. This initiative aims to foster effective integration between agricultural science, education, and business.
A $2 million grant was allocated through the Islamic Organization for Food Security, launching projects to preserve and develop genetic resources.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Islamic Organization for Food Security signed a Roadmap to establish an international IOFS Genebank. This roadmap outlines 29 specific actions, including:
- Allocating a land plot for project implementation
- Securing funding for construction
- Achieving international recognition of the Genbank and consolidating collections as national heritage
Ongoing work includes proposed amendments to several laws and regulations concerning agricultural science, as well as addressing issues related to the protection and use of land belonging to agricultural research and experimental farms.
This meeting holds particular importance in advancing the “6th Priority” of Kazakhstan’s national development plan. Moreover, the proposed initiatives directly support the achievement of SDG targets 2.4, 2.5, and 2.a.
On 18 October 2024, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) hosted a panel discussion titled “Kazakhstan as a Middle Power: Geopolitics, Critical Minerals, and Transport”, initiated by the British side. The event brought together experts from MIND, Maqsut Narikbayev University, along with representatives of leading British research centres and universities.
The discussion focused on key elements of Kazakhstan’s middle power strategy, echoing themes outlined by the Head of State during his speech at the Astana Think Tank Forum 2024. Participants examined Kazakhstan’s foreign policy initiatives and institutional reforms that underscore its growing role on the international stage. Particular attention was given to Astana’s efforts to deepen regional cooperation in Central Asia, the evolution of the C5+1 format, and the country’s potential in the extraction and processing of critical minerals, especially rare earth elements, positioning Kazakhstan as a key player in the global energy transition.
A significant part of the discussion was devoted to the Middle Corridor project, through which Kazakhstan partners with Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia. This strategic initiative enhances economic connectivity between Central Asia and the South Caucasus, offering new pathways for integration and contributing to regional security and resilience.
The event was held with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the United Kingdom.
