EdUHK and Kazakh Universities Launch Academy of Education Delegation Led by Professor Lee and Received by the Kazakh Education Minister
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin led a delegation to Almaty and attended the inauguration of the EdUHK-Kazakh Academy of Education on 3 February. The Academy was established in collaboration with EdUHK, the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University (Abai KazNPU) and the Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University (KNWTTU). It marks a significant milestone for EdUHK in supporting international educational cooperation. During the visit to Kazakhstan, the delegation also met with Ms Jiang Wei, Consul General of the People's Republic of China and was received by Mr Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
At the inauguration ceremony for the Academy, Dr Bolat Tilep, Rector of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, read out a speech from Mr Sayasat Nurbek, which described the establishment of the Academy as beneficial for enhancing academic standards in both regions, in contributing to the advancement of Kazakhstan’s higher education standards and academic potential.
In his speech, Professor Lee said, “We are not merely inaugurating an institution, but celebrating the emergence of a new era in educational collaboration between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. The establishment of the academy is a testament to international collaboration, demonstrating how universities can unite to harness their collective strengths for greater educational advancements among Belt and Road countries.” Professor Lee also expressed his optimism about the academy’s potential impact, noting EdUHK’s commitment to bringing a wealth of expertise and experience in pioneering research and pedagogical innovation.
Mr Zhang Wei, General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty expressed hope that the three universities would leverage their strengths, enhance exchange and mutual learning, promote the cultivation of top talents, serve the economic development needs of both countries, and foster innovation in Belt and Road initiative cooperation.
Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Commissioner for the Belt and Road Initiative for the HKSAR government, conveyed his congratulations via a pre-recorded video message, recognising the academy as “An achievement that advances education in Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, and beyond.” He was confident in the potential of educational partnerships between EdUHK and universities in Kazakhstan.
The ceremony was also attended by Dr Gulmira Qanay, Chairman of the Board, Rector of the Kazakh National Women's Pedagogical University, Professor Lo Sing-kai, Associate Vice President (Internationalisation) of EdUHK, and other esteemed attendees.
The three universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish “The EdUHK-Kazakh Academy of Education” in November 2024. They jointly established Academy of Education will facilitate academic exchange in various fields, including artificial intelligence in education, educational assessment, educational leadership, and inclusive education. The institutions will also collaborate on teacher education training, joint research projects, and multicultural exchanges. The two newly established centres, Inclusive Education and Artificial in Education and the Leadership, STEAM Education, and Assessment will be located in Abai KazNPU and KNWTTU.
Professor Lee held a meeting with the two Rectors and senior representatives, as well as Professor Kenneth Sin Kuen-fung, Director of the Centre for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education at EdUHK, and Professor Song Yanjie, Associate Director of the Centre for Immersive Learning and Metaverse in Education at EdUHK right after the opening ceremony to steer the implementation of the collaboration in the coming 12 months focusing on international research and teacher training.
Professor Lee and the delegation also visited Ms Jiang Wei, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty in the afternoon of 3 February. Ms Jiang praised EdUHK’s pioneering collaboration with Kazakh universities in the past eight years, with Kazakhstan being in the first batch of nations joining the Belt and Road initiative, which proved EdUHK was at the frontier of national strategic development. She said the Consulate would support the education and research development projects of EdUHK at Kazakhstan.
On 4 February, Mr Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan received Professor Lee and the delegation. Mr Nurbek said Kazakhstan was a very young nation, and great emphasis has been placed on human capital development in recent years, actively promoting partnerships between Kazakh and foreign universities. Efforts have even been made to introduce foreign universities to establish branch campuses locally, aiming to cultivate a more diverse talent pool and enhance the quality of higher education in the region. He fully supported EdUHK’s collaboration and research with the two Kazakhstan’s universities. The Minister also introduced the delegation to visit the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University to comprehend international collaboration and partnership there.
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