Representatives from the School of Pharmacy at KazNMU participated in the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet international meeting and the Erasmus+ seminar
From October 7 to 9, 2026, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty hosted a plenary meeting of the Eurasia-Pacific Uninet (EPU) and an international Erasmus+ seminar on the development of academic cooperation.
The event brought together representatives from universities, research organizations, and experts in higher education from Austria, China, India, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The event was organized by the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalization (OeAD), the Eurasia-Pacific University Network (EPU), and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with support from the Erasmus+ National Office in Kazakhstan.
Representatives from the School of Pharmacy at Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University participated in the international event: Z. B. Sakipova, Dean of the School of Pharmacy, and N. A. Rakhimova, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy with a focus on botany.
The School of Pharmacy has many years of practical experience implementing international Erasmus+ programs aimed at developing academic mobility, scientific cooperation, and the exchange of professional experience with foreign universities.
In particular, in collaboration with the Medical University of Lublin (Poland), the following Erasmus+ academic mobility programs have been implemented: KA107-2019 on “Knowledge Exchange in the Field of Pharmacognosy and the Chemistry of Natural Products (Medicinal Plants and Beekeeping Products),” as well as KA107 (2020–2023) and KA107 (2023–2025), dedicated to the exchange of knowledge in the field of microbiology, including the screening of natural compounds for antibacterial and antifungal activity using standard research methods.
The further development of this international partnership is reflected in the Erasmus+ programs KA171 (2023–2025) and KA171 (2025–2028) in the area of “Ethnopharmaceutical Research on Medicinal Plants of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” implemented under an interuniversity cooperation agreement with the Medical University of Lublin (Poland). The programs provide for the academic mobility of faculty members and doctoral students, the exchange of scientific expertise, and the development of joint research on promising medicinal plants of Kazakhstan with the aim of their further application in pharmaceutical practice.
The participation of representatives from the School of Pharmacy in this international event provided an important opportunity to expand KazNMU’s academic ties, exchange experiences with foreign universities, and discuss prospects for implementing joint educational and scientific initiatives.
Samgat Yermekbayev, First Vice Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University; Andrea Baher, Austrian Ambassador to Kazakhstan; Jakob Kalitze, Managing Director of OeAD; and Josef Strobl, President of EPU, delivered welcoming remarks at the opening of the event.
The main objective of the plenary session was to strengthen academic partnerships between Austria and universities in Central, Eastern, and South Asia. Participants paid particular attention to issues of international academic mobility, joint research, educational innovations, and the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ program.
During the thematic sessions, representatives of the National Erasmus+ Offices (NEOs) and experts on higher education reform (HERE) from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan discussed the impact of international educational programs on university development and the improvement of higher education quality.
Laura Paluanova, coordinator of the Erasmus+ National Office in Kazakhstan, moderated two key sessions dedicated to Austria’s practical experience in cooperating with countries in the region and the impact of Erasmus+ on the development of higher education.
Panel discussions on the future of university education, its alignment with labor market demands, and the need to implement new educational approaches were an important part of the program.
Dana Abdrashova, a member of the HERE team and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Korkyt Ata University in Kyzylorda, participated in a discussion on the interaction between universities and the labor market and the development of competencies needed in the future.
Aitjan Kulumzhanova, Director of CIMEA in Central Asia, served as an expert in a discussion on the transformation of higher education in Asia amid global changes.
Participants emphasized the importance of international cooperation, the modernization of educational programs, and the integration of scientific achievements into the educational process. These areas are particularly relevant for medical and pharmaceutical education, where training qualified specialists requires the continuous improvement of professional competencies.
One of the highlights of the event was the Marketplace presentation area, which gave participants the opportunity to meet representatives from more than ten Austrian higher education institutions.
During these professional discussions, participants explored prospects for developing inter-university partnerships, implementing joint educational programs, promoting academic mobility, and collaborating on research projects.
For representatives of the School of Pharmacy, this platform provided an opportunity to learn about international experience and promising areas of cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical education and science.
Establishing professional contacts with foreign universities lays the groundwork for further knowledge exchange, the development of joint scientific initiatives, and the expansion of professional growth opportunities for faculty and students.
