An international scientific and practical conference titled «Current State and Prospects for the Development of the New Generation School Principalship in Global and National Educational Practice» was held at Abai University. The main objective of the conference was to analyze the role of school principals in the modern education system, as well as global and national approaches to the development of school leadership.

The conference opened with a welcome address from Bolat Anapiyauly, Chairman of the Board–Rector of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. In his address, he emphasized the importance of studying the qualities of effective school leaders and developing a strong institution of school principalship. He noted that a modern school principal is not merely an administrator responsible for routine management tasks, but a strategic leader of an educational organization, an initiator of change, and a person who determines the direction of development for the teaching staff.

The conference moderator, Shyngys Nurlanuly, Provost of the University of Innovation and Technology, provided an in-depth analysis of leadership. He noted that in countries such as South Korea, China, and the Netherlands, leadership skills are regarded as a distinct advantage that can be deliberately developed through purposeful training and practice.

“A person’s age, status, or experience does not automatically make them a confident leader. Confidence is not something that simply emerges naturally; it must be deliberately developed. For example, when taking risks, one needs to learn how to analyze situations correctly, make firm decisions, and manage effectively,” the moderator said.

The international conference brought together experts and representatives of the education sector from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Russia. International participants shared their experiences in educational leadership, school improvement, modern management models, and the impact of digital technologies on the education system. Dr. Thomas Harriott, Deputy Principal of Ifield Community College in the United Kingdom, delivered a presentation titled “Effective School Improvement”, outlining and categorizing approaches and methods for improving school effectiveness in the United Kingdom.

During the event, Asan Toganbekov, Principal of School-Gymnasium No. 59 of the Almaty City Education Department and a graduate of Abai University, also addressed the audience. He emphasized that relying solely on intuition is no longer sufficient for effective school management.

“Today, managing a school based solely on intuition is not enough. We need to move from management based on ‘I think’ to management based on ‘the data shows’. Artificial intelligence will not replace school teachers or principals. However, a principal who knows how to use it effectively can accelerate analysis, identify risks at an earlier stage, and provide better support to their team,” he said.

One of the key issues addressed at the conference was strengthening cooperation between universities and schools and developing an effective model for preparing a new generation of leaders for educational organizations. In this regard, the extensive experience of higher education institutions in teacher training and the development of leadership in education was presented.

Abai University Media Center