From April 23 to May 3, Abai University hosted a working visit by scholars from the University of Teacher Education Tyrol (Innsbruck, Austria). During their visit, they delivered a series of engaging lectures, academic seminars, and practical workshops at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology.

The visit was organized as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation and enhance the educational process. The visiting scholars conducted lectures, research seminars, hands-on sessions, and applied workshops in the fields of pedagogy, primary education, and special education.

The Austrian delegation was welcomed by Acting Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Gulmira Niyetbayeva, and Head of the Department of Primary Education, Aziya Zhumabayeva, who introduced the guests to the program of the visit. The events were attended by faculty members, master’s and doctoral students, as well as students enrolled in the educational programs “Primary Education with Business Innovations” and “Multilingual Primary Education.”

International experts presented current trends in Austria’s education system, innovative teaching methodologies, and best practices aimed at developing students’ creative and critical thinking skills. The program included the lecture-seminar The Austrian Education System, the seminar Basic Democratic Education in Elementary School within the Framework of Class Conferences, and a workshop on The Use of Digital Devices (iPads) in Elementary Schools. In addition, the Metall kreativ workshop, a simulation game based on the Good School model, and a presentation of the PERMA-Teach Program: Empowering Children and Youth were organized.

The visiting specialists also toured the NGS school, where they explored the practical training of Primary Education students within a dual education system. During the meeting, participants discussed key aspects of teacher training and current priorities in the development of Kazakhstan’s education system.

The visit served as an effective platform for international exchange of experience, fostering professional dialogue, introducing pedagogical innovations, and strengthening academic partnerships. Abai University will continue to expand its international collaboration and systematically implement initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education.

It is worth noting that in the 2025–2026 academic year, the university hosted 66 leading international scholars from 12 countries. These included 25 scholars from Uzbekistan, 16 from France, 7 from China (including Hong Kong), and 5 experts from Russia. The university also welcomed 3 specialists from the United States, 3 scholars from Germany, and 2 representatives from Estonia. In addition, representatives from South Korea, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Italy, Türkiye, Poland, and Nigeria visited the university.

These figures clearly demonstrate the university’s systematic efforts to develop international cooperation and its strategic commitment to global integration in education and research.

Media Center of Abai University