KKSU welcoming Tempus GEM delegation

Kyzylorda Korkyt-Ata State University (KKSU) is an important partner in the EU Tempus project "Geoinformatics: Managing Energy, Resources, Environment - GEM", and currently is in the process of launching Geoinformatics and Cartography courses across multiple institutes and departments. To support and consult in this process, the 'GEM' project coordinator Prof Josef Strobl from the University of Salzburg together with highly qualified and experienced senior teacher Aizhan Assylbekova from the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi were visiting KKSU on February 19/20.

After a kind welcome by  university vice-rector for academic affairs, first vice-rector Dr. Abaibek T. Zhunissov, this visit introduced several teachers from KKSU to the leaders in this project, and provided opportunities for discussing concepts and objectives. For the visitors, this was a chance to familiarize themselves with the excellent facilities and highly motivated faculty at KKSU, and for offering advice on next steps in the implementation of project objectives.

International Cooperation Department
Director Timur Kenshinbay (right) and
teacher Kuanysh Daurenbekov

The delegation was welcomed at the Polytechnic Institute Department of Water and Land Management, talked to chairperson Prof.Dr. Serikbay I. Koshkarov as well as teachers and other participants of the project. After visiting a computer classroom to be equipped during the project, course syllabi offered by  Tempus GEM were discussed with Laura Abzhamiyeva and Elmira Yeleuova.

This was followed by a visit to the Institute of Natural Sciences and Agrarian Technologies Department of Geography and Biology. Chairperson Prof. Dr. Saltanat Ibadullayeva offered a warm welcome on behalf of faculty members, followed by an inspection of a future Tempus computer classroom and deliberations on a broad range of topics related to teaching and learning in Geoinformatics, as well as the potential for cooperating with application domains for this important methodology facilitated by new technologies like GNSS, GIS and remote sensing.

Extensive time was dedicated to discussing designs and outlines for the courses 'Introduction to Geoinformatics' and 'Online Cartography', which will be offered to students from different programs. These courses will be a first step towards offering a complete study program in Geoinformatics, which will be of high importance in a region where geospatial experts are urgently needed in the resources industries, agriculture, planning and public administration.

Prof Strobl discussing curriculum design and management
of educational programs with KKSU faculty