KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE EAGER TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000410 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARMENT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ISN, ECA DTRA CT FOR BYRD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL SOCI TBIO KNNP KPAO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE EAGER TO ENHANCE COOPERATION ASTANA 00000410 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: During his March 4 introductory call on Minister of Education and Science Zhanseit Tuymebayev, the Ambassador raised U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation in the field of education, including on the Bolashak program and registration/accreditation for U.S. schools operating in Kazakhstan. Minister Tuymebayev briefed the Ambassador on Kazakhstan's educational achievements and plans for a world-class "New University" to be located in Astana. Turning to science issues, the Ambassador raised concerns about the proposed location of the Central Reference Laboratory and problems caused by new regulations that prohibit foreigners from travelling to the Research Institute for Biosafety Problems in Otar without a government waiver. Minister Tuymebayev thanked the Ambassador for U.S. support for Kazakhstan's biosafety facilities, promised to cooperate to resolve outstanding issues, and indicated his Ministry's willingness to move forward on a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement. END SUMMARY. BOLASHAK ¶3. (SBU) Minister Tuymebayev began his nearly 15-minute, enthusiastic opening monologue by noting that the United States and Kazakhstan have had good cooperation in the areas of education and science. He said that about 800 Bolashak scholarship recipients study in the United States each year, and noted that the overall number of Kazakhstani students studying in the United States is increasing every year. The Ambassador praised President Nazarbayev's commitment to education and noted that the government's focus on this issue is making a real difference in Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan's place in the world. He said he recently hosted the new Bolashak leadership for lunch at his residence, and was ready to cooperate "100 percent and more" with these officials. ¶4. (SBU) Tuymebayev emphasized that Kazakhstan wants to send its students to the highest-rated U.S. universities, and said Bolashak would be cutting the number of international partners with whom it works from approximately 630 to around 150 to 200. He said his Ministry already has a relationship with some foreign schools and invites them to Kazakhstan annually. He explained that last year his Ministry received 20 education representatives from the United Kingdom, 30 from Germany, and 15 from Canada, but only two or three from the United States. He said he would like to have 20 to 30 representatives visit from the United States each year, and underscored that he would bring them together with Kazakhstani rectors to encourage collaboration. (NOTE: The Ministry of Education and Science periodically issues direct invitations to conferences and meetings. The Embassy has neither been consulted about invitees nor asked to pass along invitations. END NOTE.) UPDATE ON ASTANA'S "NEW UNIVERSITY" ¶5. (SBU) The Minister briefed the Ambassador on Astana's "New University" -- which is President Nazarbayev's initiative to create a world-class university focused on science, technology, and engineering that will be at the "same level of U.S. universities in Dubai and Qatar." He noted that a delegation had recently traveled to the United States to meet with top universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, and said that a number, including universities in "New Jersey, Pittsburg, and Rochester" had indicated their willingness to cooperate. (NOTE: The Ministry reportedly signed technical exchange agreements with the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh, and University of Rochester last year. END NOTE.) The Minister commented that he would like a U.S. university to oversee one of the four planned institutes of the New University in order to ensure its proper development. He said that U.S. professors would be invited to teach various courses and that instruction would be in English. The Minister noted that his staff had traveled to Singapore and the United Kingdom to consult with top universities in those countries ASTANA 00000410 002.2 OF 003 as well. ¶6. (SBU) After complimenting an obviously pleased Tuymebayev on his past work as a "fellow diplomat" (NOTE: Tuymebayev formerly served as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Moscow. END NOTE),the Ambassador asked how construction of the New University is progressing during the financial crisis. The Minister replied that he had discussed the issue earlier that morning with Prime Minister Masimov, who had confirmed that construction and financing would continue. Tuymebayev said the New University plans to open a "preparatory" program in fall 2009 and would open additional programs in 2010. KAZAKHSTAN'S EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS ¶7. (SBU) Minister Tuymebayev reviewed other Kazakhstani achievements in the field of education, including the passage of a new law on education that meets international standards by establishing a credit system. He noted that 18 universities have signed onto the Bologna process and that a number are seeking international accreditation. The Minister said that Kazakhstan is currently working with a U.S. accreditation organization in the area of technology and would be interested in having more U.S. accreditation organizations come to Kazakhstan. He proudly noted that Kazakhstan was ranked first in a recent UNESCO "Education for All" report, had taken seventh place in a recent TIMS (Teaching Integrated Math and Science) contest, has over 20 graduates currently working in the United States in the field of science, and is ready to compete in other international contests. Minister Tuymebayev also commended U.S. oil companies that have major investments in Kazakhstan for sponsoring education training for their "young staffs." ¶8. (SBU) Turning to the topic of English, the Minister noted that he is personally responsible for implementing the advanced study of English in Kazakhstan's colleges and universities. "Once young people have a good command of English", he stated, "A number of issues will be addressed." He added eagerly that English opens more doors than other regional languages, such as Russian. ACCREDITATION OF U.S. SCHOOLS IN KAZAKHSTAN ¶9. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that there are a number of international schools in Kazakhstan, and asked for advice in obtaining Kazakhstani registration and accreditation for them. The Minister said he supported this goal. He explained that there is a "clear procedure, a package of documents," and said that interested schools could meet with Serik Irsaliyev, Director of the Ministry's Strategic Development Department, to discuss further. He noted the success of the recently-opened, British-run Haileybury School in Almaty, and said he would welcome new projects, mentioning that there is a clear demand for such schools among expats and locals. To illustrate, he claimed that even at $20,000 per year, Haileybury's slots were completely filled in no time. BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION ISSUES ¶10. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the proposed location of the Central Reference Laboratory the United States is funding to consolidate dangerous pathogens and facilitate their scientific study. He said he was aware that some Kazakhstani officials had expressed concern regarding the proposed central Almaty location and encouraged all sides to come together to make a final decision. He suggested that the government might consider locating the laboratory in Astana, given available space and the government's desire to turn Astana into a center of higher education. He noted that he was not making a new proposal, but wanted to put all ideas on the table so that a final decision can be made and the project can move forward. ¶11. (SBU) The Ambassador also raised concerns about new regulations prohibiting foreigners from visiting Otar, a main site for ongoing ASTANA 00000410 003.2 OF 003 U.S.-funded biological threat reduction work, without a government waiver. He pointed out that the requirement to obtain a waiver 30 days in advance essentially made Otar a closed area, similar to the closed cities such as Stepnogorsk during the Soviet era. Such an approach prevents international scientists from assisting quickly with the outbreak of disease and makes it difficult for engineers expeditiously to resolve issues related to completing the construction of two new biosafety laboratories. The Ambassador asked whether it might be possible to obtain a blanket waiver for a number of foreigners working on the Otar project. Tuymebayev replied that he appreciates U.S. support on the important Otar project. He said he would ask his government colleagues to resolve all outstanding issues and would send letters to other agencies, if necessary. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT ¶12. (SBU) The Minister said he understood that the proposed U.S.-Kazakhstan Science and Technology (S&T) agreement was with the U.S. side for comment and emphasized that he would like to continue cooperation on this issue. The Ambassador agreed, suggesting that we should resume working on the S&T agreement once Parliament ratifies the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) agreement, which is expected to happen soon. HOAGLAND