Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA410
2009-03-05 08:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE EAGER TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL SCUL SOCI TBIO KNNP KPAO KZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0450
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK
RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #0410/01 0640851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050851Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4825
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1303
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0686
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1389
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0137
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2190
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2518
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0864
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1287
RUEWMFB/DTRA CT WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
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


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