News
of the Academy

From June 23 to July 4 the Academy hosted a training program for members of the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve.

The goal of the program was to develop professional competencies and practical skills necessary for effective work in the public administration system.

Participants studied international HR standards (such as ST RK ISO 30400-2018), received practical recommendations on preparation for certification, learned methods of scenario planning and foresight, as well as developed leadership skills based on proactivity and team culture.

The training helped participants deepen their professional knowledge, gain valuable insights from leaders, and discuss real-world management cases.

Applications will be accepted from July 3 to July 17, 2025.

You can send your documents with the subject line “Faculty Competition” to the email address hr@apa.kz, or delivered in person (from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM) to the following address:010000, Astana, Abay Avenue, 33a, Office 705.

Full information about the competition can be found in the section “Vacancies” on our website or by phone: 8 (7172) 75-32-95, 8-775-952-50-84.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Academy of Public Administration and the National Academy of Governance under the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of Mongolia. The document is aimed at implementing joint research and educational projects, as well as providing mutual support in the training of professionals.

The bilateral agreement was signed during the “Mongolia’s Civil Service and International Cooperation: Experience” forum held in Ulaanbaatar. The forum was dedicated to Mongolia’s Civil Service Day and the 30th anniversary of the Civil Service Council of Mongolia

In his speech at the event, Rector of the Academy Azamat Zholmanov highlighted the high level of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, noting that the two countries share common goals and priorities in the field of public administration.

On June 27, the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan held a solemn graduation ceremony. In the 2024–2025 academic year, 109 master’s students and 4 doctoral students successfully completed their studies at the Academy.

The Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Darkhan Zhazykbay, delivered a welcome speech at the ceremony, wishing graduates success on their professional path. He highlighted the ongoing reforms in the civil service system as part of the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In particular, he emphasized that graduates of the Academy of Public Administration, who graduated with honors, have the right to apply for managerial positions in the regions without competition.

The Rector of the Academy, Azamat Zholmanov, also congratulated the graduates and wished them new achievements.

Among the honorary guests of the ceremony were Alibek Bakayev, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Askhan Darbayev, Vice Minister of National Economy.

Graduate Aisana Rakhimova, who completed her master’s degree in “Public Policy,” plans to continue her service in the public administration system in her home region.

“Today is a special and joyful day for us. I sincerely thank the leadership and faculty of the Academy for the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. Now I return to the Pavlodar region to continue working in public service,” shared Aisana Rakhimova.

Please note: Applications for the Academy’s master’s and doctoral programs for the 2025–2026 academic year closed on June 25. A total of 132 government grants have been allocated for the new academic year — 120 for master’s programs and 12 for doctoral programs.

On June 20, 2025, under the auspices of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, the international GovHR Forum was held, dedicated to key issues of human resource management in the civil service system.  The event was held at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and became a unique platform for sharing best practices and developing joint solutions for the transformation of public administration in the era of global challenges.

In order to share experience, the Forum brought together representatives from the UN and heads of authorized agencies from partner countries: Acting Director General of the Civil Service and Government Development Bureauin the State of Qatar – Saif bin Ali Al Kaabi, Chairwoman of the Civil Service Council of Mongolia – Tsedvsuren Lkhagva, Director General of the Human Resource Management Office of Sierra Leone – Ansu Tucker, Director of the Civil Service Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan – Ilyos Idriszoda, as well as leading specialists in human resource management from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, UAE, Russia, Rwanda, Singapore, the USA, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and South Korea.

Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, Darkhan Zhazykbay, opened the forum by reading a congratulatory message from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The message emphasized that the modernization of the civil service system has always been based on the fundamental principle: “The state exists for the people, not the people for the state.”

Darkhan Zhazykbay stressed that the main theme of the forum was the development of an effective, human-centered human resource management system in the public sector. The discussions focused on four key areas: building a strategic HR system, digitalization and AI integration into HR policies, support for young professionals, and the transformation of leadership roles in government bodies.

During the forum, Kazakhstan was particularly interested in the successful practices of partners, such as Qatar’s systems Kawader – a recruitment platform for the public and private sectors, and Ada’a  – a performance management system enabling goal setting, monitoring, and evaluation of SMART goals for over 85,000 civil servants. In Mongolia, appointment and personnel registry processes are automated through a specialized portal, and a pilot AI module has been launched to analyze resumes and conduct preliminary candidate screening.

Special attention at the forum was given to international cooperation with key global organizations. In a video address to forum participants, Chair of the UN International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and UN Assistant Secretary-General Larbi Djacta noted that Kazakhstan demonstrates a progressive approach to HR policy and could become a model for other countries.

Following the discussions, panels, and foresight sessions, the GovHR resolution was adopted, containing key recommendations and benchmarks for the development of civil service and human resource management systems. It specifically recommends phased integration of AI, Big Data, cloud solutions, and blockchain technologies to increase public administration efficiency and improve citizen services. The importance of unified data management, reducing bureaucratic barriers, enhancing cybersecurity, and actively applying People Analytics in HR decision-making was highlighted.

Additionally, foresight session participants proposed the development of new HR models, including a “2030 Competency Map,” “Data Policy,” and “HR Archetypes 2035.” The need to transition to individualized, practice-oriented training with an emphasis on digital skills was also noted.

According to participants, the forum became not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also an important step toward building a professional community in civil service capable of implementing cutting-edge solutions that meet contemporary challenges.

On June 9, 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Memorandum is aimed at developing cooperation in the following areas: diplomatic education and advanced training of foreign policy personnel, strengthening academic ties between the two institutions, implementation of joint educational and scientific projects, exchange of teachers and experts, holding lectures, trainings and scientific conferences.

The parties expressed interest in long-term collaboration and the development of international academic dialogue.

Documents will be accepted from June 1 to June 30 of this year on the website pkrezerv.gov.kz.

The Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve is a project aimed at creating a transparent and effective social elevator for young people.

Requirements:

• Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan aged no older than 35;
• Higher education;
• Proficiency in the state language at level B1 or higher;
• At least 5 years of work experience.

The selection will be conducted in the following areas:

• Social policy and civil society;
• Infrastructure development, industry, and trade policy;
• Economic and financial policy;
• Digitalization;
• Agro-industrial complex and environmental protection;
• Foreign policy and investments.

As a result, 50 individuals will be enrolled in the Reserve. Each sectoral direction will have a designated quota for enrollment.

GovHR Forum is a premier platform for the exchange of best practices, exploration of cutting-edge technologies, and development of forward-looking approaches to human resource management in the public sector.

Bringing together public sector leaders, IT professionals, HR practitioners, and digital transformation experts, the Forum creates a space for meaningful dialogue on how emerging technologies and innovative services are reshaping government HR processes.

Date and time: 06/20/2025 at 9:00

Venue: Astana, Abay Ave. 33A, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Registration link https://govhrforum.apa.kz/en/registration

To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, who is on a state visit in Kazakhstan, delivered a guest lecture at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan.

Mr. To Lam spoke to civil servants about the significance of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Viet Nam. He also highlighted Viet Nam’s transport and logistics potential, external trade turnover, socio-economic development, and achievements in education and science.

Concluding his speech, the General Secretary expressed confidence that bilateral relations would further expand, and that Kazakhstan’s Academy of Public Administration would establish collaborative partnerships with leading Vietnamese universities. Notably, next month marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The guest lecture was attended by an official Vietnamese delegation, including ministers and senior officials of Viet Nam, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev, representatives of mass media, as well as master’s and doctoral students and staff of the Academy.

The scientific journal “Public Administration and Civil Service” of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan has taken another important step in expanding its international audience by being included in the international scientific database Scilit (Switzerland).

Scilit, supported by the Swiss publishing house MDPI AG, is a vast repository containing over 175 million scientific publications, offering researchers free access to verified data.

You can find the journal’s publications here: https://www.scilit.com/sources/31120

Inclusion in Scilit opens new opportunities to boost the journal’s citation rate and visibility within the global academic community.

Link to the journal “Public Administration and Civil Service”: https://journal.apa.kz/index.php/path/index

Dear applicants!

We are pleased to announce that the application period for master’s and doctoral degree programs at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan starts on April 1 and continues until June 25, 2025.

Applications should be submitted online through the Academy’s information system at admission.apa.kz.

Master’s degree programs:

• MPA – Public Administration
• MPP – Public Policy
• MHRM – Human Resource Management
• MRD – Regional Development
• ME – Economics
• MDPA – Digital Public Administration
• MIR – International Relations
• EMPA – Public Administration (modular learning)
• MRDm – Regional Development (modular learning)

Doctoral degree programs:

• DPA – Public Administration
• DIR – International Relations
• DE – Economics

Join our unique educational environment, offering opportunities for your professional and personal growth!

For more details about the programs, admission requirements, and the list of necessary documents, please visit our website at www.apa.kz, or contact us at:
+7 7172 75 33 95, +7 7172 75 31 62, +7 7172 75 34 43.

We wish you success in the admissions process!

From March 28 to 31, 2025, Azamat Zholmanov, Rector of the Academy, along with the delegation from the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs, participated in the annual conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) in Washington, D.C.

This year’s conference was centered around the theme «Not Robots Yet: Keeping Public Servants in Public Service.» The event addressed the methods, opportunities, and risks associated with the effective utilization of modern digital tools in the public service.

During a panel session organized by the Astana Civil Service Hub, the rector shared insights on how digital innovations can boost the motivation of public servants. He also highlighted the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Laboratory aimed at developing and testing AI models to streamline HR processes, as well as the launch of a Master’s program in “Digital Public Administration.”

In addition, the rector emphasized the important role of the “eQyzmet” system and the Unified Personnel System in ensuring public service accessibility and transparency.

By order of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Azamat Zholmanov was appointed as the Rector of the Academy of Public Administration on February 27, 2025.

Azamat Zholmanov has over 10 years of experience in public administration. He began his career as an expert at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the years, he has held various positions at the Academy’s Scientific Research Institute, including Researcher, Sector Head, Deputy Director, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Professional Development of Civil Servants. He also served as Director of the Karaganda Regional Branch of the Academy and later as Director of the Department of Strategic Development and International Programs at the Agency for Civil Service Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Prior to his appointment as Rector, Azamat Zholmanov held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs.

Today in the Agency for Civil Service Affairs with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and Chairman of the ACSA Darhan Zhazykbay held the opening of advanced training program for akims of districts, cities of district significance, villages, settlements, rural districts took place.

President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev in his Address to the people of Kazakhstan noted that in accordance with the wishes of citizens on the basis of the launched system of direct elections of akims elected about 90 percent of all rural akims, 60% of them have not previously worked in the civil service. In this regard, at the beginning of this year at the enlarged meeting the Government and the Agency were instructed to conduct training for akims to improve their qualifications. The program consists of 240 academic hours of training in offline and online formats, 100 hours of which will be conducted by the Academy of Political Management of the AMANAT Party. The course presents 17 modules covering important topics to enhance professional and managerial competencies.

“Within the framework of the assignment given by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the extended session of the Government, the Academy of Public Administration has developed a program of professional development of akims of cities, villages, settlements and rural districts of district significance. The program is aimed at developing basic competencies necessary for effective implementation of local self-government tasks, improving the quality of life of rural population, infrastructure development”, – said the Rector of the Academy of Public Administration Yerlan Abil.

The program also covers the topics of communal property management, environmental issues, entrepreneurship development and investment attraction. A special place in the training process is occupied by mastering digital technologies in public administration, including electronic services and management decision-making tools. At the end of the training the participants will have to defend the programs of economic development of the regions. The training will be held from February 17 to May 13 in the branches of the Academy of Public Administration.

From January 21 to 23, 2024, the Vice-Rector of the Academy, Ulan Bekish, attended the kickoff meeting of the Erasmus+ project titled “Bridging Environmental Concerns, Societal Needs, and Good Governance in Central Asian Education and Employment Sectors,” held in Genoa, Italy.

The meeting brought together representatives from 15 higher education institutions across Europe and Central Asia. During the event, consortium members presented their universities’ key activities and shared insights on ongoing projects.

The agenda included discussions on the project’s key stages, implementation plans, and expected outcomes. Additionally, training sessions were organized for participants, focusing on project management, budgeting, and reporting responsibilities, with roles assigned to each party.

This project aims to develop specialists in Central Asian higher education institutions to address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. The initiative prioritizes the development and implementation of educational programs based on ESG principles; establishment of research and innovation centers; organization of internship programs; strengthening environmental protection curricula; enhancing collaboration between universities, businesses, civil service and society.

This initiative will enhance the capacity of universities in the region to conduct research and offer programs in environmental protection, social responsibility, and governance. Moreover, it will align academic outputs with labor market demands, contributing to the sustainable development of the region.