One of the ways of advancing quality in higher education is the ranking of higher education institutions (HEIs). In his state-of-the-nation Address the President tasked RK higher education establishments to join the ranks of the world’s best universities. National ratings are also relevant as they show school leavers and their parents, employers and state bodies, international and public organizations the quality of Kazakhstan HEIs and promote their emulation. The results of the ranking are posted on the web-site of the Independent Kazakhstan Quality Assurance Agency in Education (IQAA) www.iqaa.kz. In the article we set out the criteria by which the ranking of Kazakhstan’s best universities in 2010 was conducted.

Publishing the results of ranking of HEIs in the mass media is important way to let the populace know of the quality of education of HEIs. It is vital to use trusted and effective methodologies for determining credible and scientifically justified ranking.

IQAA’s activities are in line with the Berlin Principles, ESG standards in Higher Education advocating independent evaluation of HEIs by non-governmental organizations. The agency is in social partnership with HEIs, Association of HEIs of Kazakhstan, associations of employers, international organizations and the consumers of educational services.

The agency is aimed at perfecting mechanisms and instruments to improve the quality of higher education and assure systematic collection and processing of objective data on HEIs’ activities. One IQAA aims is enhancement of competitive ability of Kazakhstan HEIs on national and international levels by the means of their ranking, conducting accreditation, offering consultations to HEIs, etc.

IQAA’s methodology is developed with account of the latest achievements in the sphere of quality assurance and rankings. In conducting the ranking IQAA used quantitative-qualitative criteria characterizing the quality of education of HEIs and sociological studies of various groups of employers.

Surveys were conducted by different ways: by sending surveys by mail, by personally visiting employers, by phone and by e-mail. More than 3,500 surveys were collected from different groups of employers.

Hopefully the general ranking of Kazakhstan’s best HEIs will help school leavers and their parents opt for the right university!

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best higher educational institutions

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best universities

1.Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

2.L.Gumilev Eurasian National University

3.Buketov Karaganda State University

4.Auezov South-Kazakhstan State University

5.Yasawi International Kazakh-Turkish University

6.Amanzholov East-Kazakhstan State University

7.Ualihanov Kokshetau State University, Toraigyrov Pavlodar State University, Kozybayev North-Kazakhstan State University

10.Shakarim Semipalatinsk State University

11.Utemisov West-Kazakhstan State University

12.Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University, Dulati Taraz State University, Baitursynov Kostanai State University

15.Zhansugurov Zhetisu State University

16.Zhubanov Aktyube State University, Yesenov Aktau State University

18.Dosmuhamedov Atyrau State University

19.East-Kazakhstan Regional University

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best technical higher educational institutions

1.Kazakhstan-British Technical University

2. Satpayev Kazakh National Technical University

3.Kazakh National Agricultural University

4.Seifullin Kazakh Agro-technical University, Karaganda State Technical University

6.Alma-Ata Energy and Communications institute

7.Serikbayev East-Kazakhstan State Technical University

8.Alma-Ata Technology University

9.Tynyshpayev Kazakh Transport and Communications Academy

10.Zhangir Khan West-Kazakhstan Agro-technical University

11.KazGASA

12.Civil Aviation Academy

13.Rudnyi Industrial Institute, Atyrau Oil and Gas Institute

14.Karaganda State Industrial University

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best humanitarian-economic HEIs

1.State management academy with RK President

2.KIMEP

3.Kazakh humanitarian-juridical university, Karaganda economy eniversity, Ryskulov Kazakh economy university

6.Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International relations and world languages

7.University of International Business

8.Kazakhstan-American University

9.International Business Academy, “Turan” university

11.“Bolashak” Karaganda university

12.Kazakhstan sport and tourism academy

13.Almaty academy of economics and statistics

14.Kazakhstan-American Free University

15.“Kainar” University

16.Eurasian market institute

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s medical HEIs

1.Karaganda State medical university

2.Asfendiarov Kazakh National medical university

3.Medical university Astana

4.State medical university of Semei

5.Ospanov West-Kazakhstan state medical academy

6.South-Kazakhstan state pharmaceutical academy

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best pedagogical HEIs

1.Abai Kazakh national pedagogical university

2.Kazakh state women’s pedagogical institute

3.Kostanai state pedagogical institute

4.Pavlodar state pedagogical institute

5.Taraz state pedagogical institute

6.Aktobe state pedagogical institute, Semipalatinsk state pedagogical institute

7.Altynsarin Arkalyk state pedagogical institute

General ranking of Kazakhstan’s best arts HEIs

1.Kurmangazy Kazakh national conservatory, Kazakh national arts university

3.Zhurgenov Kazakh national arts university

4.“Symbat” fashion business academy

Prof. Sholpan Kalanova,

Independent Kazakhstan Quality Assurance Agency in Education