Dynamics of academic circles: a comprehensive study of employment relations with academic staff in universities in Kazakhstan

Abstract

In the years following its independence, Kazakhstan's higher education landscape has experienced profound changes. This period has been marked by a concerted effort to broaden the scope and capacity of the education system. There has been a pronounced emphasis on elevating the sector's role in fostering a 'knowledge society', a concept pivotal to contemporary developmental strategies. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in the influence of both external and international entities in steering academic affairs. A key area of focus has been the enhancement of university teaching quality, coupled with the establishment of robust systems for acknowledging and rewarding excellence in this domain. The central task of the article is to analyze the updated model of employment and management of the teaching staff in the universities of Kazakhstan. The authors propose a comprehensive three-stage analysis: firstly, the peculiarities of the emergence, change, and termination of employment relations between teachers and universities are studied; secondly, approaches to managing teaching staff are examined; thirdly, an analysis of sociological data on employment trends among university teachers is conducted. The study covers legal, administrative, and practical aspects of teaching work, emphasizing the interconnection of these issues in a dynamic educational environment. The results indicate the need for far-sighted leadership in managing the teaching staff, implying the integration of traditional academic values with innovative approaches in organizational culture, incentive systems, and employment practices, and the demand for legislative changes. The insights garnered from this study offer a valuable foundation for formulating policy recommendations tailored to Kazakhstan's higher education framework and similar systems. Such recommendations are poised to significantly elevate the importance and effectiveness of the teaching aspect within the academic sphere.