The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Yeraly Tugzhanov, took part in the plenary session of the Human Capital as a Key Resource of Development of New Kazakhstan Forum of Science and Higher Education. In his speech he noted that higher education and science is the engine of technological, industrial and economic development of the country. Deputy Prime Minister dwelled on the tasks facing the new Ministry of Science and Higher Education today.

"According to the instructions of the Head of State, the Ministry of Education and Science is divided into two departments. The main objective of this measure is to strengthen coordination of scientific activity and to improve the work of science and higher education organizations, as well as to coordinate the formation and implementation of all scientific and technical programs and research in conjunction with the strategic development programs of industries and the needs of the economy," Yeraly Tugzhanov said.

He also voiced that the Head of State instructed to consider the issue of gradual transfer of scientific institutions and higher educational institutions of sectoral state bodies under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. This is necessary for the formation of a unified state policy in science.

Deputy Prime Minister Yeraly Tugzhanov gave a number of instructions to sectoral state bodies, research institutes and higher education institutions. In particular, to increase the share of representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in the Board of Directors of branch universities and research institutes, to provide compulsory coordination of candidacy of managers of universities and research institutes with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, to provide uniform access to laboratory and scientific base of research institutes and universities for scientists of the country, and also compulsory audit of scientific organizations for efficiency of implemented projects.

"The key principle of science development will be to increase its contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. Scientific developments in technical areas should be involved in the economic turnover and become a key factor in increasing the added value. For full-fledged commercialization of scientific developments we need infrastructure, not only for scientific research, but also it is necessary to develop infrastructure for developmental and technological work, as well as innovative ecosystem as a whole. These are technological incubators, technology parks, gas pedals, venture capital funds," Deputy Prime Minister noted in his speech.

Yeraly Tugzhanov emphasized that the personnel training system should transfer to the model of outstripping staffing.

"The transition to the model of advanced training radically changes the criteria and requirements for the development of educational programs. This work formed the basis of the Mamandygym-bolashagym program to increase the population's income. This solution must be scaled to all regions and industries. We support this, and we think it expedient to provide this measure in the Conception of education development till 2026," Yeraly Tugzhanov said.

Also Deputy Prime Minister stressed that according to international experts' estimates the development of modern industry of the 4th level depends on quality human capital by 68 percent, infrastructure by 16 percent and only 12 percent - on raw materials. That's why it is necessary to bring up competitive specialists in the age of advanced information technologies.

Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek told about key priorities and tasks of development of national science and higher education.

"We will offer the system solutions. The first is to differentiate grants. We increase the number of grants. Compared with last year, the number of grants has increased by 19%, and next year it will also be increased. This year there are 88,000 grants," Sayasat Nurbek said.

According to him, domestic science should focus on solving everyday sectoral, regional problematic issues.

"The Head of State has instructed us to raise the status of the National Academy of Sciences. Currently, a special working group has been created under the Government. Today at the forum we discussed the functioning of science and applied science in the university. Our goal is to transfer universities to the research model," Sayasat Nurbek said.