Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova took part in the III International Forum "Entrepreneurial Education for an Innovative Economy," which was held at the Astana International Financial Center.

On the eve of the event, famous experts and trainers held workshops and trainings for young people and residents of Nur-Sultan. The workshops covered such trend themes as, “Design thinking,” “Entrepreneurship after university – 10 mistakes,” “Basics of entrepreneurship: From zero to one” and many others.

The forum was also attended by the Chair of the Board of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools Svetlana Ispusinova, the founder and Chair of Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities, founder of the University Industry Innovation Network Dr. Thorsten Kliewe, President of IGlobal University David Sohn, international and national experts, university professors and others.

Opening the forum, Abdykalikova noted that the Third Modernization is being implemented in Kazakhstan today. Its goal is the transition from commodity dependence to an innovative economy. As the First President, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev outlined, “all efforts are aimed at preparing the country for a future breakthrough and are aimed at creating a strong Kazakhstan.”

“In the context of the global transition to the digital era, global entrepreneurial education will be transformed in accordance with the main trend – the implementation of individualization and specialization of programs, widespread introduction of innovations and technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution into the educational process,” said Abdykalikova.

The country has created the necessary conditions for entrepreneurship, business incubators are developing and there are opportunities for the growth of high-quality start-ups in universities. So, for example, the National Agency for Technological Development implements a program to support academic business incubators. Today, about 20 of these structures operate (university, commercial sites, etc.).

The forum comprehensively discussed the issues of improving entrepreneurial education for an innovative economy, state partnership, education, business and civil society, the development of management teams in educational institutions, etc.