The effects of the introduction of an elite globalised university on other institutions: the case of Kazakhstan

In 2010, Kazakhstan’s government established Nazarbayev University, intended to become a world-class research university. This university was also tasked by the government with enhancing the overall quality of the higher education (HE) system by advancing national research capacity for innovative development as well as serving as a model for benchmarking other higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. Through a qualitative case study with in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, and with application of theories on differentiation/stratification, a glonacal agency heuristic and the analysis of the relationship between elite and mass institutions, this thesis is aimed at understanding the effects of the introduction of Nazarbayev University on the policies and practices of internationalisation and research in three regional state universities in Kazakhstan. This study revealed that there is general agreement expressed by all parties involved, i.e. regional universities, the Ministry of Education and Science and Nazarbayev University, that the idea of having a global aspiring university like Nazarbayev University is encouraging for the system and other HEIs. However, there is also strong doubt and skepticism among the regional universities towards the idea of a single university’s effect on the entire system due to Kazakhstan’s current HE development state where the rest of the system is under-funded. Besides, the study shows that there is little established cooperation between Nazarbayev University and other institutions and limited vision and understanding between all parties of how the process of translating Nazarbayev University’s experience should work. Moreover, the idea of developing a world-class research university in the context of Kazakhstan has been put in doubt due to the limited research background and potential of the national HE system. This study therefore suggests that in the question of excellence versus equity, at this stage of HE development, Kazakhstan should focus on a comprehensive systemic approach rather than on a single institution