“Quality Culture in Higher Education”

On 21 November 2025, S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University hosted a seminar titled “Quality Culture in Higher Education”. The seminar was organised by the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan and the National Team of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE), with the support of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MSHE RK) and the European Education and Culture Executive Agency. The seminar was oragnized as a follow-up event of the earlier held TAM seminar on "Mission and values of higher education" with an aim to dissmeinate the information received at the seminar and further develop the topics of the values and culture of quality in higher education.

The seminar aimed to discuss and deepen the understanding of key aspects of the values of higher education, quality culture in higher education, as well as to develop practical recommendations for strengthening and advancing this culture within the national context. The event brought together around 200 participants from nearly 50 higher education institutions across the country, both in person and online. Among the participants were rectors, vice-rectors, deans, heads of departments, programme directors, faculty members, and compliance officers.

The seminar featured presentations on topics such as: the concept, methodology, and theoretical foundations of quality culture; mechanisms for its promotion; quality culture in curriculum development; the organisation of examination sessions; academic integrity in scholarly work; the quality of engineering education; requirements for accreditation bodies; and the profile of the 21st-century student. As a result of the seminar, a series of recommendations was developed on how to build and sustain a quality culture in the face of contemporary challenges confronting the higher education sector.

At the end of the seminar the following conclusions and recommendations were presented:

• The culture of quality is a multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses philosophical, cultural, psychological, pedagogical, and social aspects.
• By the culture of quality in higher education, we understand the set of values, beliefs, norms, and behavioral rules through which a university ensures a high level of alignment of education with the requirements for the educational process and its outcomes for all participants in higher education.
• The culture of quality is part of an organization’s overall culture and forms the foundation for developing a university’s corporate culture.
• The culture of quality is a fundamental element of the internal quality assurance system.
• The culture of quality shapes all indicators of the national quality assurance system for higher education: it encompasses content, personnel (academic staff), the student body (learners), and infrastructure. As such, it influences the effective organization of the educational process based on a well-designed educational environment.
• The development and implementation of educational programmes should be carried out on the basis of a clearly formulated and adopted culture of quality.
• The culture of quality established within a university is reflected in the quality of educational programs, the quality of organizing and conducting interim assessments, evaluation procedures, and adherence to the principles of academic integrity.
• Universities should understand and adhere to the principles governing the functioning of the educational program registry in order to ensure the quality of the programs themselves.
• The culture of quality requires safeguarding the interests of both internal and external stakeholders and upholding the principles of customer orientation.
• Universities must ensure the transformation of various aspects of the educational process with consideration of digital technologies and the use of artificial intelligence.
• Engagement, diligence, and responsibility of all participants in the educational process are important individual elements in building a positive culture of quality, collective trust, and shared university values.
• Universities should carry out educational and awareness-raising activities among students to promote a culture of quality.
• Universities should cultivate an academic environment that is intolerant of violations of academic integrity, implement systemic changes in higher education quality management, and support the quality of research.
• Promoting a culture of quality is possible only when all stakeholders are engaged in improving the quality of institutional processes (internal: administration, academic staff, managers, students, employees; external: competent authorities, accreditation agencies, social partners).
• The National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan and the HERE team should consider organizing seminars on the themes “Digitalization of Academic Processes”, “Risk Management”, and “Digital Pedagogy”.

The seminar recording is available at the link.

All materials can be found on our website.