Formation and Development of Postgraduate Education: A Historical Overview
The history of the Master’s and PhD Department at the Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) is intrinsically linked to the large-scale modernization of domestic medical education and science, as well as Kazakhstan’s transition to a three-tier model of education. The department officially dates the beginning of its activities in training the new generation of scientific cadres back to the autumn of 2009.
A crucial milestone of the early stage was the year 2010, when the university admitted its first cohort of PhD students in the specialty “Public Health”, laying the foundation for the formation of the university’s modern research elite.
The rapid expansion of postgraduate programs called for the creation of a unified administrative center. The institutional framework for this structure was established by the decision of the KazNMU Academic Council on October 30, 2012 (Protocol No. 3). The following day, on October 31, 2012, the historic Decree No. 2120/1l was issued, formally establishing the Dean’s Office of Postgraduate Education.
At the origin of this new structure stood Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Farida Nusupzhanovna Nurmanbetova, who at the time held the position of Vice-Rector for Continuous Education and Clinical Issues and directly supervised the Postgraduate Department for Master’s and PhD Studies. Under her leadership, the initial methodological, academic, and organizational standards of modern postgraduate education at the university were successfully established.
Stages of Administrative Transformation:
-2015 — Attaining Autonomy: During a university-wide structural reorganization, the subdivision emerged as an independent Master’s and PhD Department. It was headed by Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Asyl Kenesovna Boshkayeva. Under her leadership, the department focused on integrating the educational process with advanced pharmaceutical and medical research.
– 2018 — Strengthening Academic Standards:
The department’s leadership was assumed by Candidate of Medical Sciences Nellya Nikolaevna Ivanchenko. This period was marked by enhanced quality control of dissertations, the expansion of international research collaborations, and an increase in the publication output of students.
- From April 1, 2026 — Modern Stage: The Master’s and PhD Department is
headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Saule Askerovna Yessenkulova. At this current stage, the department’s activities are supervised by the First Vice-Rector of KazNMU, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dilyara Radikovna Kaidarova. This underscores the strategic importance of postgraduate education for the university. The department now faces extensive tasks directed at the further digitalization of educational processes, the development of interdisciplinary programs, and the reinforcement of KazNMU’s status as a leading research medical university in Central Asia.
Today, the department serves as the university’s primary center for training scientific personnel. Its graduates—hundreds of master’s and doctoral students—actively advance medical science and practical healthcare in Kazakhstan.