08/12/08

Kazakhstan must improve S&T infrastructure

Nursultan Nazarbayev "has done little to improve S&T infrastructure" Copyright: www.kremlin.ru

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Despite advocating the importance of science and technology (S&T) to drive economic growth, Kazakhstan’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has done little to improve S&T infrastructure, says Glenn E. Schweitzer.

He has been hindered by government bureaucracy that does not buy into his vision of putting S&T at the heart of development.

A more favourable policy environment is needed, says Schweitzer, as is a stronger human resource base. But the education system inherited from the USSR has deteriorated and Kazak youth rarely pursue science careers at home.

Nazarbayev is planning to build a new technological university in Astana to improve the situation. But, says Schweitzer, the US$100 million allocated to the project is woefully inadequate.

He suggests that an endowment of US$1 billion to support faculty salaries and tuition-free engineering students as well as a policy of zero-corruption would make more of a difference.

So would putting a few well-trained young S&T advocates in government and leadership positions in universities and research institutes.

Link to full article in Science