Goals and objectives Goal: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Bolashak program. Main objectives: 1. Analytical review of the scholarship’s legal base 2. Identification of key problems and trends of the program 3. Making practical recommendations for improving the program Methodology • Sociological method – Survey of 1338 alumni, who studied in the period between 2005 and 2013 and 46 experts through the online service (Survey Monkey). • Chronological method • Comparative data analysis • Content analysis of the mass media Award dynamics More than 9500 scholarships have been awarded in 20 years (according to the data of the“Center for International programs» JSC as of 01.08.2013) 2,000 1,800 1,796 1661 1,600 1,400 1311 1,200 1102 1013 1,000 800 778 600 520 400 267 200 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Distribution of stipends by study programs 47% 50% 45% 40% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 9.60% 10% 5% 0.40% 1% 2% 0% Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Postgraduate training Clinical Residency PhD Scientific Distribution by countries Великобритания United Kingdom США USA 12% Россия Russia 1% 1% 2% 2% Malaysia Малайзия 3% 3% 46% Canada Канада Китай China 11% Германия Germany Франция France 19% Чехия Czech Republic Other countries Прочие Respondents’ Profile Alumni 400 Experts младше Less than21 370 года 350 300 21–24 года 21-24 300 29–32 года 29-32 200 33–36 лет 33-35 150 100 50 4,3% 4,3% 36and лет и 36 старше older 132 129 129 96 72 42 28 39 0 Male мужской Female женский образовательные Education учреждения organizations 8,6% 25–28 года 25-28 250 государственные Government органы organizations 17% 21,7% 43,5% исследовательские и Research centers аналитические центры Commercial коммерческие organizations предприятия неправительственны NGOs е организации международные International организации organizations Distribution by gender 4209; 49,9% 4239; 50,1% Male Female Parents’ social status Military No parents 1% 2% Retired 14% Private organizations 38% Unemployed 8% Public servants and government organizations 35% 91% of the alumni believe that the Bolashak scholarship is an instrument of social mobility, especially for the young people from poor families and villages. Academic progress of the alumni 100% Отлично Very good 90% Хорошо Good 80% Удовлетворительно Satisfactory 70% Другое Other 60% 11% 12% 15% 58% 65% 50% 88% 40% 7% 30% 25% 12,5% 20% 10% 30% 20% 0% Бакалавр Магистратура Bachelor’s Master’s PhD PhD 56% Отлично Very good Хорошо Good Удовлетворительно Satisfactory Alumni employment Государственный Government сектор sector 4% 2,5% 20% 5,5% 55% Национальные National and компании и компании government сcompanies государственным участием 21% Частные компании Private companies 92% ЯEmployed трудоустроен/самозанятый ЯUnemployed безработный Другое Other *Other – maternal leave and those continuing their education Международные International и неправительственные companies and организации NGOs Salaries and the percentage of managers 100 001- 200 000 200 001- 300 000 More than 300 000 Less than 100 000 21-24 21-24 25-28 Specialists 29-32 33-36 Managers 36 and older Сontribution to the Development of Kazakhstan Roughly 75% of the experts believe that the scholarship graduates contribute to the development of Kazakhstan’s economy More than 85% of the graduates believe that they make a significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan. Justifiability and Transparency • 97,6% of the graduates agree that the Bolashak Program corresponds to its main goal, mission, and set objectives; • More than 97% of the graduates answered that their expectations from the study abroad were fulfilled; • 93% of the graduates consider application and participation conditions in the Bolashak program to be fair and transparent; • More than 92% of the graduates consider the government expenses on training scholars in the framework of the Bolashak program justified. Justifiability and Effectiveness • More than 52% of the respondents agree that the effectiveness of JSC “Center for International Programs” increased in the past three years; • Roughly 70% of the respondents support the requirement оf the pledge of property; • Roughly 80% of the respondents agree that the Bolashak graduates must speak the state language; • More than 83% of the graduates believe that they would not have acquired the same knowledge and skills in Kazakhstan’s universities. Experts’ Opinions Majority of the experts positively assess the skills, abilities and capabilities of the graduates Excellent Knowledge of foreign languages Tolerance , ability to work with representatives of different cultures New thinking, progressiveness Ability for self-learning and self-development Awareness of the socio-economic and cultural development of foreign countries Communication skills Ability to work in a team Responsibility and discipline Motivation Persistence, determination, perseverance Analytical skills Leadership qualities Ability to cope with challenging issues and stressful situations Professional skills High efficiency, high performance Good 76,7% 23,3% 57,1% 51,2% 48,8% 45,2% 28,6% 39,0% 39,0% 45,2% 40,5% 35,7% 34,1% 31,7% 26,8% 26,8% 26,2% 26,2% 24,4% 24,4% 50,0% 54,8% 43,9% 41,5% 58,5% 53,7% 54,8% 42,9% 63,4% 51,2% Professional personnel shortage Does the Bolashak program facilitate the decrease in the professional personnel shortage in the high-demanded sectors of the country? Yes Да, To some degree В некоторой степени 37% 7% 56% No Нет Demand and Selection About 58% of the experts believe that the main reason for the lack of demand for the graduates is a lack of practical experience. About 44% of the experts believe that not all of the knowledge gained by the graduates abroad could be applied in practice in Kazakhstan. About 44% of the experts agreed that the selection process of the scholarship candidates should be made more rigorous. About 74% of the experts believe that the Bolashak program serves as a means of social mobility for the young people from middle-income and low-income families. Contribution to the development of organization YesДа NoНет I find ответить it hard Затрудняюсь to answer 70% 5% 25% Satisfaction with the graduates’ work I find it hard to answer 10% No 5% Yes 85% The Effectiveness of the Program Agree I support the requirement for academic progress to be equivalent to not less than 60% Don’t agree 91,3% 4,3% I support the removal of the age limit for applicants 78,3% 17,4% I support the allocation of quotas and lowering passing scores for rural youth, government officials, scientists and teachers 69,6% 30,4% The requirement of the pledge of property is necessary for the retention of valuable professional personnel 69,6% 26,1% I support the decision of the Bolashak program to discontinue funding undergraduate studies. 60,9% 30,4% Bolashak scholars must speak the state language. 56,5% 30,4% The working period of the scholars in Kazakhstan after completion of their studies abroad should be proportionate to their study period. 52,2% 30,4% Strengthening international cooperation in the fields of education, culture and business I find it hard to answer 9,7% Yes 91,30% Conclusions 1. Overall, the results indicate that both the alumni and the experts positively assess the program 2. It should be noted that significant percentage of the alumni believe that the government expenses on the program are justified 3. Results also show that experts positively assess the efficiency of the program 4. Experts and employers positively assess the advantages of the alumni. The majority of the employers would like to have a Bolashak alumni as an employee at their organizations Conclusions There are also unquantifiable, non-monetary and intangible benefits of the Bolashak program: • Social mobility for the young people; • Internationalization of the education system in Kazakhstan; • Knowledge and innovation knowledge transfer; • Professional ethics, corporate culture and “samples” of social modernization; • Patriotism and a return to cultural roots; • Social capital; • Solution to the brain drain and a contribution to brain circulation • Unity of the alumni and consolidation of the young people around the Bolashak alumni