Transforming
Medical Education
in Central Asia

Teaching Excellence and Digital Competence for Future Health Systems

Venue: Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
Dates: October 28 - 29, 2026
Languages: English/Kazakh/Russian (simultaneous translation)
Format: Two-day conference (1 plenary day + 1 workshop day)
Networking Dinner, Day 1: 19:00
Register now
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About Transforming Medical Education in Central Asia

Medical education globally is undergoing rapid transformation driven by digitalization, changing health system needs, workforce shortages, and rising expectations of teaching excellence and societal impact. In Central Asia, medical schools face additional challenges related to harmonization of standards, faculty development, digital infrastructure, and alignment with national and regional health priorities.

The conference will focus on teaching excellence, faculty development, and the integration of digital competencies into undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, aligned with WHO priorities on digital health and workforce development.
Objectives
  • To explore global and regional trends in teaching excellence in medical education

  • To strengthen faculty development pathways through Advance HE frameworks

  • To foster regional collaboration among Central Asian medical schools

  • To support the integration of digital health and digital competency frameworks into medical curricula

  • To align medical education reform with national and regional health system needs

Program
Day 1 – Conference (Plenary and Strategic)
Welcome - Opening Ceremony
Plenary - Keynote sessions
Theme: Transforming Medical Education in Central Asia: Teaching Excellence and Digital Competence for Future Health Systems
Day 2 – Workshops (Hands-on & Co-Creation)
Interactive Workshops & Co-Creation Sessions
Theme: From Frameworks to Implementation: Advancing Teaching Excellence, Digital Innovation, and Inclusive Medical Education

Participants engage in hands-on workshops focused on translating ideas into practice through faculty development, AI-enhanced education, inclusive teaching, and international collaboration. Each workshop concludes with tangible outputs and action plans to support institutional and regional transformation in medical education.

DAY 1

Conference moderators:

Dr Naanlep Matthew Tanko - Associate Professor of Practice, Ag. Vice Dean of Medical Education, Director, 4-year MD and

6-year Undergraduate Entry Medical Programs


Dr. Nurgul Khamzina - Head of the Office of Medicine, Nazarbayev University; Deputy Chairman of the Board, CF "University Medical Center"



Opening Ceremony & Welcome

Setting the Stage for Medical Education

Excellence in Central Asia

09:00 – 09:30 (10 min per speaker)

Prof. Waqar Ahmad — President, Nazarbayev University

Representative, Ministry of Health, RK

Representative, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, RK

Dr. Alexey Tsoy – Advisor to the President

of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Dr. Kamalzhan Nadyrov TBC

Dr. Syla — WHO Country Representative in Kazakhstan

Opening keynote address

“Curriculum Transformation: How a Research University Drives Change in Medical Education from Within”

09:30 – 10:00

Prof. Ng Huck Hui — Vice-President for Medicine & Dean,

School of Medicine, NU

Keynote 1 — Teaching Excellence

"Beyond Content Delivery: Reimagining Teaching Excellence

in Medical Education for the 21st Century"

10:00 – 10:40

Prof. Eric Driessen— Professor, School of Health Profession Education, Editor in Chief, Perspectives on Medical Education, Maastricht, Netherlands (40 min)

Keynote 2 — Digital Health Workforce

"Building the Clinician-Educator: Advance HE Fellowship Frameworks and Institutional Pathways in Medical Schools"

10:40 – 11:20

Mr. Stuart Norton, Advance HE, UK

Advance HE (40 min)

Plenary thematic session: Central Asia Perspectives

on Medical Education Reform


"One Region, Many Paths: Harmonizing Medical Education Reform Across Central Asia"

11:20 – 13:00

Ministry of Health, Republic of Kazakhstan

Speech from a Kazakhstani representative;

Speech from a Kyrgyzstani representative;

Speech from a Tajikistani representative;

Speech from a Uzbekistani representative;


Moderator: Dr. Lyazzat — Doctor of Medical Science,

WFME Assessor, Adviser on Quality Improvement

in Medical Education in CIS and Central Asian Republics

Open Q&A Panel — Keynote Speakers

Lunch Break (1pm-2pm) — Nazarbayev University School of Medicine

Keynote 3- Internationalization and Globalization of Health Professions Education

14:00 – 14:30

Prof. Emmaline Brouwer (MD, MPH, PhD) -

Director of SHE Collaborates, Maastricht, Netherlands

(30 min)

Keynote 4— Global Partnerships, Local Impact: ERASMUS+

in Medical Education

14:30 – 15:00

Laura Paluanova NEO KZ Coordinator (30 min)

Keynote 5 - Redesigning Higher Education:

Inclusive Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Gender Equity

15:00 – 15:20

Dariga Tukayeva

Diana Kalemeneva

NU, Department of Organizational Culture (20 min)

Keynote 6 — Closing the Gap Together: A Collaborative

Agenda for Population Health Research in Central Asia"

15:20 – 15:50

Prof. Abduzhappar Gaipov - Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine,

Astana, Kazakhstan (30 min)

Keynote 7 - "AI and Digital Competence in Medical Curricula

"From Theory to Prescriptions: Embedding Digital & AI Competencies Across the Medical Degree Program"

15:50 – 16:35

Dr Vitaliy Sazonov- Department of Medicine,

Nazarbayev University School of Medicine (30 min)

Mr. Carlos Martinez - Anatomage Corporation,

Digital Competence Expert, Milan,

Italy (Sponsor, Platinum) (15 min)

Synthesis & Way Forward

"Turning Dialogue into Action: Key Messages and

a Collaborative Agenda for Central Asian Medical Education"

16:35 – 17:00

Advance HE Representative (15 min)

WHO Kazakhstan Representative

Conference Co-Chairs

DAY 2

Participants select one track for the full day.


  • Workshops 1 round (Tracks A and C): Hands-on & Co-Creation | 09:00 – 10:30
  • Coffee break for all participants at 10:30
  • Workshops 2 round (Tracks B and D): Hands-on & Co-Creation | 11:00 – 13:00

Theme: From Frameworks to Implementation


Workshop Track A: Teaching Excellence and Faculty Development

"Knowing Your Practice: Mapping Teaching Activities

to Advance HE Professional Standards Framework"

Room A

Speakers:

Mr. Daniel Sheratte, Advance HE, UK

Mr. Stuart Norton, Advance HE, UK


- Understanding Fellowship pathways

- Mapping teaching activities to professional standards

- Building evidence portfolios

- Designing institutional faculty development pathways

Output: Draft individual or institutional Fellowship development plan

Workshop Track B

"Simulation and AI-Enhanced Competencies

for Medical Students"

Room B

Dr. Vitaliy Sazonov

Core competencies in simulation-based medical education, including clinical decision-making, teamwork, and patient safety

-Integration of artificial intelligence in simulation

(e.g., adaptive scenarios, virtual patients, AI-driven feedback and assessment)

-Design and implementation of simulation-based assessments, including ethical considerations and responsible use of AI

-Alignment with national digital health priorities and institutional strategies, including infrastructure and faculty development

Output: Draft competency framework for simulation- and AI-enhanced medical education adapted to the local context


Dr Gulshat Kemelova (Karagandy Medical University)

Transforming Medical Education: Kazakhstan's Experience Through the Lens

of FAIMER and Simulation-Based Learning

Workshop Track C

From Commitment to Action:

Building Cultures of Belonging

"Teaching for Every Learner: Redesigning Pedagogy

and Curriculum to Reflect the Full Diversity"

Room С

Speakers: Dariga Tukayeva

Diana Kalemeneva,

NU, Department of Organizational Culture


-Inclusive Teaching: redesigning pedagogy and curriculum to reflect the full diversity of learners.

-Gender equity: dismantling structural barriers that limit access, advancement, and belonging for all genders.

-Student support: creating layered, proactive systems that sustain every learner through the full arc of training.

Output: Institutional and regional roadmap on inclusive education

Workshop Track D Unlocking Opportunities

through Erasmus+:

Collaboration in Central Asian Higher Education

Room D

Dr. Laura Paluanova — Erasmus+ National Agency Representative, Kazakhstan / EU Delegation

Prof. Emmaline Brouwer (MD, MPH, PhD), Maastricht, Netherlands


-International partnerships: strengthening cooperation between Central Asian and global higher education institutions through joint projects and mobility

-Capacity building: enhancing institutional development, teaching quality, and governance through Erasmus+ initiatives

-Curriculum innovation: modernizing programs and integrating international perspectives into teaching and learning

-Knowledge exchange: sharing best practices, research, and experiences across institutions and countries


Output: Strengthened regional collaboration framework and roadmap for future Erasmus+ engagement and opportunities

Joint Session — All Participants

"From Workshop to Action: Presenting Outputs,

Identifying Pilot Institutions, and Agreeing Next Steps"

Plenary Hall — All tracks reconvene

Conference Co-Chairs

Track Facilitators (A–D)

Advance HE Representative

WHO Kazakhstan Representative


13:00-13:15. From Dialogue to Action: Presenting the Central Asia Medical Education Transformation Resolution


Registration fees

Participant Type
Local participants,
including CIS countries
International participants
Early registration
10,000 KZT
100 USD
Normal registration
15,000 KZT
150 USD
Student registration
5,000 KZT
50 USD
0

Contacts

General inquiries

For further details, please contact:

Email: med_edu@nu.edu.kz

Media inquiries

Email: nusom.marketing@nusom.nu.edu.kz

Nazarbayev University, Astana city, Republic of Kazakhstan