Opening Ceremony & Welcome

Setting the Stage for Medical Education

Excellence in Central Asia

09:00 – 09:30 (10 min per speaker)

Prof. Rehan - Provost, Nazarbayev University

Representative, Ministry of Health, RK

Representative, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, RK

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

Moderators: Doctor of Medical Sciences (RK and RF)

Prof. Nurgul Kaliyevna Khamzina - Head of the Office of Medicine at Nazarbayev University and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the University Medical Center

Prof. Matthew N. Tanko - Vice Dean for Medical Education NU School of Medicine;

Ministry of Health, Republic of Kazakhstan -

Yerzhanova Farida Nurmukhambetovna (15 min)

Prof. Matthew N. Tanko - Vice Dean for Medical Education NU School of Medicine (15 min)

Speech from Prof. Anar Akylbekovna Turmukhambetova (representative of Kazakhstan) - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Rector of Astana Medical University (15 min)

Speech from Prof. Madamin Musayevich Karatayev (representative of Kyrgyzstan) -

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Department of Public Health and Health Care, Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (15 min)

Speech from Prof. Nodira Khakimovna Ruziyeva

(representative from Uzbekistan) - Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatric Gynecology, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Tashkent State Medical University (15 min)

Speech from Prof. Zarina Asror Ahroriyon

(representative of Tajikistan) - Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Tajik State Medical University (15 min)

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 – 14:50

Laura Paluanova NEO KZ Coordinator (20 min)

Keynote 5 - Redesigning Higher Education:

Inclusive Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Gender Equity

14:50 – 15:10

Dariga Tukayeva

NU, Department of Organizational Culture (20 min)

Keynote 6 — Closing the Gap Together: A Collaborative

Agenda for Population Health Research in Central Asia

15:10 – 15:30

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

Astana, Kazakhstan (20 min)

Keynote 7 — From Competencies to Trust:

Pilot implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities

in UMC Residency Programs

15:30 - 15:50

Dr. Syzdykova Alma Alibekovna

Director of the Department of Education at the Corporate Fund University Medical Center (20 min)

Keynote 8 - AI and Digital Competence in Medical Curricula

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

"AI and VR development at The Chinese University of Hong Kong"

“Fixing the Prototype-to-Practice Gap: Experience in AI solutions in South and Southeast Asia”

15:50 – 17:00

Dr Vitaliy Sazonov- Department of Medicine,

Nazarbayev University School of Medicine (15 min)

Dr Wai-Tat Wong - Co-Director, Centre for Medical and Healthcare Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

(15 min)

Mr. Doug Corley - Sage Health Founder,

Medical Innovation Expert (15 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"

17:00 – 17:30

Prof. Matthew N. Tanko - Vice Dean for Medical Education

NU School of Medicine - Resolution of the Conference and

closing of Day 1 (15 min)

Conference Co-Chairs

Workshop Track A: Teaching Excellence and Faculty Development

"Knowing Your Practice: Mapping Teaching Activities

to Advance HE Professional Standards Framework"

Room 330/331

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 330/331

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. Anvar Djumanov (Tashkent State Mdical University)

Low-cost laparoscopic training with blinded video assessment: a protocol for a multicenter pilot in Central Asia

Dr Gulshat Kemelova (Karagandy Medical University)

Transforming Medical Education: Kazakhstan's Experience Through the Lens of FAIMER and Simulation-Based Learning

Ilan Shacham

Surgical Science inc. - Global Senior Director Product & Clinical Support) - FAST in Virtual Reality: High-Fidelity Simulation of Emergency Ultrasound

Carlos Chidiac

Gaumard Scientific Company, Inc. Regional Director; International Department), The First Minutes Matter: Advanced Simulation Technologies in Neonatal Resuscitation

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 432/435

Speakers:

Dariga Tukayeva

NU, Department of Organizational Culture, Diversity and Inclusion

Eric Wente, NU, Center for Preparatory Studies

Dana Abiltayeva, Department of Student Services

Exploring how institutional values translate into practice through the following components:

- Ethics and Respectful Conduct: Applying the Code of Ethics and Anti-Harassment Policy through case-based discussions examining ethical dilemmas, respectful conduct, and institutional responses.

- Holistic Development of Students: Exploring the University’s approach to holistic student development and student wellbeing.

- Special Learning Needs Committee: Providing an overview of the University’s Special Learning Needs Committee, with case-based discussions focused on addressing diverse learning needs and fostering equitable, supportive educational environments.

Expected outcome: Contributions to an institutional and regional roadmap for inclusive education, identifying practical approaches to ethical conduct, student wellbeing, and inclusive learning support.

Workshop Track D Unlocking Opportunities

through Erasmus+:

Collaboration in Central Asian Higher Education

Room 432/435

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

Workshop Track E

Physiotherapy Education Development in Central Asia

“Building the Rehabilitation Workforce of the Future: Internationally Recognized Physiotherapy Education

for Central Asia”

Room 901/2

Dr. Ann G. Nicholson, Senior Development and Education Manager, World Physiotherapy

Mr. Gerco Van De Kraats, Licensed Physiotherapist,

the Netherlands

Prof. Natalya Slivkina, Program Director and Founder of the Undergraduate Program in Kinesiotherapy,

Astana Medical University

Prof. Galiya Zhanaspayeva, the main Rehabilitation Specialist, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Dr. Yeltay Rakhmanov, School of Medicine,

Nazarbayev University

- Learning from the region: existing physiotherapy and kinesiotherapy education initiatives in Central Asia. Achievements, challenges and lessons for new programs

- Partnering globally: practical pathways for collaboration with internationally recognized universities, including joint programs, faculty development and exchange

- Assuring quality: aligning curricula, clinical training and graduate competencies with international standards for physiotherapy education

- Sustaining growth: identifying possible donor support and resources to launch and strengthen programs

Output: Shared regional priorities and a draft roadmap for international collaboration, quality assurance and donor engagement in physiotherapy education in Central Asia.

14:00 - 17:00

Nazarbayev University School of Medicine and Campus Tour for delegates