SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
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
Format: Two-day conference (1 plenary day + 1 workshop day)
Venue: Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
Dates: October 28 - 29, 2026
Languages: English/Kazakh/Russian
Format: Two-day conference (1 plenary day + 1 workshop day)
Days
Hours
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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, anкd 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.
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
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To explore global and regional trends in teaching excellence in medical education
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To strengthen faculty development pathways through Advance HE frameworks
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To foster regional collaboration among Central Asian medical schools
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To support the integration of digital health and digital competency frameworks into medical curricula
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To align medical education reform with national and regional health system needs
Program
Day 1 – Conference (Plenary and Strategic)
Theme: Teaching Excellence, Digital Transformation, and Health Systems Relevance
- Welcome: Provost/President; Dean, School of Medicine, Graduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University
- Representative, Ministry of Health / Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Kazakhstan)
- WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan
- Global trends in teaching excellence
- Faculty development and recognition in medicine (Advance HE)
- Advance HE Fellowship Frameworks (D1–D4)
- Supporting clinician-educators
- Institutional approaches and case examples
- Digital health, AI, and data literacy
- Alignment with national and global digital health strategies
- Defining core digital competencies for medical students
- Curriculum integration and assessment strategies
- Ethical and equity considerations
- Regional challenges and opportunities
- Harmonisation, accreditation, and workforce needs
- Opportunities for collaboration across Central Asia
- Key messages from Advance HE and WHO
- Pathways for collaboration and follow-up actions
Day 2 – Workshops (Hands-on & Co-Creation)
Theme: From Frameworks to Implementation
Participants select one track for the full day.
Participants select one track for the full day.
- 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
- Core digital competencies for medical graduates
- Integrating AI, digital health, and data literacy
- Assessment approaches and ethical considerations
- Alignment with national digital health strategies
- Leading curriculum reform in complex systems
- Faculty engagement and change management
- Aligning education reform with health system priorities
- 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.
- 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
- Presentation of key outputs
- Identification of pilot institutions
- Agreement on next steps and collaborations
Important dates
- April 24, 2026Abstract and poster submission deadline
- June 15, 2026Early bird registration deadline
- July 15, 2026Registration deadline
Abstract submission
Abstract submission
Registration fees
Participant Type
Local participants,
including CIS countries
including CIS countries
International participants
Early registration
10,000 KZT
100 USD
Normal registration
15,000 KZT
150 USD
Student registration (first author)
5,000 KZT
50 USD
Any extra paper fee
5,000 KZT
50 USD
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
Contacts
General inquiries
For further details, please contact:
Email: med_edu@nu.edu.kz
Media inquiries
Email: nusom.marketing@nusom.nu.edu.kzNazarbayev University, Astana city, Republic of Kazakhstan