ENU hosted IV International Endowment Forum

The L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University  hosted the traditional IV International Endowment Forum on the topic "Digitalization and Technological Innovations in the Management of Endowment Funds".

The purpose of the forum was to bring together experts, practitioners and scientists to discuss the introduction of digital technologies and innovations in the management of endowment funds.
The speakers of the forum were Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, representatives of foreign universities (University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, Izmir Katip Celebi University, MGIMO), as well as top universities of the country, endowments of Kazakhstan, the academic community researching issues of endowment funds, etc. 

Rector of the Eurasian National University Yerlan Sydykov noted in his greeting that today’s forum is taking place on a historic day when the day of higher education workers is celebrated for the first time in independent Kazakhstan.

"At the first endowment forum, which was held at the ENU, issues on the development of a draft law on endowment funds were discussed, and today such a bill has been submitted to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Endowments originated abroad a long time ago. Thanks to such funds, many scientific discoveries have become a reality. We think that with the help of the law, universities will be supported not only by the state, but also by patrons, graduates, staff, university teachers and caring people," Yerlan Sydykov said.

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek noted that this year a bill on endowment funds has been sent to the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

"The law on education stipulates that educational organizations can create endowment funds but with no mention of the tools, mechanisms, etc. In the current format, any private organization investing in science, innovation, goes into partnership with research institutes and universities, already receives 150%. The draft of the new tax code already contains 300% of the mechanism. This is an unprecedented case," the Minister said.

Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerbolat Saurykov stressed that the purpose of the bills is to streamline the work of endowment funds at universities and research institutes.

"Today, the rules governing the work of endowment funds are considered only in the law on education and science. In the future, all the norms will be collected in one law," the deputy stressed.    
ENU Vice-Rector for Strategic Development and Internationalization Duman Aitmagambetov noted that the first forum of endowments of Kazakhstan was held in 2022 at the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

"Currently, the international forum is held on an annual basis, which, in turn, contributes to the effectiveness of the funds. This year, the focus is on digitalization, as this is a social trend," the scientist explained.  

Susan Holter, Chief Development Officer of the University of Minnesota, noted in her speech that teachers, staff, and graduates of the university play an important role in raising funds for the endowment fund.

"To raise funds, we contact graduates, former and current employees, their families and people who share our mission. The important thing in fundraising is to find a story that would fit the situation and is happening at the university," the expert shared.

Within the framework of the forum, creative sessions were held with the participation of experts who shared modern technologies for raising funds in endowment funds, experience in working with endowments, and also talked about the implementation of digital solutions for fund management. Among them were the representative of the Istoki endowment fund Нуlena Shchetinina, the Start Time crowdfunding platform Aziza Utegenova, IT expert Artur Magdalyanov and others.