The EMA REMC Identified Priority Areas for the Development of Social Work Education

A regular meeting of the Project Management Group of the Republican Educational and Methodological Council’s Educational and Methodological Association in the field of personnel training “Social Work” was held. The meeting addressed issues related to the improvement of educational programmes, the inclusion of relevant academic courses in the content of social worker training, the development of scientific and educational cooperation between higher education institutions, as well as the review of the work carried out during the 2025–2026 academic year.

The meeting was chaired by Ardak Beisenbay, who provided specific recommendations on each agenda item aimed at improving the quality of personnel training in the field of social work.

Under the first agenda item, the participants considered the proposals of the National Scientific Centre for the Development of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improving educational programmes for training personnel in the field of social protection. A. Abinova delivered a report on this issue, emphasizing the need to reflect the current requirements of the social protection system in the content of educational programmes.

During the discussion, it was noted that, when updating educational programmes, special attention should be paid to working with vulnerable social groups, needs assessment, case management, inclusion, the quality of social services, and the strengthening of professional and ethical competencies. In addition, it was proposed to continue consultative and methodological cooperation with representatives of the National Scientific Centre in order to conduct expert review of the content of educational programmes in social work and to enhance their practical orientation.

The meeting also considered the development of the academic course “Prevention and Response to Gender-Based and Domestic Violence with Due Regard to the Special Needs of Persons with Disabilities” and its inclusion in educational programmes. Reports on this issue were delivered by G. Moldakulova and K. Mukhambetova, who highlighted the importance of the course in the system of social worker training.

As part of the third agenda item, the participants discussed the opportunities and prospects for cooperation between higher education institutions in implementing joint research projects under the “Social Work” educational programme and integrating their results into curricula. D. Dosmurzayeva delivered a report on this issue, outlining effective ways to incorporate joint research projects into the educational process. The meeting proposed expanding cooperation between higher education institutions, integrating the results of joint research into curricula, and introducing them into the educational process through elective disciplines, research seminars, practical classes, educational and industrial internships, as well as topics for course papers and graduation theses.

The meeting also included a report on the work carried out in the field of personnel training “Social Work” during the 2025–2026 academic year. Head of the section K. Mukhambetova presented the main results of the current academic year and outlined priority areas for the upcoming academic year. Following the discussion, it was proposed to define the strengthening of practical training, the expansion of partnerships with employers and social protection organizations, and the development of inclusive and ethical competencies as priorities for the next academic year.

Under the “Miscellaneous” section, the participants considered the development of a system of micro-qualifications in the field of social work and the establishment of a Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Social Workers on the basis of the Institute of Continuing Education and Professional Development of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and the Association of Social Workers. It was proposed to consider opportunities to support the initiative aimed at developing micro-qualifications in social work and establishing the Centre for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Social Workers.

At the conclusion of the meeting, A. Beisenbay emphasized the importance of the issues discussed for improving the quality of personnel training in the field of social work and stressed the need to ensure proper monitoring of the implementation of the adopted decisions. During the final part of the meeting, specialists who actively contributed to the work of the Republican Educational and Methodological Council’s Educational and Methodological Association and made a significant contribution to the improvement of educational programmes and the development of educational and methodological activities were awarded Certificates of Honour and Letters of Appreciation on behalf of the Chair of the Republican Educational and Methodological Council’s Educational and Methodological Association, Rector of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University E. Sydykov.

During the meeting, important proposals were put forward to update the content of educational programmes, strengthen the practical orientation of the educational process, develop scientific and educational cooperation between higher education institutions, and improve professional competencies in the field of social work.