ENU Graduates Informed About the Requirements for Starting a Teaching Career

An online information session was held at the Higher School of Education of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University for final-year students enrolled in the educational programs “6B01721 – Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages” and “7M01719 – Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages,” as well as “6B01511 – Computer Science” and “7M01511 – Computer Science” offered by the Institute of Digital Sciences and Artificial Intelligence.

The event was organized by the Career and Business Partnership Department. Its main objective was to explain the importance of professional certification to final-year students enrolled in teacher education programs and discuss current issues related to the certification process.

The Assessment of Teachers’ Knowledge (ATK) is a computer-based test in the Republic of Kazakhstan designed to assess the theoretical, methodological, and subject-specific knowledge of prospective and practicing teachers. During the session, representatives of ENU’s Career and Business Partnership Department provided students with a comprehensive explanation of the importance of taking the ATK and its role in their future professional careers.

In particular, it was emphasized that obtaining an ATK certificate is important for securing employment in the education sector and officially beginning a teaching career. The absence of the certificate may pose an obstacle to employment in general secondary education institutions. Furthermore, ATK results provide an opportunity to obtain the initial professional qualification category in teaching, namely “teacher-trainee.”

The participants were also informed that taking the ATK is important for graduates who have studied under state-funded educational grants, particularly in terms of fulfilling their grant-related obligations. Failure to pass the test may create difficulties in finding employment in their field of study and fulfilling the obligations associated with working off their educational grants.

During the second part of the meeting, students and master’s degree candidates had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their concerns with specialists in an open dialogue format. Participants were particularly interested in the dates of the next ATK registration period, the impact of test scores on future employment opportunities, and whether taking the ATK is mandatory for students studying on a fee-paying basis who do not intend to work at a school.

At the end of the event, participants received answers to their questions regarding professional certification and became familiar with essential information needed to prepare for a teaching career. Such meetings contribute to the professional development and career planning of final-year students while increasing their awareness of the requirements for entering the teaching profession.