In 1999, in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and American International Health Alliance (AIHA) a three-year partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Kazakhstan’s School of Public Health (KSPH) entered into force.
Within the framework of the partnership, professors of Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) organized and conducted a series of two week seminars for faculty of Kazakhstan’s School of Public Health on such topics as Health Management and Policy, Economics and Financial Management Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Decision Making and Strategic Planning, Epidemiology and Statistics. The priority areas of cooperation were departments of “Health care policy and management”, “Hygiene and epidemiology”.
The long-term Master programs of Public Health were developed in accordance with recommendations of colleagues from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition, University stuff got acquainted with distance learning programs. Employees of chairs “Health Policy and Management”, “Health Economics” developed distance learning modules “Management in Health Care”, “Economics and Financial Management”.
The results of long-term cooperation with Virginia Commonwealth University were not only improvement of educational programs, educational process, but also creation of Resource Center with 3 computer classes, a local network and Internet access, and also providing KSPH with the latest literature on various aspects of public health.
During 2000-2003, short-term seminars on Health Management and Economics, Health Promotion, Epidemiology and Statistics, Environment, Rational Pharmacology, Evidence-Based Medicine, for teachers of family medicine from universities of Kazakhstan and countries of Central Asia are held by lecturers from Great Britain, as well as with the participation of the faculty of Kazakhstan’s School of Public Health. In 2000, a cooperation agreement signed between KSPH and The British Council. The aim of the cooperation was to organize and conduct short-term seminars on management, economics, epidemiology in healthcare, in order to strengthen and develop primary health care.
In 2002-2003 yrs. KSPH acquired a new partner – Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan (SFK), which provides grants for the formation of the teaching corps and the improvement of curriculum in disciplines of “Health promotion” and “Health economics” this cooperation consists in development, improvement and implementation of educational programs and scientific research in these areas. The project was coordinated by the head of the Department of Health Promotion and Social Sciences Aringazina A.M. and the head of the Department of Health Economics Kurakbayev K. K.
Within the framework of the partnership with the Soros Foundation Kazakhstan, the creation of a stable distance learning team and the transformation of all modules into a remote format and electronic media were initiated. Along with specific training projects and grants, thanks to the support of the SFK, young employees of the Higher School of Public Health acquired the opportunity to study at the master’s degree programs of prestigious international universities in Israel, Italy, Denmark, and to undergo specialized training at various short-term trainings and seminars abroad.
From 2002 till 2003 on the basis of the KSPH, the project of the European bureau of the World Health Organization “Public Health Initiative in the field of food safety for Central Asian countries” was implemented. The project consisted of five seminars on topics such as “Food Legislation”, “Microbiology”, “Epidemiology of foodborne diseases”, “Chemical Pollution of Food”, “Hazard analysis and critical control points” for public health specialists, and staff from Ministries of Healthcare from 5 republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). The seminars were held in partnership with the World Health Organization: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Cantonal Laboratory, canton of Ticino (Switzerland), European University Sion (Switzerland), Chemical and Veterinary Control Laboratory in Munster (Germany). Upon completion of the program, KSPH established the Training Center for Food Safety. For more information about the project, please visit the website of the European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome Office of WHO / Europe.
The purpose of this pilot project was to develop a health profile and scientific research on health in Karaganda, South Kazakhstan and in Almaty. According to agreement between Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) and KSPH, from August to March 2005, the project” Strengthening the capacity of KSPH to use scientific research for improvement population’s health”
According to objectives of the first phase of the project, health profiles and health research systems were provided in the form of a brief overview of population health, health system and the country’s health research system. This review includes secondary statistical data in three selected regions (Karaganda, South Kazakhstan, Almaty) from different sources. Through the Project, it was planned to increase concern and enthusiasm in Kazakhstan for information and evidence-based support for the planning and management processes of regional health systems and the implementation of short-term goals and objectives. The work was carried out by a working group of teachers and master students of KSPH. During the implementation of the project, both master students and teachers acquired knowledge and skills in planning, analyzing and formulating research reports on the current state of the population’s health, healthcare and health research system. As part of the project implementation plan, a one-day seminar was held in March 2006 on the results of the project work “Strengthening the capacity of young scientists in using research to improve the health of the people of Kazakhstan.” The seminar was attended by representatives of local medical organizations, medical institutions, international organizations, statistical agencies and other interested persons. One of the initiatives for further cooperation with COHRED was to develop a module-program for conducting scientific research on the basis of KSPH.
From March to September 2003, KSPH collaborated with the University of Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom on the TACIS project to improve health promotion curricula, during which there was an international exchange of teachers from the KSPH and the University of Glamorgan.
In September 2003, following the end of the TACIS project, the First Central Asia Conference on Health Promotion was held with the participation of colleagues from Central Asia and the United Kingdom. Project coordinator – head of the Department of Health Promotion and Social Sciences Aringazina A.M.
In April 2004, the KSPH was elected as an academic and institutional member of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education – IUHPE, headquartered in Paris. The interests of KSPH in IUHPE were represented by the Head of the Department of Public Health and Social Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences Aringazina A.M., who became a member of the IUHPE Board of Trustees by a global vote.
The mission of the international organization IUHPE is to promote health and well-being around the world and to promote health equity between and within the countries of the world.
IUHPE aims to achieve the following goals:
- Greater equity in public health between and within the countries of the world;
- Effective alliances and partnerships to achieve optimal health promotion outcomes;
- Publicly available evidence-based knowledge and practical experience in the field of health promotion;
- Excellence in policy and practice for effective, quality health promotion;
- as well as the high level of ability of individuals, organizations and countries to conduct health promotion activities.
To achieve its goals, IUHPE pursues the following objectives:
- Increased investment in health promotion by Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and the private sector;
- Expanding organizational, governmental, and intergovernmental policies and practices that lead to greater health equity between and within countries;
- Improving the policies and practices of governments at all levels, organizations and sectors that influence the determinants of public health;
- Strong alliances and partnerships between all sectors based on agreed ethical principles, mutual understanding and respect;
- Activities promoting the development, translation and exchange of knowledge and practice, promoting health;
- Wide dissemination of knowledge among health promotion professionals, as well as among politicians, government officials, and other key individuals and organizations;
- Strong and accessible knowledge base for effective and quality health promotion;
- Improved mechanisms for sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge that promote health and well-being;
- Global forum for mutual support and professional growth of members;
- Capacity-building opportunities for individuals and organizations to better implement health promotion initiatives and advocacy efforts.
The main mission of the IUHPE is to justify the need for effective health promotion and the development and implementation of healthy public policies. Our goal is to influence and facilitate the development and implementation of health promotion knowledge, strategies and projects. Advocacy is one of IUHPE’s central strategies for fulfilling its mission, and as such, it has potentially great opportunities to work with.
In March 2013, KSPH became a member of the Organisation for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health Sciences in the European System – ORPHEUS. The interests of KSPH in this organization are represented by the head of the Department of Public Health and Social Sciences, Ph.D. Aringazina A.M.
The aims of ORPHEUS:
- To safeguard the PhD as a research degree and to strengthen career opportunities for PhD graduates
- To give active support and guidance to members of ORPHEUS in enhancing their contributions to medicine and society in general.
- To provide information to members of ORPHEUS and all PhD candidates all over Europe.
- To represent higher education and research in biomedicine and health sciences and to influence policy making at national, European and international level.
- To encourage cooperation among members of the Association and the development of effective bilateral and multilateral networks.
- To promote cooperation in research and development of joint PhD programmes.
- To promote harmonisation of PhD programmes in biomedicine and health sciences
- To encourage mobility of PhD candidates and academic staff.
- To stimulate quality assurance of PhD research and education, and in particular to develop an accreditation process of PhD programmes in biomedicine and health sciences.
- To cooperate with other associations with similar goals.
From 2009 to 2015, the Department of Public Health worked on the Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) project with the Open Society Institute of the Soros Foundation (OSI) to provide financial and technical support to KSPH teachers who completed their Master’s degree abroad. During this period, sponsorship was provided for participation in foreign conferences and seminars and visits of foreign partners to conduct master classes at KSPH. Project coordinators: John Allegrante, Professor at Columbia University, USA, and Aringazina A.M., Head of the Department of Public Health, MD.
On April 30, 2013, KSPH and Graduate School of Management Barcelona (Spain) signed an agreement on cooperation between universities in the field of education and research, including mobility of master students and teachers, planning and implementation of academic programs, participation in international events, research projects.
From July 23 to August 2, 2013, “Health Management: New Technologies in Medicine and Pharmacy” seminar was organized in GSM Barcelona, in which 30 people took part: health managers and management teachers.
December 28, 2015 – agreement with CarmelMC International Medical Center, Israel, Haifa
December 28, 2015 – in order to develop international cooperation in the field of science and education, a memorandum was signed with the University of Klaipeda, Republic of Lithuania, Klaipeda
December 30, 2015 – Memorandum was signed with the Bocconi School of Management, Italy, Milan
February 29, 2016 – Agreement with the Gyeongbuk University Hospital, South Korea, Daegu
February 29, 2016 – Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Finland, Lahti
April 11, 2016 – JAMK University of Applied Sciences Finland, Jyväskylä
October 10, 2016 – Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India
June 20, 2017 – Tashkent Institute of Advanced Medical Training, Uzbekistan, Tashkent
May 15, 2017 – Tajik National University, Tajikistan, Dushanbe
June 15, 2017 – State institution “Republican educational and clinical center of family medicine”, Tajikistan, Dushanbe
November 15, 2017 – Tajik State Medical University named after Abuali Ibni Sino, Tajikistan, Dushanbe
- In September 2017, the University signed a cooperation agreement with the State Cancer Institute of Budapest, HungaryJuly 23, 2018 – A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the International Medical University of Malaysia together with the International Medical College of Malaysia and the Kazakh National Medical University named after S. D. Asfendiyarov, Kazakhstan Medical University “KSPH”LLP and the “Training and Clinical Center” LLP in AstanaOctober 12, 2018 – signed an agreement with the Association for International Cooperation “One Belt, One Road”, Shenzhen, ChinaApril 29, 2019 – in order to strengthen cooperation in the field of medicine, a Memorandum was signed with the “International Higher School of Medicine” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
April 29, 2019 – KMU “KSPH” signed an agreement with the State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education “Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University”, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
May 3, 2019 – an agreement was signed with the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after I. K. Akhunbayev, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
May 27, 2019 – In order to develop international cooperation in the field of science and education, an agreement was signed with Shenzhen University (SZU), Shenzhen, China, which is a strategic partner of KMU “KSPH”
For 24 years since its foundation, the Higher School of Public Health has been working closely with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Professor, MD, M. K. Kulzhanov was elected as a member of the WHO Executive Committee in 2000-2004 and in 2012-2016.
Head of the Department of Public Health and Social Sciences, Dr. Aringazina A.M. at the invitation of the General Director of WHO, Margaret Chan was elected as a member of the WHO Advisory Expert Commission on Health Promotion from 2009 to 2013. Participated in the development of WHO policy documents on health policy and health promotion.
KMU Higher School of Public Health regularly participates in research projects of the World Health Organization.
Currently, Kazakhstan’s Medical University “KSPH” cooperates with the world’s largest universities, management schools, clinics and public health funds.
Currently, Kazakhstan’s Medical University “KSPH” cooperates with the world’s largest universities, management schools, clinics and public health funds.
