Rector Presents Annual Performance Report

The Rector of the South Kazakhstan Medical Academy, Zhanna Seitjanova, presented a report on the results of 2025. During the presentation, key priorities outlined in the Address of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, titled “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Key Challenges and Their Solutions through Fundamental Digital Transformation”, were highlighted. In particular, the Academy has been consistently implementing the principles of fairness, development, technological progress, and investment in human capital.
“We are actively integrating modern technologies into the educational process, strengthening our scientific base, and expanding international cooperation. Most importantly, we are shaping a new generation of Kazakhstani professionals—competent, patriotic, and capable of addressing real challenges of the country and the region,” the Rector stated.
In 2025, SKMA further strengthened its international standing. The bachelor’s programs in Medicine, Pediatrics, and Dentistry, as well as the master’s program in Pharmacy, ranked first in the NAAR ranking. To date, more than 50 memorandums and strategic partnership agreements have been signed with universities from near and far abroad.
Significant achievements have also been made in the field of science. The Academy is currently implementing 38 scientific and technical projects. From 2018 to 2025, research activities showed steady growth, resulting in 645 scientific publications, 120 monographs and textbooks, and 220 patents and author’s certificates.
The Academy is the founder of the international scientific journals Journal of Medicine and Health Research of Kazakhstan and Central Asian Journal of Medical Hypotheses and Ethics.
At present, the Academy enrolls 7,632 students. Educational programs are regularly updated in line with labor market demands. In the 2024–2025 academic year, updated and innovative programs aligned with international standards and aimed at developing professional competencies were introduced.
One of the Academy’s key achievements is the implementation of international joint educational programs. Currently, double-degree programs are successfully carried out in cooperation with Saint Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical University, Tashkent State Dental Institute, and I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.
The number of international students continues to grow steadily—from 1,232 students in the 2021–2022 academic year to 1,401 in 2024–2025. To ensure the quality of education, the Academy successfully passed institutional and specialized accreditation.
“One of the main performance indicators of the Academy is the employment rate of graduates. According to the results of the 2024–2025 academic year, 99.3% of graduates secured permanent employment. More than 250 agreements have been signed with pharmaceutical, medical, and educational organizations to provide students with industrial practice opportunities. Special attention is given to academic mobility: during the reporting year, 211 students participated in exchange programs with universities in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries,” the Rector noted.
In addition, approximately 11 scholars from other higher education institutions were involved in joint scientific and pedagogical activities, contributing to the improvement of education quality and research outcomes. Within the framework of educational and upbringing activities, the Academy systematically works across seven main areas. During the reporting period, around 300 socially significant cultural, educational, and sports events were held.
At the conclusion of the report, the Rector expressed gratitude to the faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their contributions and voiced confidence that, through joint efforts, the Academy will continue to reach new heights in the future.