Updating the mechanism for the competitive selection of applicants for the Bolashak scholarship

The rules for selecting applicants for the international Bolashak scholarship are planned to be changed. A draft resolution introducing new requirements for applicants in order to increase the transparency and efficiency of the selection procedure has been published on the Open NPA portal.

According to the draft, it is proposed to introduce the category of "civil servants", which will allow training highly qualified personnel for the state apparatus of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Applicants for a master's degree must be current civil servants with at least two years of work experience, of which the last 12 months must be continuous work experience. An exception will be made for political civil servants.

The draft also provides for the creation of a commission to consider applications from holders of the Bolashak scholarship. This consultative and advisory body under the Republican Commission will ensure the transparency of procedures, regulate the decision-making process on reimbursement of expenses and other issues related to the support of scholarship holders. This innovation is intended to eliminate possible ambiguities and optimize administrative procedures.

Among the innovations, the introduction of the Split PhD program is proposed, which will allow doctoral students to conduct research at two partner universities: a Kazakh and a foreign educational institution. This creates conditions for international cooperation and professional growth of program participants.

In addition, a mandatory stage of the application will be writing a motivation letter, in which applicants will be able to justify their professional and academic goals, as well as describe the advantages of the chosen educational institution. This innovation is aimed at a more objective assessment of candidates, which will allow the Republican Commission to make informed decisions.

The competitive selection mechanism will also undergo changes: the process will consist of three consecutive stages, and each stage will be assessed according to established criteria. Applicants who score above the established average level will move on to the next stage, which will allow us to filter out less prepared candidates at the initial stages of selection and focus resources on qualified and motivated applicants. The updated selection system will ensure transparency and simplification of the procedure.

In addition, the project provides for the right of re-participation for candidates who were denied the Bolashak scholarship this year, which was not previously provided for.

The discussion of the draft resolution will last until November 15, the full text of the document can be found on the Open NPA portal.