Introduction from the President

Dear Candidate,

I am truly delighted that you are considering the role of Provost at Nazarbayev University. As President, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible potential of our institution and the transformative impact we can have on our students and society.

Having joined the university in June 2024, I firmly believe that at Nazarbayev University, we are driven by a vision to be a beacon of excellence in research, teaching and innovation. Our mission is not just about imparting knowledge; it is about nurturing a diverse and inclusive community that inspires creativity, critical thinking, and a commitment to lifelong learning. We aim to equip our students with the skills and perspectives necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world. It is no surprise, therefore, that since our first cohort of graduates, over 97 percent of our alumni have gone into graduate level employment or further study. The role of Provost is vital to building on our successes, as the leading research-intensive university in Central Asia.

In our new Provost we are seeking a leader who is not only passionate about education and research but also deeply committed to fostering an environment where faculty and students can collaborate, innovate, and excel. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping our academic programs, enhancing our research performance, and building meaningful partnerships both locally and globally.

Looking ahead, we have ambitious goals that will shape our future:

• Global Leadership in Research: We aim to position ourselves as a hub for groundbreaking research that addresses pressing global challenges, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration that leads to innovative solutions.
• Enhanced Academic Programs: We are committed to continuously improving our academic offerings, ensuring they remain relevant and rigorous, and preparing our graduates to excel in their chosen fields.
• Sustainable Development Initiatives: We seek to integrate sustainability into our curriculum and operations, preparing our students to be responsible global citizens who contribute positively to society.
• Strengthening International Partnerships: We aspire to build and expand partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, enhancing our academic programs and providing our students with a truly global perspective.

In doing all this, we will remain nationally and regionally relevant, acting as an engine for social and economic development, including raising standards of higher education and health services in Kazakhstan. Your leadership will be crucial in realizing our vision and inspiring our academic community to reach new heights.

As you review this briefing document, I encourage you to reflect on how your experiences and aspirations align with our goals. We are eager to find a Provost who will champion our values of integrity, collaboration, and inclusivity, and who will inspire our academic community to reach new heights.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to join us on this exciting journey. I look forward to your application and the possibility of working together to advance the mission of Nazarbayev University.

Warm regards,

Professor Waqar Ahmad FAcSS PhD
President, Nazarbayev University

About Nazarbayev University

Nazarbayev University (NU) is a 14-year-old modern institution that combines international standards with a distinctive Kazakh identity. It has world-class academic schools, demanding and exciting programs, and internationally competitive research that furthers disciplines and contributes to Kazakhstan’s and the region’s development. Our taught provision covers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs. Our graduates are highly employable, with on average 97 percent in graduate level jobs or further studies since our first graduation in 2015. Those who opt to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees elsewhere, find it easy to secure places at the best institutions in the world. Our stature among the region’s best institutions is reflected in our role as founding member of the Asian Universities Alliance of 15 research intensive universities that includes Tsinghua University, University of Tokyo, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the National University of Singapore. Professor Waqar Ahmad, previously President of Abu Dhabi University, has recently been appointed as the University President, with the remit to build on the University’s achievements and place it firmly among the top 300 the best institutions globally.

Teaching, research and knowledge exchange at the University have benefited greatly from eight years of outstanding leadership by Provost Ilesanmi Adesida. With Professor Adesida’s decision to retire, we are seeking a new Provost of a similarly outstanding stature; someone who combines an international standing as a researcher with substantial experience of academic leadership, as dean or provost, at a significant, research intensive institution. They will have led change programs and possess academic vision, strong people management skills and exceptional networks. Importantly, these candidates will be citizens of the world, ideally with experience that extends beyond one university system, and a broad perspective on the dynamics of twenty-first century higher education.

The Provost will have the ability to enhance existing and build new relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, that will include students, faculty and staff; government, industry and public services in Kazakhstan; our partners in the Asian Universities Alliance and across the region; and our world class partner universities and international organizations across the globe. 

The University’s mission is to advance the development of education, research and innovation in the Republic of Kazakhstan and to act as a catalyst for reforms in both higher education and in health services. The University produces graduates prepared to the highest international standards, equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to contribute to the development of Kazakhstan as a modern and fair society and economy.

The University’s autonomy and academic freedom are enshrined in law and underpin all our endeavors. NU attracts outstanding faculty from across the world, while also indigenizing higher education by developing Kazakh academics. We are proud that through our efforts, the proportion of Kazakh nationals among our faculty (appointed in competition with academics from across the world) has increased from under 10 percent at the University’s inception to over 30 percent today. Our students are among the most talented young people in the region. And we attract and retain talented and dedicated service staff. Our alumni are beginning to perform prominent roles in Kazakh society, politics and economy, and are active in the work and life of the University.

Strategic Goals

The University’s mission is driven by five strategic mandates:

• Higher Education Reform Leadership – To ensure that the lessons of NU’s experience support the transformation of other universities and research institutions in Kazakhstan.
• Academic Excellence - To ensure outstanding academic provision across the University.
• Research Excellence – To conduct research that is globally significant, develops knowledge and leads to innovation.
• Building an Integrated Academic Healthcare System – Through our School of Medicine and the University Medical Centre (based around four teaching hospitals and additional outreach centres), provide a model for healthcare services throughout Kazakhstan.
• Innovation and Translating Research into Production – To build an innovation eco-system, commercialize research results, and act as a driver for innovation in Kazakhstan.

NU has ambitious goals, as stated in our Strategy 2018-2030. The University has entered its second decade with a strong institutional culture, achievements in teaching, research and innovation, and growing recognition as a regionally and internationally significant institution. With a ranking of 501-600 and place among the top 30% higher education institutions, we aim to be in of the top 300 global universities by 2030. This will require building on our current position across all five mandates.  We are also entering a new mode of strategic partnerships, where we are equal partners with world leading universities, in student exchange, joint programs and collaborative research. The new Provost will be at the forefront of these endeavors.

Our achievements

Today, NU is a fourteen-year-old research-intensive University, increasingly recognized for the caliber of our graduates, the contribution of our research and innovation, and the quality of our programs. The Fall 2024 intake of 3,000 students was the largest in our history, taking our overall student population to 7,500. Our alumni now number over 10,000; while most of them are young, they are now entering leading positions in higher education, making their names as entrepreneurs, occupying significant leadership position in public services and in politics, as well as pursuing higher degrees at NU and other leading research intensive institutions. Typically, over 90 percent continue into further education or graduate level jobs. Our faculty hail from over 60 countries. Our investment in developing Kazakh academics for faculty positions, including through postdoctoral fellowships and mentoring, has been remarkably successful; around one-third of the faculty positions are now occupied by Kazakh nationals, all secured in competition with international applicants. Today, our graduates are highly sought after, our research is internationally competitive and our programs are globally respected, many having gained or undergoing professional accreditations. This recognition has enabled NU to become a national brand and a symbol of Kazakhstan's modernization.

A quick overview of our progress on the five strategic mandates is as follows.

Higher education reform leadership (Mandate #1)

From the very beginning, NU was intended to be a core element of Kazakhstan’s broader higher education reform agenda. NU serves as a testing site for educational and research excellence and acts as model to be transmitted to the country’s higher education system. While the whole University contributes to this mandate, our Graduate School of Education (GSE) fronts this strategic goal. NU has been making an impact on the higher education system through offering master’s programs in educational leadership, developing professional networks, contributing to government task forces, partnering with other universities in the country, offering workshops and professional development programs for university leadership, faculty, and staff and sharing good practice with Kazakh institutions. Our alumni are now to be found in leadership positions in other Kazakh universities, including as rectors, vice rectors and senior administrators.

Academic excellence (Mandate #2)

From inception, the University committed to meeting the highest global academic and research standards. To achieve this end, NU entered into strategic partnerships with many of the world’s top academic and research institutions, including the University of Cambridge, Carnegie Mellon University, Colorado School of Mines, Duke University, the National University of Singapore, the University of Pennsylvania, University College London and others. Yet throughout this period we were committed to being a Kazakhstani institution, and not merely a copy of a western university. Having established our position as an outstanding University, we are now entering teaching and research collaborations with major institutions as equal partners, including being a founding member of the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) of 15 research intensive universities, several of whom are among the top 100 institutions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

AUA members are pursuing exchanges involving students, faculty and staff, engaging in collaborative taught programs and collaborating in research.

We offer foundation, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees across science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine, humanities, social sciences and education. New programs agreed or under consideration for launch include named bachelor’s degrees in business and management, degrees in computer science with pathways in artificial intelligence and in cybersecurity, an undergraduate degree in medicine, new master’s programs and additional provision at doctoral level. Some of this provision is being developed in collaboration with partner institutions in the region, in Europe and in the UK.

The student body is equally divided between male and female students, about two thirds of whom are majoring in STEM disciplines. Of the circa 10,000 graduates from NU’s ten graduation cohorts, almost 40 percent of bachelor’s degree holders continue to graduate studies, a significant proportion of whom having secured places for masters and doctorates at elite universities internationally.   Many, having completed their PhD programs, have returned to NU to join our specially created post-doctoral scheme, designed to equip them with skills and profiles to compete for Assistant Professor roles at NU. Of graduates who enter the job market, most work in Kazakhstan in top companies; those who go abroad are typically hired by global technology firms.

Until now, we have not concentrated on attracting international students to the University. Our target now is for international students to constitute circa. 12-15% of the student body by 2030.

Research excellence (Mandate #3)

Along with high-quality academic programs NU, through its high-quality research, contributes to the modernization, prosperity and wellbeing of Kazakhstan. Over the last dozen years, NU has produced over 9,000 peer-reviewed research publications indexed by Scopus database, representing about one sixth of total research publications from Kazakhstan. During this time 56% of our research papers were published in journals in the top quartile in their field (Q1), accounting for one third of all Q1 publications in the country; the proportion of papers in Q1 journals in increasing every year, with the figure for the year 2024 standing at 73%. Publications in the top 10% journals have risen to 37% of our outputs for the year 2024. Field-weighted citation impact metric for the years 2021-24 stands at 1.96; for the year 2024, it stands at 3.23. Analyses of our Scopus indexed outputs (over 9,000 publications) from inception to August 2024, shows strong clusters of publications around:

• Energy, sustainability and environment
• Health and social wellbeing
• Intelligent systems and human-machine interface
• Advanced materials and emerging technologies and
• Social transformation and human capital development.

While our collaborative networks range across the globe, we also commit to national collaboration (with our own funding) in order to increase research capacity and leadership among other Kazakh institutions. Our research addresses topics under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and NU is an active participant in Kazakhstan’s goal of attaining carbon neutrality by 2060. NU is hosting Kazakhstan’s node of the global Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Thus, through our research, we are committed to helping solve some of the major challenges of the 21st century.

Acting as a catalyst for health services reform (Mandate #4)

NU’s integrated academic healthcare system, made up of the University Medical Centre (UMC) with its four hospitals, and the School of Medicine, has become a reference point for medical universities and health services in Kazakhstan. The Medical School acts as consultant to the Ministry of Health in the development of curricula and standards for medical education and sharing of good clinical practice with other providers. The UMC serves as a national reference hospital in areas such as cardiac surgery, mother and childcare, and advance diagnostics, in partnership with the School of Medicine, and support from our partner, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

Innovation cluster and research commercialization (Mandate #5)

NU Innovation Cluster aspires to be a driver in the development of Innovative Kazakhstan. It is breaking new ground both by commercializing the work of scientists and students, and by having built an innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The cluster stands out in the country for its focus, structure and facilities. Over the last seven years, more than 1500 would-be entrepreneurs applied to our incubation and acceleration programs, some 430 were selected, and over 180 went on to establish their start-ups. With support from our Social Development Fund and partners, including the US Embassy in Kazakhstan, the support program is now also active in five cities in Kazakhstan as well as in the Central Asian neighbors. Having acknowledged successes, this remains a challenging area in a country where the innovation ecosystem remains underdeveloped.

Structure and Governance

The Supreme Board of Trustees is the highest oversight body of NU and is chaired by the President of the Republic or their designate. This is an oversight Board that oversees NU and two sister organizations, an elite secondary school system and an investment fund that supports both NU and the school system. NU’s Board of Trustees is the primary body that governs the University and is chaired by the Prime Minister or their nominee. It includes government representatives, alumni, international members and the NU President as trustees. The NU President chairs the Managing Council (MC), the University’s executive management body.

Academic and research matters are governed by the Academic and Research Councils, respectively. Both Councils have university-wide representation and are chaired by the Provost. Shared governance is exercised through the participation of the Faculty Senate and Student Council. The Student Council is active and apart from participating in University governance, supports vibrant student life on campus, both for resident students (circa 5,000) and those who live off-campus. Student life at NU is as good as may be found in the best institutions globally. The Faculty Senate consists of elected representatives of the faculty body; similarly, the Student Council is elected on an annual basis.

Financial Position

With NU’s establishment, the authorities took the bold step to close the undergraduate window of the highly successful Bolashak overseas scholarship program and direct applicants and related funding to this new university. To this date, over nine out of ten NU students have enjoyed the support of state education grants. In parallel, the Republican Budget financed NU’s modern estate and physical infrastructure, encompassing world-class research, teaching, student life and faculty and student housing facilities, including a ‘core research facility’, over 200 research and teaching laboratories, outstanding teaching rooms, state of the art conference halls, including a main hall that accommodates 1,500 delegates, well-designed and maintained student dormitories for 5000 students, a student-managed cinema, international standard athletics provision, and high quality accommodation for faculty and their families. The government has assured NU that we remain a national priority, and future funding is assured. While being grateful for continuing support from the government of Kazakhstan, NU leadership is embarking on a path towards less dependence on public finances. This entails increasing revenues from tuition, raising funding through contract research, increasing funding from other sources such as NU’s investment fund, increasing the size of our development fund as well as controlling our costs and moving to more efficient organizational structures.

University Organization

Our academic provision is structured around seven schools and a center. To enhance collaboration between disciplines and to ensure critical mass necessary for outstanding research as well as teaching, we are currently considering restructuring provision into a smaller number of academic units, with each unit offering provision that covers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. To strengthen academic partnerships with world leading universities, we are developing joint degrees, increasing opportunities for student and faculty exchange, and enhancing collaborations in research.  Simultaneously, administrative units are being reorganized to improve the quality and focus of administrative support. Subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, changes to administrative structure will be implemented during this academic year and to academic restructure will follow at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year. The current organizational shape of the University can be seen on our website – http://nu.edu.kz

The Role of Provost

The Provost is appointed in accordance with the labor legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Charter and the internal documents of the University. In performing his/her duties, the Provost shall be guided by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Charter and the internal documents of the Employer, decisions of the management, the Bylaws of the Office of the Provost and the present job description. The Provost reports directly to the President (the line manager) and is a member of the University’s Management Council.

Positions reporting to the Provost currently include: Vice Provosts; Deans; General Director of the Library; Research Institutes including Institute for Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence, National Laboratory Astana, and Energetic Cosmos Laboratory; Academic Leadership Institute; Administrative Director of Office of the Provost; and the Executive Assistant to the Provost. Line management responsibilities may change subject to decisions of the University’s Board of Trustees.

The Provost is the chief academic officer of the University, with authority to supervise operations in academic and research matters, as defined in this Charter and other internal documents and regulations of the University. The Provost will spearhead the University’s drive to achieve excellence across its education, research, and innovation mandates, ensuring these are recognized in graduate employability and research outcomes. The Provost will establish the University as a leader in teaching, education, student experience, research, and knowledge exchange in Central Asia and beyond.

The Provost at all times is accountable to and acts under the supervision of the President of the University.

The Provost performs the following duties and responsibilities and shall:

• supervise the implementation of academic policies adopted by the Academic Council;
• supervise the implementation of research policies adopted by the Research Council, including but not limited to the awarding of research grants;
• approve the award of academic degrees (titles) other than honorary degrees (titles);
• give final approval to standards concerning admission, progression, and completion of programs adopted by the Academic Council, and submit them to the Managing Council for endorsement;
• give final approval of decisions on matters of admission, progression of students, and completion of programs in accordance with internal documents and regulations approved by the Academic Council;
• supervise admission and dismissal of students;
• recommend to the President of the University decisions to dismiss students from the University;
• oversee the design and implementation of academic quality assurance programs in accordance with policies adopted by the Academic Council;
• grow the University’s research income and oversee the management of research grants as approved by the Research Council;
• establish and maintain academic and research standards and academic integrity consistent with international standards;
• implement hiring, transfer, termination of employment, and conclude employment contracts with academic and administrative-academic personnel;
• develop and make recommendations on the issues of the staffing list related to academic personnel and administrative-academic personnel;
• ensure appropriate professional development for Deans, other senior leaders, and faculty, in line with international best practices;
• exercise other powers stipulated by this Charter, the decisions of the Supreme Board of Trustees, the Board of Trustees, and/or the President of the University, as well as internal documents and regulations of the University.
• contribute to revisions of the University strategy and oversee reviews of University standards and policies, including quality assurance, student admission, transfer, and completion of studies, as approved by Academic Council;
• work with the President and Managing Council to implement the University’s strategy, mission, and vision, including the drive to expand subject and institutional accreditations and improvements in rankings;
• raise private, corporate, charitable, and state funds to support the development of the University’s vision and mission, working closely with the President and Deans;
• represent the interests of the University in dealings with stakeholders, including government(s), public services, industry, and academic partners, within the scope of the Charter;
• undertake activities that demonstrate leadership in higher education across and beyond the region.
• perform scholarly activity and research as appropriate to the position and aligned with the academic interests of the postholder.

The Provost shall be Chairperson and a voting member of the Academic Council and Research Council. The Provost shall also chair the Equipment Committee, Internationalisation Committee, and other university-level bodies as requested by the President, ensuring that these bodies are consistent with University documents and strategies. The Provost of the University may establish consultative and advisory bodies under the Provost of the University as required, to promote innovation and collaboration in areas of strategic importance. The purpose of establishing, order of forming, members, and terms of office of members of such bodies are determined by bylaws of such bodies approved by the Provost of the University.

The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and/or Vice Provost for Research and other members of the Provost’s Office shall assist the Provost in carrying out his/her functions. The Provost shall have the authority to delegate his/her powers to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and/or the Vice Provost for Research.

The Provost observes the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the University`s internal policies and processes; is responsible for appropriate performance of duties of his/her staff; is responsible for ensuring the integrity of official documents, and prevention of the disclosure or leakage of confidential and business information, as well as information of restricted access in accordance with the legislation, Charter and internal documents of the Employer; in case of departure from role, for whatever reason, is responsible for timely transfer of all paper documentation, digital information, inventory to another employee as instructed by the line manager (to be certified by the act of acceptance-transfer).

The Ideal Candidate

NU is seeking an exceptional chief academic officer with an international outlook and outstanding leadership skills, gained at a senior level research-intensive institution(s). The ideal candidate will have a distinguished record as a researcher, preferably in a STEM-related field and demonstrable experience of developing collaborative partnerships with world leading universities to further research, teaching and knowledge exchange.

Specifically, he/she will demonstrate/have:

Education

• A doctoral degree from a leading university, preferably in a STEM related field.

Work experience

• Achieved the academic rank of Full Professor in a University that is highly ranked in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
• Ten or more years in a senior leadership role, for example, as a Vice-Rector, Provost, Vice-Provost, Associate Provost or Dean, with demonstrable achievements.
• Substantial experience of academic leadership beyond own institution such as service on research councils, accrediting bodies, policy making fora and/or industry boards.

Knowledge

• Distinguished international record as a researcher and as a professional educator.
• Knowledge of international higher education systems.
• Sophisticated understanding of the role of universities in regional and national development.

Skills

• Skills and competence to build on our achievements to secure significant international standing for NU for excellence in research, teaching, innovation and knowledge exchange for the betterment of society and economy.
• Commitment to and achievements in active student government and outstanding student life.
• Achieving sector leading graduate employability.
• Skills to catalyze reforms beyond own institution, through leadership in higher education, government, public policy and/or industry.
• Outstanding skills in developing collaborative partnerships with world leading universities to further research, teaching and knowledge exchange.
• Extensive collaboration with leaders in government, non-governmental organizations and with businesses.
• Significant change management experience with clearly defined objectives and demonstrable results.
• Financial management and budget planning experience.
• Collaborative and collegial approach to creating and upholding University policies and procedures.
• Skills to diversify institutional income and enhance financial sustainability of NU.
• Strong intercultural communication skills.
• Demonstrable skills in implementing shared governance, involving stakeholders, including students.
• Entrepreneurial mindset appropriate for a 14-year old research-intensive university.
• Significant international higher education experience would be an advantage.

Other Requirements:

• This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. The job responsibilities may change in light of decisions taken by the Board of Trustees.
• The University upholds a Code of Ethics and actively supports international standards in academic and research integrity.
• The Provost may be eligible to hold an academic appointment in one of the NU Schools, subject to approval of the President.

How to Apply

This search is conducted by Odgers and Berndtson Company. 

In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and / or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation.

Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your express consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember not to mention anyone’s information or details (e.g., referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.

For further information and a confidential discussion about this position, please contact Melissa Horn and Poppy Wooldridge as below: 

Melissa Horn

Partner & Head of Education Practice

Odgers Berndtson Middle East    melissa.horn@odgersberndtson.com                                                

Poppy Wooldridge

Associate

Odgers Berndtson Middle East

poppy.wooldridge@odgersberndtson.com 

Candidates are requested to apply online at: www.odgers.com/92814 

Applications should include the following information:

• A short covering letter indicating how you meet the selection criteria with current salary/remuneration package.
• A full CV.
• Contact details for three referees (who will not be contacted without your permission).

The closing date for applications: 13th January 2025

Recruitment and selection process
Recruitment and selection at Nazarbayev University include the following process: preliminary selection based on experience and qualifications, assessments (e.g. technical skills/capabilities, aptitude, personality, work samples, in-basket exercises, and informal interviews), and motivation.

Formal interviews form the final stage of the selection process.
They are typically based on organizational values and behaviors and conducted in English.
You are encouraged to share your views and values  to identify how they fit into  Nazarbayev University core values