EAGI expands cooperation with the USA

On 12 October 2024, the A.K. Kusainov Eurasian Humanities Institute (hereinafter – EAGI) hosted a Roundtable: Challenges and Lessons of Distance Learning with Dr. Mourat Tchoshanov, Professor of STEM Education at the University of Texas at El Paso (hereinafter – UTEP), USA, Fulbright Scholar, and author of the book ‘Distance Learning Engineering’.

Acting Rector, Professor Nurbanu Tokenovna Nygymanova, PhD in Pedagogy, Vice-Rector for Science and International Cooperation, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor K.A. Akhmetov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Strategic Development, PhD in Philology, Professor S.B. Zagatova, as well as the administrative staff of EAGI were present from the side of EAGI, Director of the Department of International Co-operation and Internationalisation PhD, Professor Meiramova S.A., Head of Scientific Department Amanghazykyzy M, PhD, Associate Professor, Heads of departments, representatives of the Centre for Digital Development and Information Technologies, as well as young scientists.

Mourat Tchoshanov, Professor of the Department of STEM Education at UTEP, discussed how distance learning makes a significant shift from traditional teaching to learning engineering when the physical classroom is replaced by a digital learning environment. Consequently, there is a shift in dominance from informational and organisational functions in the activities of the teacher to constructive and design functions. At the same time, the effectiveness of distance course design depends on the clarity of its structure, namely the relationship between the planned learning outcomes, content and assessment system.

In addition, the participants of the Roundtable, together with the author of the book, exchanged views on the main challenges that institutions and educators faced in distance learning during the pandemic; the main lessons they learnt from the experience of distance learning during the pandemic. And also that distance learning as a litmus test highlighted the shortcomings of traditional teaching, which was confirmed by the study conducted – a meta-analysis of empirics in higher education.

The participants of the Roundtable came to conclusions, in particular, on the theoretical understanding of the digital environment and connectivism, determining the impact of the digital environment on the quality and effectiveness of a teacher’s professional activity, and also discussed the possibilities of training teachers to work in a digital learning environment, including aspects of the effective use of artificial intelligence in education.

Prof M. Tchoshanov mentioned Pythagoras, who prophetically predicted back in the 6th century BC that ‘numbers rule the world’. The 2020 pandemic has shaken the education system at all levels and distance learning has become the new reality of schools. But, the goal remains the same – to improve the quality of education and learning in a digital environment. Also, Mourat Tchoshanov summarised that the main purpose of writing the book ‘Distance Learning Engineering’ was to try to systematise approaches to understanding the phenomenon of distance learning in order to improve the quality of education in the digital sphere. Link to the book: https://pilotlz.ru/books/632/11049/.

In addition, Professor M. Tchoshanov held an interactive meeting with EAGI students on the topic: ‘Kazakhstan through the eyes of a Fulbright Scholar’, which he started with the words of Antoine Saint-Exupery that ‘the greatest luxury is the luxury of human communication’. Professor M. Tchoshanov also spoke about his university, Texas State University of El Paso (UTEP), USA. UTEP has more than 24,000 students enrolled in 170 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programmes across 8 colleges and schools. UTEP is ranked in the top 5% of research institutions in the nation and ranks 4th in Texas for federal research expenditures at public universities.

The meeting was held in a lively atmosphere of dialogue and elicited a good response and feedback from the students. Students actively participated in the meeting, asked questions and shared their opinions, which made the dialogue rich and interesting.  Professor Mourat Tchoshanov concluded the meeting with the words of the famous Kazakh poet and literary scholar Olzhas Suleimenov from his book ‘Az and I’: ‘The way to the essence lies through the court, through the tribunal of thought, which is constantly inside you’. And concluded that Kazakhstan is confidently moving along the important and essential path of prosperity and openness in terms of state development in general and development in the field of science and education – in particular.