The first decade

Kustanai Pedagogical Institute was transformed into a state university in August 1992. And of course, before the institution faced new challenges, including those associated with the organization of the educational process, with training for a new high school to university programs. At that time, during the formation of the state, state educational standards, model curricula and programs in specialities were not yet developed. All of these regulations were developed by universities themselves based on curricula of the leading universities of Kazakhstan and Russia. In this difficult environment, in a lack of material resources, lack and sometimes the absence of regulatory framework in the university, curriculum and teaching-learning activities were led by pro-rector for Academic Affairs (later chief pro-rector of KSU), Ph.D., associate professor Khanapin K.G. and the head of the teaching department Ibatulin A.S.

 A new stage of development of the university

The reform of the education system provides for further growth of the role of modern information technologies in the educational process and management, and implementation of new approaches to improve the quality of education, including on the basis of international standards, by implementing the loan program, etc.

For this reason, since 2001, the Rector of the University Valiev Kh.Kh. was tasked with improving the financial stability of the university, strengthening the material and technical base, improving the quality of knowledge and research, implementation of new learning technologies, improving student recruitment, employment of graduates, as well as educational work and social protection of students.

Since 2001, Koldybaev S.A., doctor of philosophy, professor, was appointed a pro-rector for Academic Affairs. At the same time, the university introduced the post of pro-rector for new learning technologies and innovation, the implementation of which was entrusted to the candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, associate professor of F.F. Mayer, who had already sufficient experience in instructional and administrative work at the university.

The division of functions between the rectors was next. Pro-rector for Academic Affairs – the administration and general management of planning and organization of training and educational activities of the university. Pro-rector for new learning technologies and innovations – the introduction of the quality management system of credit education program, point-rating system for monitoring and evaluation of students' knowledge on a linear and on a credit system, the computerization of education at the university.

In 2004, after the separation of the Pedagogical Institute of the University as an independent institution, the positions of two pro-rectors, for education and training and for new technologies and innovations were combined into one pro-rector for academic affairs and new learning technologies, and these duties were and still are performed by Mayer F.F. 

For all these years, under the leadership of pro-rectors Khanapin K.G., Koldybayev S.A., Mayer F.F., a lot of work has been done on the organization of the educational process at the university. Goals and objectives were defined by the requirements and the possibilities of each stage. However, the main objective has always been one –training of highly qualified, competitive specialists for Republic of Kazakhstan, and in particular for Kostanai region. This figure is reached by means of such "signals of quality" as the strategy for the selection of applicants, effective learning technology, demand for university graduates in the labour market, on the improvement of which and the entire staff of the university work.

The university, having gone through the most difficult and dramatic years for the country and education system, has proudly stood the union and separation as a part of the reform. We are proud to say that in A. Baitursynov KSU we have succeeded not only to maintain but also to increase creatively rich tradition of Kostanai Pedagogical Institute and Kostanai Agricultural Institute. The university went through all the required stages of control by the ministry, kept steadily in the rankings of state and independent education and research and does not intend to stop there.