On October 16-17, 2018, in Astana, at KazGUU “Information dissemination conference in a project that promotes internationalization of research by creating a quality management system Cycle 3 in accordance with the European agenda” on “Internal and External Quality Assurance Systems for Cycle 3 (Doctoral) Programs) ”of Cycle 3 QA System in line with the European Agenda” was held. Representatives of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Spain, Mongolia, France and Ukraine took part in the conference.

Professor Adilgazinov G.Z. and senior expert Asylbekova A.Z.represented the Agency on this conference. On the first day of the event, Asylbekova A.Z. made presentations on “What System of External Quality Assurance to address the challenges of State Policy for Quality Assurance of Cycle 3 (doctoral) programmes?” and “Focus on thesis supervision, submission and defense as part of External Quality As-surance of Cycle 3 (doctoral) programmes”. Both of her presentatiobs sparked keen interest and exchange of views. Professor Adilgazinov G.Z. made a presentation on “Assuring quality in Cycle 3 (doctoral programmes) through creation of a proper organizational context, research environment and admission”, in which he presented the standards for accreditation of doctoral educational programs developed in the frame of the project. The presentations and the standards aroused interest among the project participants.

The positive moment of Kazakhstani project participants' presentation was that the effectiveness of the project was confirmed by the Deputy Director of the Department of Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Narbekova B.M. In her report, she noted that based on the suggestions and recommendations developed jontly by IQAA, Auezov South Kazakhstan State University, KazGUU and other Kazakhstani HEIs, in the regulatory documents of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan governing doctoral studies, it is planned to make the requuired ammendments. In conclusion of the first day of the conference, the project coordinator, Vice-Rector of the French University in Armenia, Dr. PhD Arayik Navoyan mentioned the effectiveness of IQAA in the project. On the second day of the conference, the same issues were dicussed from the angle of HEIs from the countries-participants.