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Harnessing AI for Inclusive Education: Transforming Learning Experiences in Kazakhstan

Artificial Intelligence continues to revolutionize every major industry, and its impact on education is especially transformative and promising. Many countries around the world face numerous problems in their education systems, and AI offers solutions to many of them. Kazakhstan is one of the nations that embrace the AI revolution by making efforts to integrate AI into its education system. Current State of AI in Kazakhstan In Kazakhstan, the government is investing heavily to integrate AI into its education system. It plans to spend 650 billion tenge on research initiatives including offering AI literacy courses in universities starting in 2024. This reflects a national strategy aimed at modernizing education and preparing a workforce skilled in AI technologies. Kazakhstan's universities are beginning to adopt AI technologies to stay current with technological advancements. Institutions like Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University are introducing AI-focused programs that include training on intelligent tutoring systems. Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University has also initiated a School of Artificial Intelligence in collaboration with SeoulTech. This program aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge among professors in artificial intelligence and VR/AR technologies. Such initiatives exemplify how targeted training can prepare students for future job markets while addressing regional skill gaps. Additionally, interviews with educators involved in these programs reveal a growing enthusiasm for integrating technology into teaching practices. One educator noted how adaptive learning platforms have allowed her to tailor lessons more effectively to meet her students' varying needs. Accessibility and Inclusivity AI technologies also play a crucial role in enhancing accessibility for students with disabilities. Tools like speech recognition software and language translation applications can significantly improve learning experiences for diverse learners. For instance, platforms like Duolingo employ AI-driven language translation tools to assist students who may struggle with language barriers. Moreover, applications such as Seeing AI and Voiceitt are revolutionizing education by providing real-time support for visually impaired and speech-impaired students, respectively. These technologies not only facilitate communication but also empower students to engage more fully in their educational experiences. In alignment with these advancements, organizations such as UNICEF are leveraging AI to provide quality education in underserved regions. In Kazakhstan, efforts are underway to ensure that all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, can benefit from these advancements. A recent initiative launched by UNICEF and the Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into secondary education, aiming to enhance the quality of learning for all students. This project emphasizes the importance of equipping teachers with the necessary skills and tools to effectively utilize AI technologies in their classrooms. By fostering an inclusive educational environment that incorporates adaptive learning technologies, these efforts seek to bridge gaps and ensure equitable access to quality education across the country, aligning with global trends in educational innovation. Data-Driven Insights for Educators AI analytics offer educators valuable insights into student progress and performance. By monitoring data trends, teachers can identify at-risk learners and facilitate timely interventions. For example, platforms like...

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85-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Fossils Discovered in Tajikistan’s Sughd Region

Dinosaur fossils estimated to be 85 million years old have been discovered in Tajikistan's Sughd region. The excavation took place in the village of Kansai, a renowned paleontological site known for its rich array of prehistoric animals, including ancient lizards, turtles, crocodiles, amphibians, and fish from the Cretaceous period. The expedition, organized by Russian and Tajik scientists, builds on Kansai’s long-standing significance in paleontology. In the 1960s, Soviet scientist Anatoly Rozhdestvensky and his team uncovered numerous dinosaur remains, including a therizinosaur femur. In the 1980s, Lev Nesov identified traces of mammals from the Cretaceous period. This year, a team led by Associate Professor Pavel Skuchas from St. Petersburg State University has expanded research in Kansai, focusing on smaller vertebrates. Tajik researchers, including Umed Nabiev, a master’s student in paleontology, and ecologist Gafurjon Karimov, joined the excavation. The fossils were excavated from the walls of a large canyon containing Upper Cretaceous sediment layers, where the team found remains of lizards, salamanders, frogs, and fish. “We used a washing technique to carefully extract even the smallest bones and teeth,” Nabiev explained, noting that a special adhesive was applied to the rock to protect these fragile finds. Among the larger discoveries were crocodile and turtle shells, as well as the bones of an 85 million-year-old dinosaur. Further research will determine which parts of the dinosaur’s body these bones belonged to. The excavation is set to resume next May, and scientists plan to explore new canyon sections previously mined for cement production. “Previously, the remains of large animals have been studied quite well, while the remains of smaller animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, have been neglected. In our next expedition, we will also search for small vertebrates,” Nabiev added. Tajikistan has seen several significant archaeological discoveries in recent years. In 2023, artifacts unearthed at the Oshkhon site in the Eastern Pamirs indicated human presence dating back about 14,000 years. In 2021, a joint Tajik-German expedition in the village of Khushdilon (Torbulak) near Danghara district uncovered the remains of a Hellenistic sanctuary dating from the 3rd to 1st centuries B.C. These findings continue to expand the historical and cultural understanding of the region.

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Min-Kush — The Kyrgyz Time Capsule

Although Min-Kush is only about 100 miles from Bishkek, as the crow flies, the mountains make us travel 250 miles. We reached a scenic viewpoint along the road, and I stopped to take a picture. I exited the truck and approached a horse with dramatic snow-capped mountains peeking through the clouds. A man came and invited us to ride his horse around his farm. This is his farm, his 75 sheep, and his horse. The horse and I galloped around the farm, chatted with the farmer, and got back on the road. This was my first time on horseback after a year and a half in Central Asia. Min-Kush, once a prosperous town nestled in the Kyrgyz mountains known for its bustling uranium mining industry, has hit the end of the road literally and figuratively. Coming down the A367 highway, a nondescript road sign says “Min-Kush” with an arrow pointing left. We turned, and the road seamlessly transformed from pavement to dirt. It is the last and only settlement on this road off of the highway. The only other vehicles we pass are semi-trucks carrying tons of coal destined for Kyrgyzstan and China. [caption id="attachment_25324" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] @TCA H.Kuvin[/caption] The city peaked at around 20,000 in the 1980s, but today’s number hovers around 3,500. Established in 1955, the apartments and houses are built in the Stalinist architectural style. The vibrant blue paint that once covered the wooden panels is faded, and sections of the buildings are caved in, but people still live here. The contrast in one building is stark. On the top floor, there are broken windows and unhinged shutters. On the bottom floor, there are new window frames and flowers on the windowsill. The blossoming life on the windowsill is far from what it once was. We stopped and chatted with some locals and asked about their lives. “When Moscow supported us, we had everything: stores, schools, factories, and a hospital. Now…nothing, but we cannot dwell on things. Life is better now than it was after the fall of the USSR.” The man asks for a cigarette and a light; my French friend complies with his request. The main draw of Min-Kush for me is an abandoned felt pen factory. I’ve seen pictures online of some incredible Soviet banners that serve as a time capsule in the mountains. We asked if anyone knew where to find it, and a man told us it was torn down and replaced by a soccer field. As night set in, we looked for a guesthouse of sorts. I had read online that there is one, but there are no signs or information about it anywhere. We stop by a man fixing his Soviet Chaika car on the side of the road. He tells us the hotel is right up the road. We drive to an unlit building where two men are fixing another truck. We chatted, and he made a phone call. Ten minutes later, a lady shows up, unlocks the...

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Rybakina’s 2024 Season Ends with Win over World No. 1

Kazakh tennis player Elena Rybakina has ended her 2024 season on a high note, beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, even though she wasn’t able to advance to the semifinals of the yearend event. Moscow-born Rybakina, who is ranked fifth in the world, defeated the Belarusian star 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in the elite tournament’s Purple Group on Wednesday after losing her first two matches to Jasmine Paolini of Italy and Zheng Qinwen of China. "I think today I served really well, and especially in the third set," Rybakina said, according to the WTA. It was her second win over Sabalenka this season. "But of course, overall, I know that I'm not at my best, and if I would have maybe more weeks and some other matches, but with all the circumstances, I'm really happy overall how I played this this tournament," said Rybakina, who struggled with physical issues in the second half of the season after a strong start. This year, Rybakina also split with coach Stefano Vukov, with whom she had considerable success, including the 2022 Wimbledon title, despite concerns among commentators about his intense, critical style. Next year, she plans to work with Goran Ivanisevic, the former coach of Novak Djokovic. "I'm really looking forward to this partnership," Rybakina said. "I think he's a great champion and he has so much experience.”

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Kumys, Beshbarmak, and Other Wonders of the Kazakh Feast

Autumn in Kazakhstan is traditionally a time of abundant treats. Today, local chefs and experts are trying to break the stereotype of Kazakhstan having a bland and unhealthy national cuisine, and are actively marketing it to foreign guests. The modern cuisine of Kazakhstan has absorbed a variety of Asian dishes, but also includes dishes from Soviet cuisine. Almost every Kazakhstani family is familiar with borscht and dumplings borrowed from Russians and Ukrainians, pilaf and samsa brought by Uzbeks, shashlik taken from the Caucasian peoples, and funchoza (Asian salad with noodles) and kuksi (cold noodle soup) adopted from Koreans. Of course, as in many parts of the former Soviet Union, Olivier salad is traditionally prepared on New Year's Eve in Kazakhstan. Turkish dishes have also become part of the daily diet in the years since independence. For example, it is impossible to imagine today's fast food without the doner kebab. International fast food, such as pizza, hamburgers, and sushi, have also become popular in big cities. Nevertheless, traditional Kazakh dishes form the basis of the country's eclectic cuisine. Beshbarmak is truly a Khan's dish. Any festive occasion is unthinkable without it, and restaurants specializing in traditional cuisine must include it in their menus. In its original version, beshbarmak is prepared from salted horse meat, including kazy, shujuk, and karta (horse intestines). Unleavened dough, potatoes, onions, and spices are also added. However, today, a variant using beef is also widespread. [caption id="attachment_25083" align="aligncenter" width="1254"] Kazakh national dish, beshbarmak; image: iStock[/caption] Beshbarmak, like many Turkic dishes, is the subject of constant dispute between Kazakhs and Kyrgyz. The neighboring peoples will always espouse different views on the question of whom created the dish. The differences in the recipe are not very significant; in Kazakhstan, the dough is usually cut into large rhombuses, and in Kyrgyzstan, into small oblong pieces. Tatarstan and Bashkiria also lay claim to the Khan's dish. There, mutton rather than beef is most often added to horse meat. Another pillar of Kazakh cuisine is kuirdak. Each family cherishes its version of the recipe, and kuirdak must be served in any restaurant claiming to serve the national cuisine. The dish starts with cuts of mutton and organ meat, such as heart, liver, and kidneys. These cuts are fried in sheep fat alongside potatoes, onions, parsley, and spices. [caption id="attachment_25084" align="aligncenter" width="1254"] Traditional dish kuirdak; image: iStock[/caption] Unfortunately, the most traditional Kazakh dishes are not always available to foreigners, as some can now be tasted only in villages. For example, in honor of the arrival of guests, before the main meal, guests are offered a boiled sheep's head. It is cut right at the table, and each part (ears, eyes, tongue, etc.) is served according to the status of the guests. Another dish rarely served in restaurants is baked mutton brains. Ethnographers continue to search for and re-popularize national dishes that were common before the Russian Revolution but have now virtually disappeared in cities. For example, the ritual dish Ylpershek was...

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GTA and Counter-Strike Banned in Tajikistan

Residents of Tajikistan have been ordered to refrain from playing popular computer games such as Grand Theft Auto and Counter-Strike, and owners of computer game clubs have been banned from distributing them. According to information published by the Dushanbe police press service on Telegram, these games can influence young people and make them more prone to criminal behavior. “According to the results of the historical and cultural expertise of the Tajik Ministry of Culture, the games Counter-Strike and Grand Theft Auto contain scenes of violence, murder, and robbery,” police said. Game club owners and parents of children were told to comply with national laws prohibiting violent and unethical video games, and said raids would be conducted at game clubs to detect violations. A similar initiative has been discussed in Russia. In 2022, the State Duma proposed banning video games containing violent scenes, pornography, and profanity. Counter-Strike is a multiplayer shooter in which teams of special forces and terrorists perform missions to rescue hostages, clear bombs, or protect VIPs. Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is an adventure game in which the player performs missions in fictional American cities, participating in criminal activities, driving vehicles, and committing robberies to advance the story.