On 25 April the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Programme Office in Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Narxoz University held the conference entitled "Anti-corruption Education: International Experience and Development Prospects in Kazakhstan" in Almaty.
The conference brought together some 100 participants, including high-level representatives from the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement of the U.S. Department of State, and the heads of universities and academia. Participants discussed the issues related to the development of anti-corruption standards and academic integrity in the national higher education system.
‘The development of an anti-corruption culture and the introduction of integrity principles is a priority task for the prevention of corruption in the long term’ said Askhat Zhumagali, the Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Agency of Kazakhstan, at his welcoming speech.
The President of Narxoz University, Miras Daulenov, noted that the higher education institutions have an important role to play in the prevention of corruption by providing knowledge that fosters a culture of integrity.
‘A comprehensive solution to the problem of corruption requires the right values of integrity and intolerance to all forms of corruption, and these values, among others, are developed through education,’ -emphasized Vladimir Kozin, the UNODC Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser.
Particular attention was paid to the overview of the UNODC “Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment” (GRACE) Initiative. The conference presented a draft anti-corruption teaching and learning course for universities developed by NARXOZ University based on GRACE initiative modules.
The international experts from National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kiev Polytechnic Institute”, the University of Belgrade (Serbia), and the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong also shared their experiences towards raising anti-corruption awareness among youth and implementing сorresponding educational initiatives.
The event is carried out with financial support from the U.S. Embassy’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Office in Astana.
