Kazakhstan To Gradually Cut University Programs In Oversupplied Fields

Kazakhstan plans to gradually close some university programs by 2029 and reallocate state grants to other areas, citing a surplus of lawyers, economists, managers, and other specialists, Orda.kz reports.

The Committee on Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education said this in response to an official inquiry.

The changes primarily concern general specialties that remain in high demand among applicants.

The ministry said the decision followed an analysis of university programs, their comparison with the Atlas of New Professions, and forecasts of regional demand for personnel. In March 2026, employers were also surveyed through the Enbek.kz platform. More than 73,000 enterprises from all regions of the country took part.

The ministry emphasized that the decision does not mean mass faculty closures or layoffs of teachers. In most cases, universities are expected to stop admitting new students to individual programs and gradually transform them.

The closure of educational programs will be carried out in stages until 2029, taking into account students’ ability to complete their studies. The main task of universities is to redirect demand to updated programs without losing the student body. This decision does not mean automatic cuts to teaching or administrative staff. In most cases, it concerns stopping new admissions to individual programs and expanding, updating, or replacing them with more in-demand areas,the ministry said.

Instead of outdated fields, authorities intend to actively develop programs related to digital technologies, artificial intelligence, data analytics, project-based learning, and entrepreneurship. Retraining and advanced training will be organized for teachers.

Teachers are also expected to be more actively involved in developing new educational products, including micro-credentials, certificate courses, and additional education programs. According to the ministry, this should allow the system to be reorganized without major staff reductions.

According to the ministry, the changes are linked to the rapid transformation of the labor market. The Atlas of New Professions for Kazakhstan’s regions includes more than 1,000 new and about 400 transforming professions. More than 300 professions are also at risk of disappearing or changing significantly because of automation and digitalization.

The ministry said the work has now moved from analysis to practical implementation. Kazakhstani universities are currently developing more than 1,700 educational programs based on industry atlases of professions, as well as another 66 programs in regional areas.

Original author: Lyazzat Sunkar

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