On August 24, 2023, Astana hosted the Forum of Science and Higher Education - 2023: "Development of human capital as the basis of the country's economic growth", organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The forum brought together educators and scientists, representatives of universities and research institutes, members of the Public Council, young scientists and students, foreign and domestic experts.
Within the framework of the forum, the work of thematic sectional meetings on higher education and science at Nazarbayev University and IT University, language policy at the L.N. Gumilyov ENU.

The plenary session of the forum was opened by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov with a welcoming video message to the participants of the event, emphasizing the importance of developing higher education and science to achieve the country's economic growth.
“As you know, the issues of the development of science and higher education are under the close attention of the Head of State. We also face the task of rebooting the branch of science. In this direction, we have begun the transition to a new model of science management,” he said in his speech.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Tamara Duisenova noted the importance of higher education and science for the country's innovative development and improving the professional skills of the country's youth.
“The government of the country has taken measures to develop higher education and science, as well as to solve certain problems and key tasks based on the instructions of the Head of State. We open branches of leading foreign universities. This is aimed at improving the quality of education, transferring knowledge and increasing the competitiveness of the country's higher education,” she said.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek voiced the importance of cooperation between various universities and research institutes, and also gave examples of successful projects that have received wide recognition in the world.
“The total science budget for 2023-2025 increased by 3.5 times and amounted to 643 billion tenge. In order to implement the instructions of the Head of State, work was carried out to improve the status of scientists and strengthen human resources. The salaries of scientists have been doubled. Average - 257 thousand tenge, maximum - 1.5 million tenge. As part of improving legislation and de-bureaucratization of science, the National Council for Science and Technology has been created, taking into account international experience, sectoral roadmaps for scientific and technological development in strategic sectors of the economy have been adopted,” the minister said.

Also, Deputy Vice-Rector (Academic Leadership) of Heriot-Watt University Tadhg O’donovan, President of De Montfort University in Kazakhstan Sakina Zafar, Vice-President of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Dzhumadildaev and others spoke at the forum.
The Higher Education and Science Forum is an important event in the educational sphere of Kazakhstan. It provides an opportunity for dialogue, exchange of experience and development of new development strategies. The ideas and proposals presented at the forum will help strengthen Kazakhstan's position in the field of higher education and science.