Guest Lecture by Professor Douglas K. Hartman at KAFU: Ranking of Higher Education Institutions

On September 26, 2024, a guest lecture by Professor Douglas K. Hartman from Michigan State University was held at the Kazakh-American Free University. The lecture, held in English, was organized for first- and second-year master’s students of the educational programs “Foreign Language: Two Foreign Languages” and “Translation Studies” within the framework of the discipline “Nature and Organization of Higher Education”.

The topic was the assessment of the rankings of higher education institutions. Professor Hartman spoke in detail about the factors influencing the positions of universities in international rankings, such as academic reputation, citation of scientific publications, resources and opportunities for students, as well as the level of international cooperation.

The lecture sparked an active discussion among students who were interested in issues related to the influence of rankings on the choice of an educational institution and the career prospects of graduates. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of a critical approach to analyzing rankings and understanding their limitations. Professor Hartman noted that modern rankings, although they provide a general picture, may not always reflect the full quality of the educational process. At the end of the meeting, the professor answered questions from students and shared his experience of working in an international academic environment, emphasizing the importance of training personnel who are able to adapt to global challenges in the field of education.