Intellect and leadership of the future: the contributionof KAFU to building Kazakhstan’s technological nation

Modern Kazakhstan is undergoing a period of rapid digital transformation, where human intellect becomes the key resource for progress and science acts as its driving force. The contribution of young scholars who combine academic culture, innovation, and leadership is becoming strategically significant for the country’s future.

One of the brightest representatives of this generation is Dr. Aigerim Rakhmetulina, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Business, Kazakhstan-American Free University – a young scientist whose work reflects the mission of the university: “Shaping 21st-century leaders for the benefit of sovereign Kazakhstan.”

Having graduated from University College London and Manchester Business School (UK), and later defending her PhD thesis at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Dr. Rakhmetulina introduced innovative teaching methodologies to KAFU based on analytical thinking, digital literacy, and intercultural communication. She conducts courses in English for international students, strengthening the global status of KAFU as a world-class university.

Since 2023, Dr. Rakhmetulina has been involved in two grant-funded research projects supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan:

• AP19677634 Development of Logistics Infrastructure and Sustainable Supply Chains of Perishable Food Products (L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University);
• AP23490443 Human Capital Management and Labor Quality Enhancement in the Digital Economy (S. Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University).

The first project focuses on food supply chain sustainability, while the second develops digital models for managing human resources. Both projects provide practical solutions for optimizing business processes and preparing the workforce for the future economy.

As part of the first project, she published two monographs at KAFU (“Integration of Logistics Infrastructure and Sustainable Supply Chains in the Agri-Food Sector of Kazakhstan: Theoretical, Methodological, and Practical Aspects”), dedicated to the integration of logistics infrastructure and digitalization in the agri-food sector.

The second project brought together scientists from Kazakhstan and Russia, creating an international research platform on digital workforce development.

The results of her research are impressive: over 50 publications, including two monographs, a textbook, Scopus articles, and five author’s certificates from the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Her scientific solutions have been implemented in corporate practices and educational processes, confirming the high level of practical significance of her research.Beyond academia, Dr. Rakhmetulina plays an active civic role, organizing educational events for teachers, school Olympiads, and excursions for talented children from regional schools, fostering human capital development in Kazakhstan.

She also has significant professional experience, having held managerial positions at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Administration, Sana Holding Ltd, and Media Solutions Laboratory. She represented Kazakhstan at Astana Finance Days, Women4E, and AWE (Dubai, 2022) international forums supporting women in science and business.

As President K. Tokayev stated: “A progressive nation is a technological nation.”The work of Dr. Rakhmetulina and KAFU exemplifies this principle – where science gives birth to intellect, intellect shapes leadership, and leadership builds the nation of the future.