Vector of Success: Experts from Russia and the United States Shared Knowledge with Students and Schoolchildren

On April 8, 2026, a series of lectures by invited international experts was held at the Kazakh-American Free University as part of the 16th International Forum of Young Scientists “Modern Scientific Trends: From Applied Research to Innovation.”

The lecture series was opened by Roman I. Raikin, Vice-Rector for International Development at Altai State University (Barnaul, Russian Federation) and PhD in Physics and Mathematics, with a presentation on key discoveries and global challenges in the study of the Universe at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century.

The next speaker was Natalya O. Derkach, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Economics, Management, and Information Systems at Altai State University (Barnaul, Russian Federation), PhD in Economics, who presented the concept of design thinking as an effective tool for implementing technological projects.

Next, Alexander Yan Babiniec, a social worker and trainer at Co-Serve International from Aurora, Colorado, spoke. Drawing on his twenty years of experience in the financial industry and consulting, he conducted a master class on strategic life planning. Participants in the “An Adventure in Becoming Your True Self” course learned to identify their true passions, use the five-fold “Why?” technique to find deep motivation, and design the future by working with ten key life areas.

The experts’ lectures resonated with a wide audience, including graduates of leading city educational institutions: Shokan Ualikhanov School-Lyceum No. 3, M. Auezov Secondary School No. 17, School-Lyceum No. 34, Lev Gumilyov Gymnasium No. 38, Comprehensive Schools No. 9, 30, 36, 37, and 49. Working with invited experts allowed the young people to gain practical tools for professional and personal self-determination.

International scientific collaboration provides the foundation for sharing best practices and creating a unified intellectual space, as demonstrated by the participation of experts from Altai State University and trainers from Co-Serve International in the KAFU Forum. This collaboration between scientists from different countries allows for the combination of fundamental research in cosmology with applied design thinking tools, creating an interdisciplinary environment for the development of innovation. The presence of international experts provides young people with unique access to global leadership and personal planning practices. Such partnerships not only enhance the quality of academic training but also facilitate the deep integration of students and graduates from city schools into the global community, helping them develop their life strategies in the context of the global challenges and discoveries of the 21st century.