Dear Faculty! On behalf of the entire Nazarbayev University community, I am pleased to welcome you and your families to Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. We hope to make your transition to a new environment as smooth as possible, so that you will be able to enjoy your assignment at NU. This handbook is meant to serve as your guide as you familiarize yourselves and your families with NU, its facilities and Astana. At NU we very much appreciate your willingness to commit yourselves to a still new research university which has high aspirations but has as yet to prove its mettle. You will soon come to appreciate the considerable weight of expectations on all our shoulders but I trust that together we will be able to exceed them. There will be the inevitable up-and-downs as we are climbing a steep learning curve. But please be assured that NU management and staff are standing ready to assist you in any way possible. I hope that your experience at Nazarbayev University will meet your expectations, and welcome you once again to Nazarbayev University. Sincerely yours, Shigeo Katsu President, Nazarbayev University 2 Nazarbayev University New Faculty Orientation manual 3 Content 5. ONE UNIVERSITY – ONE TEAM 61 WELCOME WORDS 5.1 One University – One Team 62 5.2 The Faculty Senate 62 Shigeo Katsu, President of Nazarbayev University 1 5.3 Communication with the Media 62 1. ABOUT US 5 5.4 Support Team 63 1.1 Introduction 6 1.2 Nazarbayev University’s Leadership Team 8 6. RELOCATION AND ADAPTATION 67 6.1 Personal Safety 68 2. ACADEMICS AT NU 17 6.2 Immigration Procedures 70 2.1. NU Schools 18 6.3 Individual Identification Number (IIN) 73 2.2 Academic Quality Enhancement 26 6.4 Cargo Shipment and Customs Clearance 73 2.3 Learning and Teaching at Nazarbayev University 27 6.5 Currency, Money and Banking 73 3. RESEARCH AT NAZARBAYEV UNIVERSITY 29 6.6 Procedures and Documents Necessary to Set Up Bank Account 75 3.1 Research in Nazarbayev University Schools 30 6.7 Driving a Car 75 3.2 Innovation Cluster of Nazarbayev University 33 6.8 Communications 76 3.3 Commercialization Office 33 6.9 Electricity 77 3.4 Business-incubator 34 6.10 Pet Relocation 77 3.5 Technopark 34 6.11 International Schools and Kindergartens in Astana 78 3.6 Science park astana business campus 36 6.12 Family Entertainment 80 3.7 National laboratory astana 36 7. KAZAKHSTAN BASICS 85 3.7.1 Center for Life Sciences (CLS) 37 7.1 National symbols of Kazakhstan 88 3.7.2 Center for Energy and Advanced Material Science 38 7.2 Official holidays in Kazakhstan 89 4. RESOURCES AND FACILITIES 41 7.3 Facts about Kazakhstan 90 4.1 Library 42 7.4 History of Kazakhstan 91 4.2 IT Helpdesk 44 7.5 Kazakhstan: the seven wonders of nature 94 4.3 Workplace organization for Nazarbayev University employees 44 7.6 Political structure 120 4.4 IT Services 44 7.7 Chronicle of modern Kazakhstan 122 4.5 Computer Labs 45 7.8 Development strategy 124 4.6 Housing and Dining 46 7.9 Astana 124 4.6.1 Faculty Housing 46 7.10 Places to go 126 4.7 Transport Services 49 APPENDICES 133 4.8 Opportunities in Sports 51 Appendix 1. Medical Clinics 134 4.9 Healthcare Services 59 Appendix 2. Emergency Services 135 Appendix 3. Frequently Asked Questions 135 ABOUT US 6 Nazarbayev University New Faculty Orientation manual 7 This governance structure is outlined in the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated January 19, 2011 “On the 1.1. INTRODUCTION status of “Nazarbayev University”, “Nazarbayev Intellectual schools” and “Nazarbayev Fund”. Nazarbayev University was created at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan The Supreme Board of Trustees is the highest governance body of “NU” headed by the Leader of the Nation, Nazarbayev, with the aim of becoming the first world-class research university in Kazakhstan, committed to Nursultan Nazarbayev. The role of the Supreme Board of Trustees includes the approval of the University’s long- international academic standards and guided by the principles of autonomy and academic freedom. NU is set term developmentstrategy. to become a national brand, which combines Kazakhstani identity with the best international educational and scientific practice. The next governance body of the University is the Board of Trustees chaired by the Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov. The Board is in charge of general management of the University’s activities, All of the research and educational activities of NU exist so that the university can aid the nation in meeting a very approval of annual and midterm budgets, decisions regarding the University’s executive body and other powers important goal – that is, entering the ranks of the world’s most developed countries by 2050. Our contribution in compliance with the University’s Charter. includes the development of advanced The Managing Council, chaired by the President of the University, is the collective executive body which oversees research capacity, innovation in technology and industry, and the transition to a system of education that meets and directs operations of the University, organizes implementation of the decisions of the Supreme Board of the demands of a changing and integrated global economy. NU will also contribute to the modernization of the Trustees and Board of Trustees. Current members of the Managing Council are the President of the University, Kazakhstan’s education system. Executive Vice President, Vice President for Student Affairs and International Cooperation, Provost, and General Counsel. Our Vision The Academic Council is the primary policy-making body for all academic matters relating to teaching and learning, To give Kazakhstan and the world the scientists, academics, managers and entrepreneurs they need to prosper academic quality assurance, academic management, and faculty management for the University. and develop. The Research Council is the primary policy-making body for all matters relating to scientific and academic research for the University, including approving and adopting policies, defining standards of research conduct and ethics, Our Mission organizing and managing the distribution of research funding, developing intellectual property policies. To be a model for higher education reform and modern research in Kazakhstan and to contribute to the establishment of Astana as an international innovation and knowledge hub. Policies and regulations In addition to the Charter of the University, the rules of operation for teaching and research at NU are set out in: Our Strategic Goals the Faculty Policies and Procedures, Academic Policies and Procedures, Research Council Policies and Procedures, Goal I: Educational Reform Leadership: To ensure that the lessons of NU’s experience are transferred and and Student Disciplinary Code and Procedures. As NU is growing and constantly evolving, some of these are understood by other universities, schools and research centers. regularly updated. Other rules and policies are created at the School level. Be sure to check with your Dean or Goal II: Academic Excellence: To achieve NU’s mission by developing and maintaining academic excellence. Associate Dean to get the current versions. As you progress with your research, you will also want to take a look at the NU Research Strategy 2013-2020 and NU Intellectual Property policy. Goal III: Research Excellence: To develop a program of world-class research by partnering with the world’s best researchers and research institutions. Goal IV: Creating a Model for Healthcare Services: To establish a healthcare system that will provide a model for healthcare services throughout Kazakhstan. Goal V: Innovation and Translating Research into Production: To become Kazakhstan’s main driver of innovation, leading the way for Astana to become a regional hub of innovation. Governance System The governance bodies of Nazarbayev University include: • Supreme Board of Trustees; • Board of Trustees of the University; • Executive decision-making body - Managing Council; • Decision-making body for academic matters - Academic Council; • Decision-making body for research matters - Research Council; 8 Nazarbayev University New Faculty Orientation manual 9 Maksat Mamashev 1.2 NAZARBAYEV UNIVERSITY’S LEADERSHIP TEAM Executive Vice President, Nazarbayev University Shigeo Katsu Maksat Mamashev graduated from the Kazakh State He has been a Financial Director, President, Nazarbayev University Academy of Management in International Finances Executive Director for Corporate and then Country Director, of the Bank’s Regional and from Gumilyov Eurasian National University Development and Advisor of the Shigeo Katsu is President of Mission in Abidjan, , Côte d’Ivoire. in Law. He holds a Master’s degree in International President on Business Development Nazarbayev University. He joined Business Economics from Anglia Polytechnic University, at the national company KEGOC JSC. the World Bank as a Young Mr. Katsu assumed the position of Regional Director, Cambridge (Great Britain) and an MBA degree from Since 2010 he has been a member Professional in 1979. In 1985, he Operations in 1999 where his responsibilities broadly the Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Before of the Board of Directors of the was appointed the Bank’s Resident consisted of assisting in the management of the his current assignment, he worked as a chief expert National Medical Holding JSC and Representative in Benin until fall ECA Region’s operations and serving as the Regional of the Division for Social and Economic Analysis at VicePresident of the endowment fund “Nazarbayev 1989. Between fall 1989 and Liaison with the corporate center. In August 2003 he the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Fund”. Since 2012 he is a member of the Board of the end of 1991, Mr. Katsu was became Vice President of the ECA Region, where he Kazakhstan, and as Director of the Department of Trustees of the Kazakhstan’s Geographic Society and seconded to the Export-Import served in this capacity for six years.