AccelEd Project

AccelEd (Accelerating Master and PhD level Nursing Education Development in the Higher Education System in Kazakhstan), project No:618052-EPP-1-2020-1-LT-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP is an EACEA Erasmus + funded collaborative project with the goal of promoting the independent science status of nursing science as well as Master's and Doctoral education in the subject in Kazakhstan. Through the introduction of care science, research-based working methods in the education of care teachers and researchers, the quality of care is also indirectly developed.

Target groups: Master‘s and PhD students of medical universities, teaching staff of nursing faculties of medical universities and colleges in Kazakhstan, nurse practitioners, nursing associations, MoH, MoEDS, National Center for Health Development, local and regional health institutions and medical centers.

What is AccelEd?

The project “Accelerating Master and PhD level Nursing Education Development in the Higher Education System in Kazakhstan – AccelEd” seeks to reform nursing science and research in the higher education system of Kazakhstan, focusing on modernization of governance, management, and functioning of healthcare and physical-sciences-related higher education practices in Kazakhstan.

Modernization in the framework of AccelEd means improvement of governance, planning, service quality assurance, internationalization, and wider recognition of nursing education on Master and PhD. level, as well as contribution to the lifelong learning promotion in the nursing field. As a structural project, AccelEd will be implemented with the assistance of the ministries responsible for healthcare and education, to ensure the sustainability of actions and incorporation of them into the future operational plans of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A set of aims and objectives of the AccelEd project was based on the challenges of nursing higher education and the specific needs of the project‘s target groups. A wide range of national, local, and international stakeholders, including academic staff and policy-makers, were engaged in feasibility of the project proposal, therefore ensuring the aims and objectives are both reachable and relevant for the national context in Kazakhstan. Thus, the general project goal to strengthen nursing education on Master level and establishing and launching PhD nursing science in Kazakhstan through changes in state policy, legal framework and institutional structures corresponding to the strategic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan and meeting the needs expressed by the specialists who are involved in the nursing education, research, and clinical practice.

Key directions of the project’s work

In order to reach the aim, project is implemented in four directions, concentrated in four academic work packages accordingly:

1. Strengthening nursing science in Kazakhstan through the capacity building of teaching staff based on contemporary issues in global nursing(WP2.1).

AccelEd intends to develop competencies of nursing faculty members in order to ensure smooth implementation of three cycles of Bologna-type reforms in education and will enact the trinity of the education, practice, and research of nursing in the country.

Responsible partners: Åbo Akademi University and Astana Medical University.

2. Joining the broader international community of nursing researchers to build the capacity of nursing faculty in research methodologies (WP 2.2).

Best European practices and methodologies are to be transferred for application by the teachers of nursing research (peer-learning, counseling, and internship experiences).

Responsible partners: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Nazarbayev University Medical School.

3. Creating sustainable structures and systematic processes for cooperation in nursing research between medical universities and healthcare institutions to foster evidence-based nursing (WP 2.3).

New approaches and tools are to be introduced to the project target groups in order to facilitate the creation of sustainable continuation and application of nursing education and research to practical innovation development in the healthcare system.

Responsible partners: JAMK University of Applied Sciences and Karaganda Medical University.

4. Initiating structural and institutional changes in managing Master and Ph.D. level nursing education and quality assurance of post-graduate education in nursing according to best European practices (WP2.4).

Activities carried out by the project address improvement of quality assurance system in nursing Master and PhD level education, developing competence in nursing research and final theses development and setting clear guidelines for graduates and evaluators of nursing faculties of KZ medical universities.

Responsible partners: Utrecht University Medical Centre and S. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.

More information may be found on the website: https://project-acceled.com/

Disclaimer
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.