On November 27, 2025, an offsite seminar of the Educational and Methodological Association (EMA) in the areas of “Information and Communication Technologies” and “Information Security” was held in Astana on the topic “Cyber Knowledge Day: Threats, Protection, Prospects.” The event took place at AstanaHub and brought together representatives from government agencies, leading universities in the country, industry, and key stakeholders.

The seminar was organized with the participation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, and the EMA’s base university, the Joint-Stock Company “International Information Technologies University” (IITU).

The seminar program began with a tour of the State Technical Service (STS), where participants were introduced to the work of key divisions responsible for national cybersecurity. They learned about the functioning of the National Coordination Center for Information Security and current mechanisms for monitoring and responding to cyber threats.

The seminar was opened by Doszhan Ualdinovich Musaliev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Gulzhan Sagidullaevna Zharasova, Chairperson of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Vice Minister Musaliev emphasized that the rapid development of digital technologies and artificial intelligence is accompanied by the growth of cyber threats, which are becoming part of everyday life. He highlighted the need to train strong and motivated specialists capable of protecting critical infrastructure, developing modern solutions, and modeling complex threats. The Vice Minister outlined priorities for further work: improving the quality of workforce training, strengthening selection processes, updating educational programs with a focus on practical skills and contemporary challenges, and reinforcing the role of universities and educators as key elements in shaping the professionals of the future. He also noted that strengthening cybersecurity training is a directive at the level of the Security Council and that systematic work in this area is already underway.

Gulzhan Sagidullaevna Zharasova noted that, although several universities already train specialists in information security, further development of the field is necessary for the country. She emphasized the importance of creating scientific laboratories and research centers that will allow not only for training but also for advancing domestic research and technologies in cybersecurity. She highlighted that Kazakhstan needs specialists who will contribute to building a digital state and developing national information security solutions.

Central topics of the seminar included the implementation of a new professional standard in cybersecurity, current trends in cyber threats, the integration of AI technologies into specialist training, the development of research competencies, and the modern requirements of the labor market.

In the afternoon, a practical session was held with participation from universities, employers, and ministry representatives. Working groups analyzed existing educational programs, compared them with the new professional standard and international practices, and developed proposals for updating the content of specialized courses.

As a result of the event, participants prepared recommendations for the development and modernization of educational programs in information security. Special attention was given to updating curricula based on the new professional standard “Activities in the Field of Cybersecurity,” strengthening practice-oriented training, integrating modules on artificial intelligence and digital technologies, expanding dual-format training, and developing students’ research and communication competencies.

The seminar served as an important platform for consolidating the efforts of the government, the academic community, and industry to train highly qualified personnel for Kazakhstan’s digital economy.