Passed the first online forum AKK Networking
The first Akk Networking online forum on "Education and Science" was held on August 22 with the support of the Foreign Koreans Foundation. The event was attended by professional speakers, experts and listeners from different regions of Kazakhstan, CIS countries and the Republic of Korea.
This is the first event of such scale held by the Association of Koreans of Kazakhstan in online format. The pandemic and related restrictive measures have led to a restructuring of operations and transition to new ways of working.
Over the course of more than four hours of online marathon, participants were able to discuss topical issues on the topic, exchange opinions, and enjoy the live performance of artists from different countries during the breaks between sessions.
The forum program included three sessions: "Network among representatives of education and science", "Career Guidance", "Training and Internship in South Korea". At the end of each session, participants asked questions to experts and were able to express their views.
Having announced the agenda, Natalia Khan, the moderator of the meeting, gave the floor to the guests of honor to welcome them.
Addressing the participants, Honorary President of «КАХАК», Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor, Chairman of the ACC Council of Elders Ivan Timofeyevich Pak noted that this forum is the beginning of the process of consolidation of representatives of science and education at the site of Akk Networking, wished everyone health and fruitful work.
ACC President Sergey Ogai said that the Akk Networking platform has been working for two years already, and its main goal is to unite professionals in different industries to share experiences, support and work together. It is not by chance that the topic of the first online forum was science and education, which today play a huge role in the development of almost all spheres.
On behalf of the Foundation for the Support of Foreign Koreans, the forum participants were welcomed by the representative of the Foundation in Kazakhstan, Yu Jiyoung. Having briefly told about educational programs implemented by the Foundation in Kazakhstan, she wished everyone a successful work.
Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Far East Department of Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi Natalya Em was the moderator of the first session of "Network among representatives of education and science". In her speech she outlined the problems that exist today in science and education. In particular, she spoke about the differences - in working methods, approaches, etc., existing between those who received education in Soviet times and young scientists, as well as about the status and support of scientists they had in the past and have now.
Ivan Timofeyevich Pak continued the topic by briefly talking about the system of incentives for scientists that existed in Soviet times. The professor said that the reason for the decline in the status of scientists, lack of interest in science from young people is the lack of decent support from the state.
In her turn, Natalia Em noted that today the state implements various programs to support science, while at the same time it is necessary to find other ways. The ACC can also use its available resources, including establishing ties with South Korea.
Doctor of History, Professor, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Director of the Institute of Asian Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, ACC Vice-President German Kim spoke about the role of Networking in the scientific environment. The scientist emphasized that research activity is a purely individual thing, but the organization of science is a collective process, using various tools, including networking.
The next expert was Grigory Moon, President of KAHAK, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Technology of Organic Substances, Natural Compounds and Polymers. The speaker told about cooperation of Kazakhstan scientists with colleagues from South Korea, about involving students in scientific work, in development of innovations. As an example, the professor told about the work on the project to develop non-biological methods of combating COVID-19.
At the end of the session, the experts answered the questions received, and those who wished to express their views were also able to do so. In the course of the dialogue, ways of cooperation between science and business and implementation of startups were discussed. The speakers gave practical recommendations to young scientists.
Ludmila Lee, Chair of Тхоньиль-Атырау, a Korean ethno-cultural association, suggested creating a community of mentors in science that would help young scientists develop.
At the end of the session, the participants of the forum were presented live by «Мэринэ» Group (Bishkek), Marina Te (Moscow) and Oleg Kim (Seoul).
Beginning with the second session, which was devoted to career guidance, its moderator Sergei Ogai noted that at present there is a paradoxical situation on the domestic labor market. On the one hand, the number of unemployed is growing, and many go abroad to work. On the other hand, there is an acute shortage of qualified specialists in various fields, such as IT-technology, education, medicine, etc.
Among the problems that provoked this state of affairs, the speaker noted the lack of demand for individual specialists on the labor market, deterioration of the socio-economic situation, as well as corruption risks that hinder the development of social elevator system.
One of the effective solutions to this issue is the correct career guidance of young Kazakhstanis. As noted by the invited expert, Dr. Phd, professor Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, Nelli Khan, today only 5% of Kazakh school graduates have decided on their future professions, that is, the problem has a systemic nature, and it should be addressed at different levels. As specific tools, the professor suggested to create special high-tech platforms where schoolchildren could try on various professions, conduct trainings, master-classes, involve large corporations in this process. In addition, it was said that it is necessary to introduce a special career guidance subject into the school curriculum; such practice exists in many developed countries.
Speaking about the choice of profession, business coach, member of the analytical group of AKK Alexander Lee noted that a modern person often has to face this issue several times in his life, respectively, change his career guidance. That is why it is not so important what kind of profession a person has mastered at university or college, but how much he or she is generally able to learn, acquire new skills and adapt to changing conditions. Among the questions raised in this session, most concerned how to help a child make the right career choice, and what tools are available for this. The experts gave practical recommendations and named specific methods.During a break between the second and third sessions, the participants were pleased with their works: Yuri Pak (Almaty), Daniel Yun (Almaty), Vyacheslav Sim (Tashkent).
"Training and Internship in South Korea" - the theme of the third session, which was moderated by a member of the Presidium Tatiana Nam. It should be noted at once that this topic aroused increased interest among high school students and students, from whom many questions were received.
The head of the educational part of the Center for Education at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, Olga Yun told about the existing educational programs and grants. The expert in details shared information on how the selection of candidates is carried out, what criteria are important when submitting applications.
Professor Nelly Han made a presentation on the options for training in South Korea. The speaker talked about several leading universities in Korea and conditions for admission and study there. At the end of the keynote speeches, the participants raised a number of questions related to the possibility of studying in the Republic of Korea, to which the invited experts provided competent answers.
Summing up the online forum, AKK President Sergey Ogai noted:
- Based on what was said today, we will create Networking among scientists, regardless of age, in different industries. We will also start the work on forming a community of mentor scientists in the regions of the republic. Besides, we will intensify work on attracting experts in the field of career guidance. In general, this forum has shown how we can interact at our Akk Networking site. In the future, meetings in this format will continue.
Konstantin KIM
Republican newspaper «Koryo Ilbo»
