Conference

 

2^nd AlmaU International Conference on the topic:

“Public Trust and Social Capital”

 

Date: 14^th December, 14.00-17.30 (Almaty time)

Format: online (YouTube Channels)

Languages: Kazakh, Russian and English (simultaneous interpretation)

 

CONCEPT NOTE

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Context:

Almaty Management University (AlmaU) is glad to announce that is hosting its 2^nd international conference on the topic “public trust and social capital”. As known, AlmaU is actively committed to the development of civil society in Kazakhstan as part of its third mission. This important gathering is, therefore, a unique occasion for an exchange of opinions, expertise and best-practices about the construction of positive relations between public institutions and civil society.

Public trust and social capital are fundamental pillars for building a cohesive and dynamic civil society. To nurture them, however, it is important to enhance factors like public reliability, responsiveness, openness, regulation, inclusiveness and integrity. In this regard, higher education might act as bridge by linking the demands coming from the public society with the responsive policy promoted by governmental institutions.    

Prominent national and international figures from academia, government, business, international organizations, NGOs and mass media will take part in the event as speakers and participants. By assessing the issue through multiple lenses, it is expected that this meeting will foster the spreading of innovative ideas and it will introduce new opportunities of cooperation among its participants.

 

Expected Outcomes:

The conference is aimed at:

• sharing the latest academic research in the field of public trust and social capital in Kazakhstan;
• encouraging constructive discussions about recent trends and practices in the sphere of public trust and social capital;
• supporting the development of new forms of cooperation among all those who are interested in strengthening civil society in Kazakhstan.

 

Structure of the Event:

• Plenary-session on the theme “Public trust and social capital in Kazakhstan 30 years after independence: trends and dynamics”: this session analytically examines the issue of public trust and social capital in Kazakhstan through an historical perspective. The core idea is to identify the challenges that have been already successfully faced by Kazakh public institutions and those ones that are still in the agenda. By doing so, this session will constructively reflect on those innovative approaches and best practices that have been specifically proposed to respond to the new challenges of the XXI century.
• First thematic session on the theme “Building public trust through citizen engagement”: this session will focus the attention on the creation of an inclusive and responsive system that could best meet the needs of civil society. The results of different academic research and scientific projects will, indeed, be discussed in the attempt to identify a valuable plan of action for the future development of civil society in Kazakhstan.
• Second thematic session on the theme “NGOs as drivers of social change”: this session will focus on the role of non-governmental organizations in shaping a new socio-political context in Kazakhstan. By listening to the experience of diverse leaders of non-governmental and civil society organizations it will be possible to identify both new opportunities of improvement as well as enduring challenges that are restraining a positive transformation of civil society.

 

 

CONFERENCE AGENDA, 14^th December 2021

 

 

List of Confirmed Speakers:

Assylbek Kozhakhmetov, President of AlmaU

 

Kevin M. Leyden, Professor of Political Science, School of Political Science
and Sociology & The Whitaker Institute (Ireland)

 

Chiara Pierobon, Post-Doctoral Fellow at Bielefeld University (Germany) and
Associate Researcher Fellow at Kyrgyz-National University and OSCE
Academy (Kyrgyzstan)

 

Dina Sharipova, Assistant Professor, Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan)

 

Irina Mednikova, Regional Programme Coordinator Internews Network

 

Tatiana Zinovich, Legal Policy Research Center

 

Berik Abdigaliyev, Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament
of the Republic of Kazakhstan

 

Aiman Zhusupova, Sociologist

Serik Seidumanov, Former Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament
of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Academician

 

Zhanar Temirbekova, Rector of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi
International Kazakh-Turkish University

 

Dina Maratovna Aikenova, PhD, Analyst-Manager of the Center for the
Study of Public Processes, NJSC "KIOR" Rukhani Zhagyru

 

Kazbek Umirzakovich Maigeldinov, Head of the Center for the Study of
Public Processes, NJSC "KIOR" Rukhani Zhagyru, member of the Nur
Otan Public Council

 

Dosym Satpayev, Co-founder of the Alliance of Analytical Organizations
of Kazakhstan and a member of the Presidium of Kazakhstan Council on
International relations

 

Grigol Gegelia, Associate Professor, British University in Georgia

 

Serik Jaxylyk, Consultant

 

 

Moderators

Gulnara Kurenkeyeva, Rector Almaty Management University

 

Alberto Frigerio, Dean of the School of Politics and Law, AlmaU

 

Aurora Diaz, Director of AlmaU Center for the Development of Civil Society