The purpose of the study. Assessment of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of education based on a study of the implementation of e-learning technologies using digital platforms in both foreign and Kazakhstani universities.Methodology. Problems related to online learning and possible solutions were identified based on a retrospective and comparative analysis of foreign and Kazakhstan scientific research. Scientific literature search was carried out in large databases: Researchgate, Springer, ScienceDirect. During the search, 481 scientific articles were found that matched the entered search parameters. Given the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 465 papers were screened out, and the remaining 16 were sent for analysis.Originality / value of the research. Along with identifying barriers to the introduction of e-learning, the main factors during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified that influenced the effectiveness of the educational process. The study revealed that digital platforms create sustainable competitive advantages and are the main tool for modernizing the learning process.Findings. As a result of the study, the most significant factors related to technological knowledge management, as well as the level of readiness of universities, teachers and students to implement e-learning, were identified.

The abstract presents a critical review of the existing approaches to the assessment of the sustainability of the region that defines the development level of the social and economic system. The authors conducted the assessment of sustainability of the biggest region of Kazakhstan, Almaty oblast. The city of Almaty is a city of republican status and is not administratively part of Almaty oblast. The findings showed that in terms of dynamics the development of Almaty oblast as such is characterised as very close to being a sustainable one. Regardless of the fact that environmental and economic subsystems have shown stable growth, the social subsystem has features of instability.

The effective functioning of a smart university management system significantly improves higher education institutions’ competitiveness. This study aims to assess the implementation of a smart university management system on the example of Kazakh Ablai khan International Relations and World Languages University. The paper considers elements of a smart university system (smart learning technology infrastructure, smart faculty staff, and smart students) from the university managers’ and students’ viewpoints using the stepwise algorithm to raise the university’s competitiveness. During the study, 2700 students were surveyed to assess the implementation and operation of smart systems at the university, and ten experts (the expert team consists of deans and head of departments) were interviewed to identify the weights of each element. The survey results showed that the technology infrastructure for smart learning at the university is at a lower level (50%) than the competence of the teaching staff (60%) and students (89%). Furthermore, based on standardized factor scores and the weighted average, the implementation level of a smart university management system is low – C (0.498), where the weighted assessment of smart learning technology infrastructure is 0.2, smart teaching faculty – 0.19, and smart students – 0.108. According to the results, the university management needs to develop the smart learning technology infrastructure (free Wi-Fi, smart education environment, and smart classrooms) and improve the qualifications of its teaching staff (knowledge and skills, content of the courses, and educational process).

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The aim of the study is to examine Kazakhstani students’ career plans and the primary elements that influence their entrepreneurial inclinations. The Kazakh database GUESSS (Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey) was used in the study. The goal of the GUESSS project is to generate unique and new ideas about student entrepreneurship in the form of academic and practical results. Our study demonstrates that respondents’ personal qualities, family and social affiliations, and the university environment all have an effect on students’ entrepreneurial inclinations. Kazakhstan participated in the GUESSS international survey three times in 2016, 2018, and 2021 as the primary tool for analysis. The GUESSS national report’s key findings from previous years were incorporated. The study thoroughly evaluates the entrepreneurship literature and the factors that influence entrepreneurial intentions. The study’s findings evaluated the primary characteristics of Kazakhstani students’ entrepreneurial goals in contrast to global trends. Analyzing the critical elements influencing students’ career intentions enables institutions to design policies and practices that support the growth of students’ entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, the findings of this paper accurately represent the entrepreneurial intentions and ambitions of Kazakhstani university students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. The major findings about the impact of the university environment on students’ entrepreneurial objectives, intentions, and motivation are highlighted as well. The study identifiesthe critical elements for fostering a more supportive and inspiring environment conducive to entrepreneurship in higher education. The university professors,students, and university administrations can benefitsignificantly from thisstudy, and educational policy administrators and entrepreneurs can greatly improve business-university engagement opportunities.