Pavlodar State Pedagogical University
A modern educational program is not only high educational standards, an updated educational trajectory of training, advanced educational methods and technologies, but also a strong research base, successfully integrated into the educational process. Educational programs 6B01530 «Computer science», 6B01531 «Information technologies in education» and 7M01530 «Computer science» strive to meet the specified requirements.
The research base of educational programs has a traditional research infrastructure, including the accumulated research fund of works and works of leading scientists and an established organizational system of research and cooperation.
Within the framework of the general scientific direction, the teaching staff implements the following initiative topics:
- Development of professional competence of students and problems of teaching methods of informatics.
- Methodology for using augmented reality in the development of programmed digital educational resources.
- Using the methodology of distributed computer science teaching using the Internet of Things technology.
The active participation of the teaching staff of the «Computer science» EP in grant-funded research projects: «The system of teaching robotics in a pedagogical university as a factor in the preparation of a universal teacher of STEM education», funded by the Pavlodar State Pedagogical Institute (the amount of grant funding amounted to 2,500 thousand tenge). 2016 year. «Development and implementation of an online resource on informatics for secondary education with updated content», funded by the Pavlodar Pedagogical State Institute (the amount of grant funding was 2,000 thousand tenge). 2016 year. «Scientific and applied project of digital educational resources using augmented reality technologies and gamification of education», 2017 year. «Modernization of Higher Education in Central Asia through new technologies (HiEdTec)», the Erasmus + project of the European Union. 2018-2020.
The teaching staff of the educational programs «Informatics» are actively conducting seminars, webinars, master classes in different universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan for school teachers and teachers of the college and university:
- master classes on the topics: «Designing microrobots», «Methods of teaching educational robotics», «Basics of designing and programming microrobots», «Designing microrobots», «Digital visualization of objects for augmented and virtual realitie», «Training of teachers for the IT class». Basic level: Robotics, 3D modeling. Advanced Level: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality.
- seminars on the topics: «Forms and methods of conducting lessons on the basics of robotics», «Selected sections of educational robotics», «The use of information and communication technologies in the educational process in organizations of additional education», «Educational robotics as a tool for the development of STEM learning», «Design and construction of technological maps for teaching robotics».
- webinars on the topics: «Innovative Educational Technologies and Didactic Models», «Modern approaches to teaching at school using distance learning technologies», «Innovative educational technologies in education», «Management in education».
The research internship of the teaching staff and students of the EP "Computer science" took place in the following foreign universities: University of Sussex. Brighton, England; Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, Minsk, Republic of Belarus; State University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; University of Economics of Bratislava, Slovak Republic; National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications, Italy. Varna University of Management, Dobrich, Bulgaria; Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
From 2016 to the present, the teaching staff of Informatics has published 11 -publications in scientific journals indexed by the Thomson Reuters base, Scopus; in journals (RSCI, VAK) - 22 publications; in the edition of the RK - 73 publications; teaching aids - 9, certificates of state registration of intellectual property objects for electronic teaching aids and digital educational resources - 4.
Research Activities of the Educational Programme “Informatics” for the 2025–2026 Academic Year
1. General Overview of Research Activities
2. Faculty Participation in Research Projects
3. Publication Activity Results in 2026
4. Monographs and Scientific-Methodological Publications
5. Intellectual Property Objects
6. Student Research Activities
7. Participation of Master’s and Doctoral Students in Research Projects
8. Enhancement of Research Qualifications and International Cooperation
9. Development of Inter-University Scientific and Educational Cooperation in the Republic of Kazakhstan
10. International Scientific Cooperation and Foreign Academic Advising of Doctoral Students
11. Key Research Outcomes of the Programme
12. Tasks for the 2026–2027 Academic Year
In the 2025–2026 academic year, the research activities of the Educational Programme “Informatics” were aimed at developing the research potential of the faculty, implementing grant-funded and programme-targeted research projects, publishing research findings in national and international scholarly journals, developing intellectual property, preparing scientific and educational-methodological publications, and engaging undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in research and project activities.
The priority research areas of the programme included the application of artificial intelligence and generative technologies in education, the digital transformation of teacher education, STEM/STEAM education and the development of engineering thinking, intelligent learning systems, the development of gifted schoolchildren, augmented and virtual reality, cybersecurity of the educational environment, active learning methods, teachers’ digital competence, and the use of cloud technologies.
One of the key areas of the programme’s activity is the participation of faculty members in funded research projects.
During the reporting period, the faculty of the programme participated in the implementation of the following projects:
AP19678646 “Pedagogical Support for Cybersecurity in the School Environment Using Compliance Management”, implementation period — 2023–2025. D.B. Abykenova and A.Zh. Asainova participated as programme researchers. The project funding amounted to KZT 65.608 million. The project concluded with the preparation of a final report for the National Center of Science and Technology Evaluation (NCSTE).
A26195083 “Application of Artificial Intelligence for Creating Educational Content: Opportunities and Challenges for Future Teachers in the Digital Media Space”, implementation period — 2025–2027; project leader/researcher from the programme — D.B. Abykenova. Funding — KZT 90 million.
BR28712263 “Creation of a Comprehensive Scientific and Innovative System for Training Teaching Staff for the Development of Gifted Children in Kazakhstan”, implementation period — 2025–2027. A.Zh. Asainova participates in the project on behalf of the programme. For 2025, the documents indicate programme funding in the amount of KZT 1 billion.
Research projects are directly integrated with the training of highly qualified research personnel. Doctoral students B.B. Zhanaydarov and S.B. Beisenova participate in project BR28712263.
Thus, the research activity of the programme is characterized by a transition from individual studies to comprehensive interdisciplinary projects in artificial intelligence, intelligent educational systems, digital pedagogy, and the development of future teachers’ professional competencies.
Faculty Publication Activity
During the reporting period, programme faculty published research findings in journals indexed in the international Scopus database, as well as in publications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education.
A significant result of 2025 was the publication of the article:
Mukhamediyeva K., Nurbekova Zh., Nurgazinova G., Aimicheva G. “Enhancing engineering thinking skills of pre-service IT teachers through cross-cutting educational technologies and STEM projects”, International Journal of Education and Practice, 2025, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 669–687. The journal is classified in the Social Sciences – Education category, Q3 quartile, 48th percentile.
Zh.E. Taichik is a co-author of the publication “An Adaptive Steganographic Method for Reversible Information Embedding in X-Ray Images”, published in Computers (MDPI), 2025, Vol. 14, Issue 9.
Research by programme faculty on current areas of digital education is represented in journals recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education. In particular, A.Zh. Asainova, Zh.O. Zhilbayev, D.B. Abykenova, and K.M. Mukhamediyeva published the article “The Influence of Parents’ Digital Literacy on Strategies for Ensuring Children’s Online Safety” in the journal “Bilim-Education”.
K.M. Mukhamediyeva and G.Sh. Nurgazinova published the article “Development of Students’ Engineering Thinking in STEM: An Example of an Integrated STEM Project” in the “Pedagogical Sciences” series of Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages.
D.I. Kabenov and K.R. Kusmanov are also co-authors of the study “Influence of artificial neural networks on education”, published in The Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Zh.E. Taichik published the study “The use of cloud technologies in the educational process of the school” in the journal of Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages.
The proceedings of international conferences presented research results devoted to STEM project design, the development of engineering and algorithmic thinking, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. In particular, G.Sh. Nurgazinova, K.M. Mukhamediyeva, G.I. Aimicheva, and K.I. Soltanalinov presented a study on the development of engineering thinking among future IT teachers at the 10th International Scientific and Methodological Conference dedicated to the 40th anniversary of school informatics.
I.O. Saifurova presented the study “AI-Supported Gamification for Developing Algorithmic Thinking in Programming” at the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Informatization of Education: Theory and Practice” in Omsk.
The positive dynamics of research activity continued in 2026.
The following publications were recorded in the first quarter and in April–May 2026:
D.B. Abykenova, B.B. Zhanaydarov, A.Zh. Asainova, G.M. Abildinova — “Integration of artificial intelligence in education through the TPACK framework”, “Orleu. Bulletin of Continuing Education”, 2026, No. 1.
Abykenova D., Kanaibekova G., Abildinova G. — “The artificial intelligence in education as a way to construct educational content: bibliometric analysis”, Bulletin of Zhetysu University named after I. Zhansugurov, 2026, No. 1(118), pp. 7–18.
R.A. Yeltinova, as part of a team of authors, published the paper “Development of an Analytical Monitoring Dashboard within the Structure of an Information and Analytical System for Assessing the Material Provision of Regional Educational Organizations” in the Bulletin of KazUTB, 2026.
G.Sh. Nurgazinova and K.M. Mukhamediyeva published the article “Designing Integrated STEM Projects as a Tool for Developing Engineering Thinking among Future IT Teachers” in the journal 3i: intellect, idea, innovation, 2026, Vol. 2, No. 1.
The international Scopus database includes the publication by D.B. Abykenova and co-authors, “Profile of an AI-era teacher: research on the relationship between digital competence and readiness for technological innovation”, in Frontiers in Education, 2026.
Thus, in 2026, research continued to expand in the areas of artificial intelligence, teachers’ digital competence, STEM, and the digital transformation of education.
In 2025, two monographs were published with the participation of programme faculty:
In 2026, the preparation of educational and methodological publications continued.
D.B. Abykenova, in co-authorship, prepared the educational-methodological manual “Development of Digital Educational Content Based on Artificial Intelligence”, 124 pages.
In addition to the planned publication, further scientific and methodological works were published, including:
- “Methodology of Teaching Informatics”, T.K. Koibagarova, R.A. Yeltinova, 2026, 412 pp.;
- the monograph “Developing teachers' digital skills through AR masks”, D.B. Abykenova, G.M. Abildinova, 2026, 192 p.;
- methodological recommendations “Development of Digital Skills in Social Networks”, 2026, 116 pp.;
- methodological guidelines “Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Development of Educational Content”, 2026, 176 pp.
At the same time, two planned educational-methodological manuals — “Augmented Reality” by R.A. Yeltinova and “Lego Mindstorms: Walking Robots” by K.M. Mukhamediyeva, G.Sh. Nurgazinova, N.L. Blok, and N.A. Kairdenova — were postponed to the next academic year.
Considerable attention within the programme is devoted to formalizing research results as intellectual property objects.
In 2025–2026, the following were registered, among others:
- a model for teaching active methods PBL, CBL, TB and digital technologies — Certificate No. 56166 dated 28 March 2025;
- the software programme “Training Higher Education Teachers to Apply Active Learning Methods Based on Case-, Team-, Problem-Based Learning and Digital Technologies” — Certificate No. 57976 dated 14 May 2025;
- a software product for pedagogical support of cybersecurity in the school environment — Certificate No. 58167 dated 16 May 2025;
- digital educational resources “Ratio and Proportion”, “Short Multiplication Formulas”, and “Divisibility of Natural Numbers”, registered in December 2025;
- “Structural Model of the Architecture of an Intelligent Learning System for Developing Giftedness in Schoolchildren” — Certificate of State Registration of an Intellectual Property Object No. 66030 dated 5 January 2026.
The registration of intellectual property objects demonstrates the practical orientation of the research and the transformation of research results into concrete digital, methodological, and software products.
One of the priority areas is the involvement of students in research, project, and innovation activities.
In October 2025, programme students took part in the AI start-up competition “AI Leaders – Faces of AI-Sana”. The following projects were presented:
The projects were supervised by R.A. Yeltinova.
The janANA and PeriBloom projects were also presented at the NeoNatalAI hackathon on 22 October 2025.
At the Student Research Competition in February 2026, programme students presented the works “Problems and Prospects of Integrating STEAM Education into Informatics Lessons” by Takhmina Amantayeva and “Research Navigator” by Artem Ustimenko. Research supervisor — R.A. Yeltinova.
On 11 February, as part of the scientific, cognitive, and intellectual activities of students of the “Informatics” programme, the event “Algorithm of Reason: The Legacy of Alan Turing” was held. It was organized by second-year students for first-year students. The event aimed to develop logical thinking, intellectual engagement, erudition, and teamwork skills. The programme consisted of four thematic rounds featuring tasks of varying complexity and encouraging the application of analytical and algorithmic thinking. The event contributed to fostering students’ interest in informatics and the history of computing, developing a culture of intellectual interaction, and increasing their engagement in educational and research activities.
This demonstrates the development of students’ research and project competencies and the orientation of student research toward addressing current challenges of digital transformation and the application of artificial intelligence.
Particular attention is paid to continuity in research training at the master’s and doctoral levels.
Master’s students N.N. Merkulov and Zh. Daiyr were involved at different times in project AP19678646 on pedagogical support for cybersecurity in the school environment. Zh. Daiyr continued work on the project in the 2025–2026 academic year.
Since 2026, master’s student K. Soltanaliev has been involved in work on a submitted grant funding application for a project to develop an intelligent platform for enhancing engineering thinking through the design of AI agents.
Doctoral students B.B. Zhanaydarov and S.B. Beisenova are involved in programme-targeted project BR28712263, aimed at creating a comprehensive system for training teaching staff to support the development of gifted children in Kazakhstan.
This approach ensures the integration of faculty research with master’s and doctoral studies and contributes to the formation of a research school in digital pedagogy, artificial intelligence, and intelligent educational systems.
Faculty members of the “Informatics” Educational Programme systematically enhance their professional and research qualifications through international internships at leading universities and research and educational centres. International internship activities are focused on studying contemporary educational models, digital and pedagogical technologies, innovative approaches to organizing research, and advanced practices in artificial intelligence, STEM/STEAM education, inclusive pedagogy, and curriculum design. Participation in international programmes contributes to expanding the academic and research links of the “Informatics” programme, developing joint research and publications, improving the quality of the educational process, and integrating international experience into course content and scientific-methodological activities.
Zhamilya Yerbolatovna Taichik and Altynai Abayevna Dzhakina, Masters of Informatics and senior lecturers of the “Informatics” Educational Programme, completed a research internship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) from 27 May 2024 to 25 May 2025 under the “Bolashak” – “500 Scientists” programme in the area of “Information Technologies and Systems: Big Data Analytics”. During the internship, they conducted research in Data Science and Machine Learning focused on assessing key competencies of IT students using cognitive diagnostic models (CDM, G-DINA).
In addition to research work, they participated in international seminars, conferences, and educational events and interacted with UIUC faculty and researchers. The international experience gained expanded their professional competencies in educational data analysis, modern digital technologies, and research, and is currently applied in teaching and scientific-methodological activities.
Along with other faculty members of the “Informatics” Educational Programme who actively participate in international internship programmes, Indira Orumbayevna Saifurova also completed a research internship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (USA) in the specialty “Information Systems” from 15 November 2024 to 14 November 2025 under the “500 Scientists” programme. The internship was aimed at developing research, academic, and professional competencies in information systems and digital technologies in education, improving English-language scientific communication skills, and studying international experience in organizing the educational process and contemporary research practices.
The outcomes of the internship are used to improve the educational, research, and methodological activities of the “Informatics” programme and to further integrate advanced international experience into the training of future teachers.
In 2025, the faculty of the “Informatics” Educational Programme carried out systematic work to develop international research cooperation within ongoing research projects. In particular, within project BR28712263, Almagul Zhayakovna Asainova, Dariya Bolatovna Abykenova, and Raushan Amanzholovna Yeltinova made a working visit to Aksaray University, Aksaray, Türkiye, from 12 to 18 October 2025. The visit was aimed at expanding international academic interaction, exchanging research experience, and developing prospects for joint research activities.
Within project A26195083 “Application of Artificial Intelligence for Creating Educational Content: Opportunities and Challenges for Future Teachers in the Digital Media Space” for 2025–2027 (agreement with the Science Committee No. 231/25-27GF dated 22 September 2025), Dariya Bolatovna Abykenova visited Serdang, Malaysia, from 10 to 19 December 2025 to establish and develop cooperation with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). In addition, as part of the same project, Dariya Bolatovna Abykenova made an international visit to Spain from 2 to 9 October 2025 related to developing cooperation with the University of Granada.
These international visits were aimed at strengthening research contacts, expanding partnerships with foreign universities, exchanging research experience, and creating conditions for joint scientific initiatives, publication activity, and academic interaction.
As part of the development of international cooperation and the enhancement of faculty professional qualifications, teachers of the “Informatics” Educational Programme completed international internships in Finland. In May 2025, K.M. Mukhamediyeva completed an internship at the University of Jyväskylä, where she studied the Finnish education system, principles of student-centred and individualized learning, inclusive approaches, teacher education, and international assessments of education quality, including PISA and PIRLS. Following the internship, areas were identified for introducing elements of Phenomenon-Based Learning, developing students’ critical and research thinking, and improving feedback practices.
In May 2026, G.Sh. Nurgazinova completed an international internship at educational and research organizations in Lahti and Helsinki, including LAB University of Applied Sciences, the University of Helsinki, Lahti University Campus, and Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT). The internship covered practice-oriented and research-based learning, digital technologies, STEAM approaches, interdisciplinarity, university collaboration with employers and schools, as well as academic mobility and the implementation of joint scientific and educational projects.
As a result of the visit, professional contacts were established with representatives of Finnish universities, and prospects for joint seminars, online lectures, research, and participation in international grant programmes were discussed.
Within the framework of project BR28712263 “Creation of a Comprehensive Scientific and Innovative System for Training Personnel for the Development of Gifted Children in Kazakhstan”, a team of researchers from Margulan University made a working visit to Curtin University (Malaysia) aimed at professional development and expanding international research cooperation. Professor Almagul Zhayakovna Asainova participated in the delegation on behalf of the “Informatics” Educational Programme, enabling the direct integration of the international experience gained into the programme’s research and educational activities. During the programme, representatives of Margulan University completed an 80-hour professional development course on neurodiversity focused on cognitive research and the development of educational programmes for giftedness development. The course addressed the inclusion of people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other developmental characteristics in educational and professional settings, as well as advanced international practices for creating inclusive environments.
The second key component of the visit was a course in bibliometrics, which enables quantitative analysis of publications, citations, and research productivity. Participants mastered contemporary tools and methods for evaluating the quality and impact of scholarly publications, working with major international databases (Scopus, Web of Science), and strategically planning research activities.
In addition, the Margulan University delegation participated in the international conference “From Evidence to Legacy: Transforming Research into Sustainable Action”, held from 3 to 5 December. Researchers from 55 countries participated in the scientific forum.
During the programme, representatives of Margulan University completed an 80-hour professional development course on neurodiversity focused on cognitive research and the development of educational programmes for giftedness development. The course addressed the inclusion of people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other developmental characteristics in educational and professional settings, as well as advanced international practices for creating inclusive environments.
The “Informatics” Educational Programme consistently develops scientific and educational cooperation with leading higher and postgraduate education institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Particular importance is attached to sustainable professional interaction with researchers from L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, and Ozbekali Zhanibekov South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University. Cooperation is carried out through academic and scientific exchange, expert and advisory activities, reviewing scientific and dissertation works, participation in scientific conferences, seminars and round tables, and discussion of current research areas in informatics, digital education, artificial intelligence, and teacher training. Such interaction contributes to expanding the professional networks of faculty, master’s and doctoral students, improving the quality of research, exchanging advanced methodological practices, and strengthening inter-university cooperation in the training of competitive specialists in Informatics.
An important area of the “Informatics” Educational Programme’s research activity is the development of international cooperation and the engagement of foreign scholars in the academic advising of doctoral students. The programme’s foreign academic adviser for doctoral students is Professor Dr. Muazzam Ali Khan Khattak, representing Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
The professor has extensive research, organizational, and expert experience. He is the author and co-author of approximately 190 scientific publications, including articles in leading international journals, conference papers, and book chapters; his scholarly works have received more than 2,870 citations. He has also actively contributed to the organization of international scientific conferences, including C-CODE-2017, HONET-ICT 2018, CCODE 2019, HONET-ICT 2019, HONET-ICT 2020, HONET-ICT 2021, and HONET-ICT 2022.
Cooperation with the foreign academic adviser is systematic and regular. Professor Muazzam Ali Khan Khattak visits the university annually and, during these visits, conducts scientific seminars, round tables, consultations, and working meetings with faculty, doctoral students, and master’s students of the “Informatics” programme. The topics of these meetings cover contemporary research areas in artificial intelligence, data analytics, distributed and edge computing, digital technologies, intelligent systems, and modern approaches to organizing scientific research.
The professor’s participation in advising doctoral students is of particular importance, including discussions of dissertation research methodology, refinement of research design, selection of data analysis methods, interpretation of results, and preparation of publications for international peer-reviewed journals. During scientific seminars, doctoral students have the opportunity to present interim research results, discuss them with the foreign expert, and receive recommendations for further development of their research.
Joint seminars and round tables also contribute to strengthening the research culture of faculty, master’s and doctoral students, developing academic English, improving skills in preparing articles for journals indexed in international databases, and expanding the academic and scientific contacts of the “Informatics” programme.
Thus, engaging Professor Muazzam Ali Khan Khattak as a foreign academic adviser contributes to the internationalization of the research activities of the “Informatics” programme, improves the quality of doctoral research, enhances publication activity, and strengthens sustainable international research ties. His annual participation in scientific events ensures continuous professional interaction among the foreign expert, faculty, doctoral students, and master’s students and creates conditions for integrating the programme’s research into the international academic space.
Analysis of the presented materials makes it possible to identify the following key results of the “Informatics” Educational Programme for the 2025–2026 academic year:
The main tasks of the research activities of the “Informatics” Educational Programme for the next period are:
Overall, the research activity of the “Informatics” Educational Programme in the 2025–2026 academic year demonstrates the development of research capacity and a transition toward comprehensive studies integrating artificial intelligence, digital pedagogy, STEM/STEAM, intelligent educational systems, giftedness development, and cybersecurity. A significant result is the simultaneous development of several components of the programme’s research ecosystem: implementation of funded projects, publication activity, preparation of scientific and educational-methodological publications, registration of intellectual property, international cooperation, and engagement of learners at different levels in research.
The presence of ongoing projects for 2025–2027 and a new grant funding application provides a foundation for further growth in publication activity, the training of scientific and pedagogical personnel, and the formation of a sustainable research direction within the “Informatics” Educational Programme.
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