Aizhamal Akhayeva
SDU University, Kazakhstan
CHAMPAIGN,IL
5
Languages
1
Certification
17
years of professional experience
Accomplished higher education professional with over 15 years in international education and quality assurance. Served as Quality Assurance Department Director and International Officer, developing institutional strategies, managing partnerships, and coordinating international initiatives. Expertise in project management and stakeholder engagement, currently enhancing knowledge through a PhD in Global Studies in Education.
Work History
Director of Quality Assurance Department
1 Year- Led quality assurance initiatives, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and institutional policies.
- Developed and implemented quality improvement programs to enhance educational effectiveness and operational efficiency.
- Conducted comprehensive audits of academic processes, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring adherence to best practices.
- Mentored and trained staff on quality assurance methodologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement across departments.
International Relations Officer
9 Months- Internationalisation Strategy of the University
- Erasmus+ Programme Development at the university
- Coordinated global exchange programs to enhance international partnerships
- Promoted university initiatives through international visits, fostering global outreach
- Facilitated staff mobility through international programs to strengthen faculty collaboration
- Recruiting international students
- Developed policies for international office operations
Personal Assistant to Head of Business School
1 Year 7 Months- Organised and managed calendars, coordinating appointments to optimise time management
- Screening emails, enquiries and requests, and handling them when appropriate
- Dealing with incoming email and post, often corresponding on behalf of the manager
- Welcomed and assisted visitors at all seniority levels to ensure a positive experience
- Developed and maintained office systems for efficient data management and filing
Deputy Director of International Relations Office
8 Years 11 Months- Contributed to delivery of University's Internationalisation Strategy Plan, supporting implementation across wider institution
- Ensure ongoing high performance amongst the team for the achievement of institutional student recruitment targets in terms of volume, academic quality and diversity by nationality, study level, and subject mix
- Oversaw Internationalisation Strategy budget, ensuring effective utilisation of resources
- Built and established effective networks with key internal and external stakeholders in Kazakhstan and overseas
- Assisted students on exchange programmes by counselling and advising them on partner universities and majors.
- Helped students with curriculum mapping.
Head of International Office
3 Months- Coordinated exchange programs with multiple countries to enhance global partnerships
- Promoted university internationally through visits to key countries
- Attend international exhibitions and meetings as a university representative
- Facilitated support for international students/staff during their studies
Regional Coordinator "Work and Travel"
1 Year 10 Months- Assisted students with J1 visa applications
- DS-2019, DS-160 forms
- Provided visa consultations to guide students through application processes
- Pre-departure, pre-visa meetings for students.
- Facilitated student placements in the USA
English Teacher
1 Year 8 Months- Developed engaging materials and activities to enhance student learningResearch new language teaching methods
- Investigated current trends in English content and instructional methods to tailor teaching approaches for diverse learning styles
- Organize classroom lectures and coursework
- Resolved classroom crises and managed conflicts to maintain a positive learning environment
Education
Master of Science - Education (Policy and International Development)
- Dissertation Title: “Internationalisation of Kazakhstani Higher Education during COVID-19 and the role of International Officers in it”
- Modules studied: International Development, Comparative Research and Education; The Dynamics of Global Higher Education; Leading & Managing Change; Introduction to Educational Inquiry; Education Policy in a Global Context; Education, Peace and Sustainable Development.
Master's - Foreign Philology
- Thesis Topic: English and Kazakh Dialect Vocabulary Characteristics. Academic Advisor: Buketova Nursulu Ibrayevna
- GPA: 3.75/4.0
Bachelor - English and Italian Languages
GPA: 3.9/4.0
Ph.D. - Global Studies in Education
Skills
Quality assurance
Audit management
Microsoft Office proficiency
Citation management
Open-source citation tool
Problem solving skills
Initiative and self-motivation
Team collaboration
Negotiation
Communication and interpersonal skills
Accomplishments
- Internationalisation of Higher Education in Kazakhstan
- International Offices, Structure and Management
- Higher Education Administration Structure
- Psychology, well-being of students in higher education
- Comparison of English and Kazakh Languages Dialects
- Teaching English as a second language
- TESOL through interactive games
Certification
EAP (English for Academic Purposes), University of Leicester, UK. July, 2019, English for Business Administration, Leeds City Council, UK June, 2021, Personal Development Coach Certification, School of Psychology Aya Nurdauletkyzy, Astana, 2023, Consultation Certification in Integrative Psychology, Association of Integrative Psychology, Astana 2024., First Aid at Work Certificate 01.2024-01.2027. Aberdeen First Aid School, UK
LANGUAGES
Kazakh: native language.
Russian: proficient.
English: proficient
Uzbek: advanced
Turkish: intermediate
Timeline
Director of Quality Assurance Department
SDU University, Kazakhstan
2025.08 - 2026.08Read More
International Relations Officer
Coventry University
2024.07 - 2025.04Read More
Personal Assistant to Head of Business School
University of Aberdeen
2022.12 - 2024.07Read More
Deputy Director of International Relations Office
SDU University
2011.10 - 2020.09Read More
Head of International Office
University of International Business
2011.07 - 2011.10Read More
Regional Coordinator "Work and Travel"
International Exchange Program
2009.09 - 2011.07Read More
English Teacher
Central Kazakhstan University
2009.09 - 2011.05Read More
Central Kazakhstan University MHTI-Lingua
Bachelor from English and Italian Languages
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Central Kazakhstan University MHTI-Lingua
Master's from Foreign Philology
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University of Bristol
Master of Science from Education (Policy and International Development)
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University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D. from Global Studies in Education
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HONORS AND AWARDS
Erasmus+ Programme Funding for EAP Training at the University of Leicester,UK 2019, Bolashak Scholarship Award for doing master’s degree at the University of Bristol, UK 2019, Honors degree in TESOL, Foreign Philology and Education
Future Career Goals
My future career goal is to continue developing my career in higher education, with a particular focus on internationalization, global education, quality assurance, and international partnerships. I aim to use my professional experience and doctoral studies at UIUC to deepen my knowledge of higher education systems, research, and institutional development. In the long term, I would like to bring the knowledge, skills, and international experience I gain at UIUC back to Kazakhstan and contribute to the development and internationalization of higher education in my country. I hope to support universities in strengthening international partnerships, improving academic quality, and creating new opportunities for students and faculty.