On March 19, in Astana, the Ozim Academy Inclusive Education Research Center was presented – a scientific and educational initiative aimed at developing research-based approaches, EdTech, and AI technologies to support children with special educational needs, as well as educators and specialists working with them.
The project is implemented with the support of the NU Impact Foundation Corporate Fund and JSC “SPC Astana” under the Akimat of Astana city.
The Ozim Academy team presented the Center’s key areas of work and the results of a pilot project on alternative communication (AAC) for non-verbal children. The approach helps children with speech difficulties express their thoughts and interact with the surrounding world. Special attention in the Center’s work is given to the development of artificial intelligence in education. Ozim Academy collects and analyzes data from educational and therapeutic sessions conducted by specialists with children, forming specialized datasets for training AI models. Based on this data, intelligent tools are planned to be created to help educators and specialists quickly find research-based methods, receive recommendations on educational strategies, and make more effective decisions in working with children.
Asem Tazhieva, founder of Ozim Academy, said:
“Our goal is not just to conduct research, but to translate it into practical tools for educators and specialists. That is why we are developing the Ozim Academy educational platform and actively working on integrating artificial intelligence into educational solutions.”
The team also presented educational developments, including the Ozim Academy LMS platform for training specialists and the book “The World of Emotions”, created to support families and help children learn to express emotions and feelings.
Guests of the event were able to explore projects by children with special educational needs, including creative works and robotics projects.
Within the framework of a partnership panel, representatives of government bodies, the academic community, and public organizations discussed the development of inclusive education and opportunities for further cooperation. Participants in the discussion included Sayat Nyusupov, Chairman of the Board of the NU Impact Foundation; Dinara Naumova, Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan; representatives of the Akimat of Astana city; Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education; as well as representatives of the expert and public sectors.
