On February 22-23 the Scientific and Practical International Conference “Impact Central: Bridging Social Development and Entrepreneurship in Central Asia” was held at Nazarbayev University, organized by “Social Development Fund” Corporate Fund and “Entrepreneurship Research Center” of the Graduate School of Business of Nazarbayev University.
The conference provided a platform for in-depth discussions, interactive sessions and valuable networking opportunities aimed at promoting effective approaches and developing partnerships to achieve sustainable social impact in Central Asia.
The conference was held with participation of key players in the field of social impact, social entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, the CIS, Central Asia and the USA, where experiences and ideas where exchanged, joint plans for further cooperation were identified, success stories and further support for social and entrepreneurial initiatives of the Nazarbayev community were demonstrated.
The conference included ministers, scientists, teachers, students and experienced practitioners who shared their research, innovative solutions, experience in applying changes in the social sphere and success stories in these areas.
A special attention at the conference was paid to demonstration of social and entrepreneurial projects of students, graduates and employees of Nazarbayev University, implementation of which contributed to the solution of social problems in society with each representative implementing social initiatives, improving skills in project management and interacting with various categories of people and leadership.
During the conference, examples of social and socio-entrepreneurial projects were demonstrated, the number of which since 2020 includes more than 53 social projects and 10 social entrepreneurship projects implemented by the Nazarbayev University community. Beneficiaries of the mentioned are more than 50 thousand people, including those from socially vulnerable categories of the population. These projects have become an outstanding example of our commitment to social responsibility and willingness to make positive changes in society.
At the same time, it should be noted that in the near future it is planned to introduce and develop an innovation cluster at Nazarbayev University, which represents a qualitatively new format in its structure, which will help improve the efficiency and diversity of activities of scientists from all over Kazakhstan, representatives of industry and entrepreneurs, opening new horizons for innovation and development.
This unique space will be designed to harmoniously combine academic knowledge and the needs of the country’s real economy, with introduction of artificial intelligence that successfully solves various problems in various sectors of the economy. This approach can also become a key tool for social entrepreneurship, providing innovative solutions to social problems, for example, for people with disabilities.
The conference was an important event in the world of scientific research, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange among scientists, practitioners and educational institutions, providing a platform for exploring the dynamics arising from the rapid changes in the economic, cultural and developmental spheres of the region.
Following the conference, the parties agreed on their interest in strengthening the international status of social entrepreneurship in Central Asia, promoting the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable initiatives for social development, social entrepreneurship and strengthening partnerships through joint research, exchange of knowledge and practical applications.
