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Attachment 1: Report of Eligibility
Submitted as evidence of compliance with the Requirements of Affiliation for Free-Standing Institutions Abroad, established by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education within the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Submitted as an integral part of the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (KIMEP) application for Candidacy with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission for Institutions of Higher Education
Updated April 2007
Table of Contents
NEASC Requirements
Title / PageIntroduction / 1
Requirement 1 / 1
Requirement 2 / 1
Requirement 3 / 3
Requirement 4 / 3
Requirement 5 / 4
Requirement 6 / 6
Requirement 7 / 6
Requirement 8 / 7
Requirement 9 / 7
Requirement 10 / 8
Requirement 11 / 9
Requirement 12 / 10
Requirement 13 / 11
Requirement 14 / 12
Requirement 15 / 15
Requirement 16 / 15
Requirement 17 / 16
Requirement 18 / 16
Requirement 19 / 18
Requirement 20 / 18
List of Figures
Title / PageFigure 1: KIMEP Collegiate Level Educational Programs / 2
Figure 2: KIMEP Degree Programs and Comparable Degrees Offered in the United States / 3
Figure 3. KIMEP Advising System / 5
Figure 4: 2006-7 enrollments by degrees and/or programs / 9
Figure 5: KIMEP Student Population, 1999-00 to 2009-10 (projected) / 10
Figure 6: Location of Key Information for Requirement 12 in 2005-7 Catalog / 11
Figure 7: Non-Commercial JSC KIMEP Governance Structure / 12
Figure 8: KIMEP Board of Trustees 2005-7 Academic Year / 14
Figure 9: KIMEP Budget Statement for Academic year 2006-7 in US Dollars / 16
Figure 10: KIMEP Academic year Funding Bases 2002-3 to 2006-7 / 17
Figure 11: Total KIMEP Budget 2001-2 to 2006-7 / 17
Figure 12: KIMEP: Income, Costs and Surplus, 2006-7 to 2009-10 (USD)
/ 18Figure 13: KIMEP Graduates, 1994-2006 / 19
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Introduction
Introduction
This Report of Eligibility has been prepared by the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics, and Strategic Research (KIMEP) to demonstrate institutional compliance with the Requirements of Affiliation for Free-Standing Institutions Abroad as established by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) as published in the document ‘Candidacy for Accreditation by Free Standing Institutions Abroad’ (2004). The Report is structured to directly follow each of the Requirements listed in p9-14 of the above document. Each requirement is listed and KIMEP’s response to it presented. This is an updated version of the report submitted to NEASC June 2005 to take account of changes.
Requirement 1.
The institution has formally adopted a statement of mission, which demonstrates that the fundamental purposes of the institution are educational, and which is also appropriate to a degree-granting institution and appropriate to those needs of society it seeks to serve.
KIMEP was founded in 1992, not long after the historic collapse of the Soviet Union. The objective of KIMEP, as an institution of higher education, was to assist the newly independent Kazakhstan (a former Soviet republic) in the transformation from its centrally-planned, communist past to a free-market oriented democratic state. KIMEP’s charge, therefore, was a unique one; supporting and aiding Kazakh society during these momentous economic and political changes. From this charge was born the KIMEP slogan, “Education to Change Society.” To date, KIMEP has been successful in training students to become leaders in the public and private sectors in Kazakhstan. Furthermore, KIMEP operates with integrity in all of its affairs and with complete financial transparency.
As the Institute has developed, further revisions were made to the Mission Statement in 2005. The current mission fits directly with the previous Mission but reflects KIMEP’s international aspirations more accurately. The 2005 Mission was approved by the KIMEP Council and the Board of Trustees in June 2005. The current mission is as follows:
KIMEP is a non-profit institution of higher education. Its mission is to develop well-educated citizens and to improve the quality of life in Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region through teaching, learning, the advancement of knowledge in the fields of business administration and social sciences, and through community service. In addition, KIMEP aspires to serve the international community by welcoming foreign students to study and by developing extensive international linkages.
To fulfill this mission we offer graduate and undergraduate degree programs of the highest level of international educational standards in business, economics, finance, accounting, public administration, political science, international relations, journalism and mass communication to outstanding students, who are equal to graduates of universities anywhere in the world. We seek to select students from among those who demonstrate leadership, talent and language capabilities, irrespective of their financial means, gender or ethnic origin, or any other subjective criteria.
Requirement 2.
The institution offers one or more collegiate-level education programs, consistent with its mission, that lead to degrees in recognized fields of study and that require at least one year to complete.
KIMEP offers a number of collegiate-level programs leading to both Graduate and Undergraduate degrees. In particular, KIMEP offers four bachelor’s degrees, seven master degrees and a doctoral degree. Since the original eligibility report was submitted, two masters programs - the Executive MBA and MA TESOL – were launched in Spring 2007. The doctoral program (DBA) was launched in the Spring of 2006. These are shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: KIMEP Collegiate Level Educational Programs
Name / Specialization / College / DurationBachelor Programs:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting (B.Sc) / Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations Management and Information Systems / Bang College of Business / Four Years
Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BAE) / Public Policy Economics, Business Economics, Resource and Environmental Economics / College of Social Sciences / Four Years
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences / International Relations, Political Science, Public Administration, Central Asian Politics / College of Social Sciences / Four Years
Bachelor of Arts in International Journalism / International Journalism / College of Social Sciences / Four Years
Graduate Programs:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) / Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Operations Management, Information Systems / Bang College of Business / Two Years
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) / Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Information Systems / Bang College of Business / Four Years
Master of Arts in Economics (MAE) / International Economics, Public Policy Economics, Financial Analysis / College of Social Sciences / Two Years
Master in Public Administration (MPA) / Public Policy, Research & Information Technology, Public Management, Public Finance, Natural Resource Management / College of Social Sciences / Two Years
Master in International Relations (MIR) / Political Science, International Relations, Central Asian Politics / College of Social Sciences / Two Years
Master of Arts in International Journalism and Mass Communications (MAIJMC) / Public Relations, Media Management, Print and Broadcast Journalism / College of Social Sciences / Two Years
Executive MBA / Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management, Operations Management, Information Systems, Economics / Bang College of Business / 21 months
MA TESOL / Teaching English / Language Center / Two Years
In line with the mission, the academic programs leading to these degrees prepare students for leadership roles for the economic, business, and political future of Kazakhstan. In addition, these programs are all licensed by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Detailed information about the academic programs at KIMEP can be found in Part III of the 2005-07 Catalog, under the heading of Academic Units and Programs (pp. 68-203). Two new programs were launched in Spring 2007. These expand both the range and scope of KIMEP’s degree programs. The new programs are:
· MA TESOL (48 credits), offered by the Language Center. Full details of this new program can be found in the KIMEP 2007-8 Catalog;
· Executive MBA (42 credits), offered by the Bang College of Business and which is of twenty-one months duration. Details of this new program, as initially envisaged are included in the KIMEP 2005-07 Catalog (pp. 134 - 138). Full details of the revised program can be found in the KIMEP 2007-8 Catalog.
Requirement 3 .
The institution offers academic programs that are comparable in terms of length, curriculum, objectives, learning outcomes, and degrees awarded to those offered by regionally accredited institutions in the United States.
KIMEP prides itself in its leading role in Kazakhstan and the immediate region in offering an education modeled on the North American credit based system. Degree programs are comparable in:
· Length;
· Curriculum;
· Objectives;
· Learning outcomes;
to those offered by institutions in the U.S. Figure 2 lists each degree awarded by KIMEP, as well as the comparable degree offered in the United States.
Figure 2: KIMEP Degree Programs and Comparable Degrees Offered in the United States
KIMEP Degree / Credits / Approximate length / Comparable US DegreeBSc / 129 / 4 years / BA or BS
BAE / 122 / 4 years / BA or BS
BSS / 129 / 4 years / BA or BS
BAIJ / 129 / 4 years / BA
MBA / 63 / 2 years / MBA
MPA / 60 / 2 years / MPA
MA / 48 / 2 years / MA or MS
MIR / 51 / 2 years / MA, MS or MIR
MAIJMC / 54 / 2 years / MA
DBA / 57 / 4 years / DBA /PhD
Ex. MBA / 42 / 21 months / Ex. MBA
MA TESOL / 48 / 2 years / MA TESOL
KIMEP degrees are comparable to those offered at regionally accredited institutions in the United States. Undergraduate academic degree programs are credit-based, ranging from 122 to 129 credits necessary for completion. Included in these totals is the required 48-credit General Education program. Curriculum structure involves course groupings of core, cognate, and elective courses, as well as department, college, and university requirements. Graduate degree programs are also credit based, ranging from 42-63 credits as shown in Figure 2 above.
Academic Programs Curricula are established by each department, and debated and approved by the College Councils. Programs are then forwarded to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs for onward discussion within the KIMEP Academic Affairs and Education Policy committee. Once approved by this committee, Program curricula go to the KIMEP Council for final approval and adoption. The KIMEP Council also gives consideration to financial constraints, as well as to the environment and market needs of the academic programs. In addition, market surveys are periodically undertaken to gauge the opinion of students, faculty, and the at-large community about the missions, objectives and learning outcomes of KIMEP programs. Detail on the mission, goals and objectives of each program are listed in Catalog 2005-07 with the exception of the MA TESOL, which is yet to be launched. Learning outcomes are discussed under Requirement 5.
Requirement 4.
The institution awards the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctor’s degree or, if it grants only the associate’s degree, includes at least one program leading to a degree in liberal arts or general studies or another area of study widely available at the baccalaureate level of regionally accredited colleges and universities in the United States.
KIMEP currently awards Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees. As mentioned above, to demonstrate compliance with requirement #2 and #3, Bachelor’s degrees awarded by KIMEP include Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting (B.Sc), Bachelor of Arts in Economics (BAE), Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSS), and Bachelor of Arts in International Journalism (BAIJ). Master’s degrees awarded include Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Economics (MA), Master in International Relations (MIR), Master in Public Administration (MPA), and Master of Arts in International Journalism and Mass Communications (MAIJMC). A Doctoral program was launched in Spring 2006. The Executive MBA and MA TESOL were launched in 2007.
Degree programs offered at KIMEP (summarized above) are listed, along with major fields, minor fields, and areas of specialization in the Academic Colleges and Departments section of the KIMEP Catalog 2005-7 (pp. 25-27). Executive MBA and DBA programs are described in detail in the 2005-7 KIMEP Catalog (pp. 134,138).
Requirement 5.
The institution has, for each of its educational programs, clearly defined and published objectives appropriate to higher education in level, standards, and quality, as well as the means for achieving them, including a designated course of studies acceptable for meeting degree requirements, adequate guidance to degree candidates in the satisfaction of requirements, and adequate grading or evaluation procedures.
Objectives
Statements of program objectives are clearly defined and published in the KIMEP Catalog. Curricula for undergraduate degrees include General Education requirements previously totaled 50 credits (KIMEP Catalog 2005-2007). The General Education program has been substantially revised in Fall 2006, with the 48 credit new program taking effect in Fall 2007. It includes a small number of courses (in English, Kazakh history and language, and computer literacy) required of all students, and a requirement for the study of courses in a range of disciplines representing diverse areas of human enquiry: social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, fine arts, and quantitative methods.
Each program is supported by:
· a well qualified international faculty (mostly Western trained);
· a well structured advising system, both on-line and paper based;
· a computerized admissions, registration and study-tracking system;
· quality assurance systems at department, college and KIMEP levels;
· a well conceived continuous assessment system;
· computer, library and other information resources;
· required and elective instruction in English.
·
Advising
KIMEP considers student advising to be essential in allowing students to successfully navigate credit-based programs. Academic advising is an ongoing process that involves student-advisor interaction throughout the student’s education at KIMEP. Among the subjects students and advisors can discuss are:
· Students’ choice of major field
· Students’ academic progress and current standing