In 1997, the Academy became an accredited institution after receiving Academy status from the Sokolovskoe Akmolinsk Province. This recognition demonstrated the Academy’s ongoing success and the enhancement of its efforts to expand its programs. The Academy became a full-fledged University in 2009, taking the new name of Astana Medical University and becoming the first joint-stock company in Kazakhstan to offer a Medical School. Furthermore, with the new designation came a variety of new program specializations, a new method for transferring credit between colleges (credit transfer), as well as the implementation of a systematic, 3-level Educational System; this includes bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs and increasing opportunities for students to pursue higher education.
For Indian medical students, Astana Medical University is also recognized as an institution by the National Medical Commission of India; this is the governing body that regulates medical education and practice in India. As a result, Indian medical students who graduate from Astana Medical University are permitted to appear for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, which is required for all foreign medical graduates who want to practice medicine within India.
Additionally, UNESCO has recognized Astana Medical University, and Astana Medical University is also recognized by medical councils in many countries. Therefore, graduates from the University are assured they will have the opportunity to practice medicine worldwide or pursue additional specialization in other countries. Further evidence of the quality of Astana Medical University is that it functions as an affiliated institution within the Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science, which ensures that Astana Medical University operates in accordance with national educational standards.
Astana Medical University provides a comprehensive Doctor of Medicine degree, equal to an MBBS degree, and taught (entirely) in English. With an English-language degree for all international students, barriers can be removed, and the emphasis can be placed on understanding medicine instead of struggling with the language. The entire program takes six years, with five years of theoretical/preclinical education followed by one year of compulsory clinical internship.
All required medical courses (i.e., Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Gynecology, and Community Medicine) are included in the curriculum so that the student is prepared to provide care and operate within these disciplines with both theoretical and practical clinical skill sets.
A prestigious academic team defines the quality of an educational institution, and Astana Medical University certainly has that. Presently, the university has 873 faculty members, among whom 112 hold doctorate degrees in medicine. These professors possess extensive experience in research as well as clinical practice, allowing them to act as both educators and mentors to their students. Additionally, they are also leading researchers within the medical community and will continue to be so through their contributions toward the development of medical knowledge.
Additionally, the introduction of credit-based learning technologies has provided an opportunity for students to take advantage of flexible, personalised education paths based on credit transfer. Furthermore, smaller class sizes enable professors to dedicate additional time and attention to their students.
Classroom technology is utilized for seamless delivery of educational materials, with each classroom equipped with cutting-edge projectors, interactive whiteboards, and various types of video/audio technology. With the use of these tools, instructors can demonstrate and effectively use multiple means of education delivery. The university has a large number of highly specialized research labs where students receive extensive hands-on training using cutting-edge devices and processes for diagnosing and treating patients. The university also frequently updates its labs with newly developed safety equipment, instrumentation, and technology, ensuring that students receive education in accordance with current industry standards.
Another way that the university provides students with clinical skill training is through its use of simulation centers. Students gain the assurance and competency in their ability to perform many clinical procedures before they interact with any real patients through practice with mannequins and models of the human body and its various physiological responses.
The clinical education at Astana Medical University is one of its greatest strengths. By partnering with some of the top hospitals and healthcare organizations in Kazakhstan, the university gives students a variety of clinical rotation experiences. Students spend the entire time working with a variety of other healthcare practitioners and under the supervision of licensed physicians. As a result, they learn how to apply their classroom-based educational training to actual patient care situations.
The one-year mandatory internship provides students with in-depth hands-on training through their experience working as junior doctors under the supervision of a licensed physician. This program prepares students to work as independent practitioners after they complete their education at the university. Students learn how to evaluate patients for disease and formulate a treatment plan, as well as how to communicate with the patient and document their care.
Additionally, the university has additional clinical bases, which include specialised centres for many different speciality areas. Therefore, students will gain a wide breadth of societal views on a number of different diseases and their respective treatment options. Students will participate in patient rounds; witness surgical procedures, help with the provision of care for patients, and gradually take on greater responsibility as they progress through their programs. Ultimately, by the time students graduate, they will have developed the skills and confidence to practice medicine independently.
