001. Theses
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Item Open Access 2D SKELETON-BASED HUMAN ACTION RECOGNITION USING ACTION-SNIPPET REPRESENTATION AND DEEP SEQUENTIAL NEURAL NETWORK(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2022-05) Askar, AizadaHuman action recognition is one of the crucial and important tasks in data science. It aims to understand human behavior and assign a label on performed action and has diverse applications. Domains, where this application is used, includes visual surveillance, human–computer interaction and video retrieval. Hence, discriminating human actions is a challenging problem with a lot of issues like motion performance, occlusions and dynamic background, and different data representations. There are many researches that explore various types of approaches for human action recognition. In this work we propose advanced geometric features and adequate deep sequential neural networks (DSNN) for 2D skeleton-based HAR. The 2D skeleton data used in this project are extracted from RGB video sequences, allowing the use of the proposed model to enrich contextual information. The 2D skeleton joint coordinates of the human are used to capture the spatial and temporal relationship between poses. We employ BiLSTM and Transformer models to classify human actions as they are capable of concurrently modeling spatial relationships between geometric characteristics of different body parts.Item Restricted 2D/3D NOVEL MATERIALS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELLS(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2022-04) Aidarkhanov, DamirThe continuous increase of energy demand and emission of greenhouse gases from the conventional fossil fuels signifies the importance of renewable energy. The solar radiation is a readily available renewable energy source. If the amount of solar energy irradiated on the earth can be converted into electrical energy very efficiently, the energy demand of our daily life can be satisfied. The photovoltaics (i.e. solar cells) are the devices directly converting the solar irradiation into the electrical energy. Among the existing photovoltaic technologies, the metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) demonstrate a huge potential of realizing cost-effective and high-performance devices for future practical applications. The theoretical calculations demonstrate that a single junction PSC can reach a power conversion efficiency (PCE) above 30%. However, there are still a number of challenges hindering the commercialization of PSCs for the practical use. This work focuses on enhancing the performance of PSCs via application of novel 2D/3D materials and engineering of device architectures. A multilayer structure for electron-transporting layer (ETL) has been developed for high performance PSCs. It is shown that a triple-layer ETL consisted of SnO2 quantum dots, SnO2 nanoparticles, and fullerene-derivative based passivation layer can facilitate the carrier transports due to optimization of surface morphology of ETL which yields a better interface quality for subsequently deposited perovskite absorber layer. The defect states residing the interface between the ETL and perovskite are also reduced by optimizing the architecture of ETL in PSCs. Further, a two-dimensional material, black phosphorus (BP) in form of nanoflakes was used to modify the interface between the ETL and the perovskite layer. The application of BP in PSCs demonstrates an increase of the device efficiency and stability. The positive effect introduced by BP is attributed to the improved perovskite crystallization on BP modified ETL and passivation of interfacial defects by lone-pair electrons of BP. Meanwhile, the photovoltaic properties of multiple cations mixed-halide perovskite layer can be improved by incorporation of a cross-linking material, 2,2′-(Ethylenedioxy) bis(ethylammonium iodide). The PSCs incorporated with an optimized concentration of cross-linking material demonstrate an enhancement of PCE and improvement in stability, which are attributed to the passivation of the defect states located at the surface and grain boundaries of perovskite by the cross-linking molecules. The cross linker assisted crystallization also leads to the formation of compact perovskite thin films, which could suppress the penetration of various species such as moisture, oxygen etc. from the atmosphereItem Open Access 3D CFD-DEM-IBM SIMULATIONS OF SAND PRODUCTION IN OIL WELLS(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2021-09-16) Rakhimzhanova, AigerimSand production is particularily prominent in sandstone reservoirs, which are common to observe in the majority of oil and gas fields. When sand particles start to erode from weak sandstone formations for different reasons, their impact could lead to the decline of the production flow rate and equipment degradation, which will results in a huge economical loss. In some cases, it results in the end of production life of a well and reservoir. The key to overcome this problem and achieve accurate prediction of sand production may lie in the understanding of the cause of sanding mechanism. The current numerical approaches to predict the sanding mechanism are based on continuum and non-continuum models. The majority of developed models are based on the continuum approach, while a few discontinuum-based (DEM – Discrete Element Method) have been developed in the last two decades. Sand production is a dynamic and continuous process, which starts from microscopic scales where the rock is discontinuous in nature. It is impossible to capture local discontinuous phenomena using continuum-based models. The DEM models can capture the interaction and motion of each sand grain, the failure micro mechanism in a dynamic process at micro and macro scales, which makes it possible to simulate the sanding phenomena. In this research the DEM is firstly used for the rock characterization, where a simple 3D bond contact model for cemented sandstone material is developed by modifying the previous existing JKR (Johnson-Kendall-Roberts) model for auto-adhesive silt size sand particles, and the model parameter is the bond strength in terms of the interface energy. The material properties of the synthetic sandstone specimens equivalent to the Ustyurt-Buzachi Sedimentary Basin core samples were reproduced for the numerical specimens and the triaxial compression test results show that the numerically simulated macroscopic response is in good agreement with the experimental results of the cemented sandstone. The main aim of this research is to develop the sample preparation procedure/method with physical perforation penetration and sand production modelling in a periodic cell and by developing and using the combined 3D CFD-DEM-IBM modelling techniques (CFD – Computational Fluid Dynamics; IBM – Immersed Boundary Method). The application of the IBM is proposed to simulate the complex interaction between the geometry of the cased horizontal well completion opening and the weakly cemented sandstone under the overburden pressure and drawdown. The capability of developed methods to capture sand arching, damage zone (due to the perforation penetration) and sanding mechanism (erosion near the perforation hole) due to the pressure drawdown are presented. This study shows the mechanism of sand production in a bottom-up approach in the first 0.1 sec of sanding initiation immediately after the perforation penetration in oil wells, which will help engineers to better understand the sanding mechanism at the micro levels and how the problem of sanding can eventually be overcome though better insight into the phenomenon.Item Open Access A 3d multidisciplinary automated design optimization toolbox for wind turbine blades based on ns solver and experimental data(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2018) Sagimbayev, SagiThis thesis attempts to develop a framework to optimize wind turbine blades automatically by a multidisciplinary 3D modeling and simulation methods. The original NREL Phase VI wind turbine blade and its experimental measurements are used to validate the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model developed in ANSYS Fluent and based on the 3D Navier-Stokes (NS) solver with a realizable k-epsilon turbulence model, which is later used in the automation process. The automated design optimization process involves multiple modeling and simulation methods using Solidworks and ANSYS Mesher and ANSYS Fluent NS solver, which are integrated and controlled through Matlab by implementing the scripting capabilities of each software package. Then all scripts are integrated into one optimization cycle, with its optimization objective being the highest mean value of 3D Lift/Drag ratio (3DLDR) across the blade. A 3DLDR distribution across the blade can be calculated by the Inverse Blade Element Momentum (IBEM) Method based on experimental measurements. The optimization process is performed to find optimized twist angles across the blade using the Angle of Attack (AOA) with the highest 3DLDR as a reference, in order to 3 achieve the optimization objective. Therefore, the automatic optimization framework is based on 3D solid modeling and 3D aerodynamic simulation and guided by IBEM and experimental data. Thus the design tool is capable of exploiting the 3D stall delay of blades designed by the traditional 2D BEM method to enhance their performances. It is found that this automated framework can result in optimized blade geometries with the improvement of performance parameters compared to the original ones.Item Open Access 3D PRINTING OF BIOCOMPATIBLE CRYOGELS FOR BONE TISSUE ENGINEERING(School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2023) Moazzam, MuhammadNatural biopolymers are highly valued and commonly utilized in tissue engineering to create scaffolds that support living cells. This is due to their exceptional biocompatibility and the fact that their degradation rate can be controlled. However, the shape and average pore size are crucial in biological processes that influence the kinetics of cell proliferation and tissue regeneration processes linked to the production of extracellular matrix. For the construction of high-accuracy hydrogel scaffolds via 3D printing, the shear thinning characteristics of the bioinks used frequently result in morphological compromises like smaller pore diameters. Here, we introduced a new mixture of gelatin and oxidized alginate (Gel/OxAlg) that has been optimized for use in 3D printing and cryogelation techniques. This composite formulation allows for the creation of highly porous and biocompatible hydrogel scaffolds with extra-large pore sizes (d > 100 μm) using a combination of 3D printing and cryogelation techniques. These scaffolds have the potential to serve as a platform for various tissue engineering applications, and their morphological properties and cell viability data can be tailored accordingly. Overall, our approach offers a simple and cost-effective method for constructing hydrogel scaffolds with high accuracy.Item Restricted 3D PRINTING OF GELATIN/OXIDIZED CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE SCAFFOLDS WITH GRADIENT POROSITY FOR BONE TISSUE REGENERATION APPLICATIONS(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-23) Dyussenbinov, AibekThis master thesis investigates the development and evaluation of 3D-printed gelatin/oxidized carboxymethyl cellulose (OxCMC) scaffolds with gradient porosity for applications in bone tissue regeneration. Recognizing the limitations of current bone repair methodologies, this research aims to mimic the natural extracellular matrix of bone through advanced scaffold engineering techniques. The thesis explores the synthesis and optimization of bioinks from gelatin and OxCMC, chosen for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties conducive to 3D printing. Through extensive experimentation, including rheological tests, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, scaffold formulations were tailored to achieve desired porosity gradients and mechanical strength. The novel approach of utilizing a complex 3D printing model with different pinheads for varying ink compositions is highlighted as a key innovation. This method allowed for the creation of scaffolds that not only support cell adhesion and proliferation but also replicate the porosity gradient inherent to natural bone, thereby addressing a critical aspect of scaffold design in bone tissue engineering. Results indicated a direct correlation between the polymer content in the scaffolds and their swelling ability, degradation rates, and mechanical properties. Scaffolds with higher polymer content showed less swelling but greater mechanical strength, aligning with the requirements for supporting bone tissue regeneration. The gradient scaffold, in particular, demonstrated a balance between swelling behavior and mechanical integrity, suggesting its suitability for bone tissue engineering applications. This research contributes to the field of regenerative medicine by offering a promising scaffold design strategy for bone tissue regeneration. By closely mimicking the structural and mechanical properties of natural bone, the developed scaffolds hold potential for improving the outcomes of bone repair and regeneration procedures, paving the way for future clinical applications.Item Open Access 3D-PRINTED OSTEOCHONDRAL GRAFTS AND THEIR CHARACTERIZATION(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-25) Effanga, Victoria EffiongThe osteochondral (OC) interface is a complex tissue with a hierarchical structure found at the ends of the bones of the knee joint consisting of a layer of soft tissue (cartilage) overlaying hard tissue in the subchondral bone. It exhibits a gradient of its constituents, especially in terms of mineral concentration, cell phenotype, collagens, and glycosaminoglycans, with a thickness of around 0.5 mm. The tidemark, a critical yet often overlooked component of OC interface tissue, plays a pivotal role in maintaining tissue function by acting as a barrier against vascular invasion of the cartilage. Fabricating scaffolds that mimic the complex physiology and functionalities of the OC tissue within the physiological thickness remains a challenge. This study aimed at fabricating a unitary composite scaffold that is similar of the OC interface in terms of distribution of its mineral content. It was hypothesized that the interface formed between the layers of the multilayer graft will possess a thickness of hydroxyapatite (HAP) gradient similar to that seen at the native rabbit OC tissue. To test the hypothesis, a multilayer composite OC graft was fabricated using gelatin and oxidized alginate (OXA) compositions with and without HAP for the bone and cartilage regions, respectively, and a gradient of HAP was formed in between. The two layers were formed using a 3D bioprinting method, while a porous electrospun mesh of polycaprolactone was placed in the graded region between cartilage and bone to represent the tidemark. The change in mineral content across the rabbit OC interface tissue and the OC graft interface was investigated using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and micro computed tomography (CT) characterization. The printability of the bioinks was verified by a strain sweep test, and volumetric expansion of both inks, with and without HAP, was examined using a swelling test. Findings revealed that both bioinks exhibited a shear thinning behavior. In addition, swelling test showed that both inks possessed similar volumetric expansion when immersed in water, demonstrating its feasibility to be used as a defect filler. EDX scan for calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) verified the gradient of mineral in both OC grafts and native rabbit OC tissue. The CT characterization verified a HAP gradient created in the OC graft within 168m thickness similar to the mineral gradient thickness determined for rabbit OC interface. Furthermore, the electrospun membrane was found to have pore diameters less than 1m that is sufficient to prevent vascular invasion of the articular cartilage tissue. Overall, the OC graft fabricated using combined bioprinting and electrospinning techniques demonstrated a potential to serve as a biomimetic hydrogel filler for regenerating OC defects to restore the function of the knee joint. It is expected that the proposed OC graft will be effectively used to address a significant clinical problem that affects millions of people, with significant societal and economic impacts.Item Restricted 60 GHZ PHASED ARRAY PHASE SHIFTER DESIGN FOR 5G APPLICATION(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-24) Shaimerden, YernurThe purpose of this research work is to design a phase shifter and antenna for integration into a 60 GHz phased array transceiver designed specifically for 5G applications. A phased array transceiver consists of an active device (e.g. amplifier), phased array matrix, and antenna. This thesis focuses on the design of a 60 GHz phased antenna array with no active device. A butler matrix is implemented for the phased array matrix. In the methodology part, the development process of the butler matrix and patch antenna is presented. In this study, various types of beamforming networks are examined and written in the literature review section. The fundamental components of the Butler matrix are systematically designed, showing each step of the process. At the implementation step, CST software was used. Design is implemented on a substrate material known as Rogers RT/duroid 5880, with a 0.127 mm thickness. The results indicate the good reflection coefficient at the operating frequency of 60 GHz. Proposed design with patch antenna results in four orthogonal beams, each directed at +5°, +37°, -37°, and −5°.Item Open Access A case study of the language ideology within Armenian families in Kazakhstan(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2017-06) Turgaleyeva, AkmaralThis thesis is a case study which investigates the language ideology, language practices and ethnic identity construction among Armenians who were either deported during the Soviet regime or immigrated for other reasons to Kazakhstan. Armenians are a multilingual speech community in Kazakhstan where the process of the language shifts from the heritage language, Armenian, to the national and dominant languages, Kazakh and Russian are not completed yet. The thesis investigates the connection between two fields of research; language ideology and ethnic identity construction. The thesis presents a case study analysis of two Armenian families using a two level conceptual framework (macro, and micro). The observation, which was non-participatory, occurred in home contexts during a ten days period. During these observation sessions, semi-structured interviews regarding the maintenance of the mother tongue, attitudes and beliefs towards language use and the social, multiliteracy and ethnic practices were conducted. The findings indicate the connection between the macro and the micro level, where the macro is an official language policy, economic and social factors and individual families’ language perceptions, and the micro is language practices at a home. The complexity of Kazakhstani language situation and the rapid social, political and economic changes that are taking place in the community make this study particularly valuable in raising awareness of language challenges in immigrant families. Данная работа выполнена в рамках кейс-стади, в котором исследуется языковая идеология, языковая практика и построение этнической идентичности среди армян, депортированных советским режимом и иммигрировавших в Казахстан. Армяне - это полиязычное сообщество в Казахстане, для которого процесс перехода с родного армянского языка на государственный казахский или доминирующий русский еще не завершен. В диссертации исследуется связь между двумя областями: языковой идеологией и этнической идентичностью. Кейс, опираясь на теоретическую концепцию, состоящую из двух уровней: макро и микро, проводился на основе исследования двух армянских семей. В качестве основного метода исследования использовалось внешнее наблюдение, которое происходило в домашних условиях исследуемых семей в течение десяти дней. Во время наблюдений также проводились частично структурированные интервью, касающиеся поддержания родного языка, выявления отношения и убеждений к использованию языков и изучению социальных, мультикультурных и этнических практик. Полученные данные указывают на связь между макро- и микро- уровнями, где макроуровень - это официальная языковая политика, экономические и социальные факторы, а также мнение интервьюируемых о языках, а микроуровень - это языковая практика, используемая в рамках семьи. Социальные, политические и экономические изменения в обществе, а также языковые реформы, проводимые в Казахстане, делают это исследование особенно ценным для повышения осведомленности о языковых проблемах семей иммигрантов.Item Open Access A Short Note On Solving 1-D Porous Medium Equation by Finite Element Methods(Nazarbayev University School of Science and Technology, 2016-05-20) Matayev, ChingisPorous Medium Equation (PME) is one of the simplest types of of nonlinear evolution equation of parabolic type. It emerges in the description of di erent natural phenomena, and its theory and properties depart strongly from the heat equation, ut = u, its most famous relative. Hence the interest of its study, both for the pure mathematician and the applied scientist (Vazquez, 2006). The aim of this paper is to study the Porous Medium Equation in one dimension.Item Restricted ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS: PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ASPIRATIONS(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2024) Nurzhanova, UlpanThe family environment is the first educational environment in which children get early education and guidance (Roostin, 2018). However, every society and family has unique resources and assets, which may impact the fulfillment of children’s dreams and aspirations in adulthood. Thus, whether children can learn to build their dreams and aspirations in a specific environment is still being determined. Therefore, there is a need for more research to understand this topic better, particularly in the context of Kazakhstan. Although some studies focus on prospective university students’ career choices and professional interests, more comprehensive research should be conducted on the reasons behind those choices, including parents’ perspectives. To address this gap, a qualitative phenomenological study, followed by self-ethnography, was undertaken to examine how various family factors shape parental expectations and high school students’ aspirations. The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with five high school students and their parents to provide valuable contextual insights. Moreover, self-ethnography was included in the discussion chapter to give the audience a deeper reflective perspective through the researcher’s personal experience. The findings revealed that high school students based their choices on various environmental factors, with personal and academic interests and family being the most influential. Regarding parental expectations, those with higher educational degrees and more financial resources tend to expect more from their children. However, among all factors, parents’ occupations had the least influence on their expectations and students’ aspirations. Moreover, the researcher’s personal story in the discussion chapter proves the experiences shared by the participants. The research emphasizes the significance of the environment in shaping children’s future, suggesting policy interventions, school-based initiatives, and the need for longitudinal studies.Item Open Access Academic and Sociocultural Adjustment Experiences of International Students Studying in Kazakhstan(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2020-06) Kim, TatyanaInternationalization of higher education has gained momentum over the last three decades and is now an integral part of strategies and policies at both national and institutional levels. However, research on internationalization in general, and on international students’ adjustment experiences in particular, has received scant attention in Kazakhstan. This study is an attempt to address this gap. Using case study design, the research was undertaken at one private Kazakhstani university hosting a relatively large and diverse body of international students. Fourteen overseas students and four university administrators were interviewed to identify the students’ adjustment experiences and factors affecting them, as well as to reveal how the university contributes to the students’ integration into the host community. The findings suggest that proficiency in local languages was the most important factor that affected the overseas students’ adjustment experiences. Those who spoke the Russian language upon arrival in Kazakhstan adjusted better. Meanwhile, their peers, who were not proficient in local languages, started feeling more adjusted after acquiring either of them. Gender and country of origin were the second most influential factors. Whereas female students experienced issues connected with accommodation to local food, their male peers reported being exposed to bullying. Due to similar cultural and linguistic backgrounds, overseas students from post-Soviet countries adjusted faster than their peers from other countries. Language barrier and cultural differences were major factors that inhibited overseas students’ adjustment. In contrast, faculty support, engagement in friendship networks on campus, as well as cultural proximity, prior cross-cultural encounters, and openness to cultural diversity contributed to the students’ smoother adjustment. The research may be of benefit to current and potential international students, as well as to university administrators. In addition, this study may contribute to the expansion of local and global knowledge pools on academic and sociocultural adjustment of international students.Item Open Access Academic Autonomy in Higher Education in Kazakhstan: Beliefs and Experiences of Faculty Members in a National Higher Education Institution(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2018-06) Ogay, SvetlanaIn the rapidly changing and knowledge-driven 21 century higher education has become even more prominent across the globe. This has resulted in the increased role of higher education institutions in society and the need for the institutions to be adaptive and innovative, aligning to the demands of the labor market and responding to the needs of the variety of the stakeholders. Given this, higher education entities require environment conducive to such endeavors. As a solution, governments worldwide have given universities increased institutional autonomy, including the capacity to decide upon academic affairs. While Kazakhstan has also pursued this route, granting national universities more flexibility in the decisions on academic issues, there is lack of understanding of academic dimension of institutional autonomy....Item Open Access Academic burnout among high-school students in Kazakhstan: The protective role of personality and academic motivation.(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2017-06) Munko, YekaterinaThe current study aimed to investigate the relationship between Big Five Personality Factors, academic motivation elements and academic burnout of high-school students at NIS, Taraz. Additionally, the relationship between academic burnout and certain student background factors (gender, grade, profile subject, relationship with parents), together with school-related factors (teacher support, teacher attitude, school support, class atmosphere) was examined. Academic burnout manifests itself through feeling of emotional exhaustion, cynicism towards studying and feeling of inadequacy as a student. The study used a non-experimental explanatory cross-sectional survey design. The research site for the study was Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Taraz, Kazakhstan. The participants were selected using non-probabilistic convenience sampling procedure. The sample comprised 113 NIS students of 10th and 11th grades. Data was collected using School Burnout Inventory (SBI), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), and Academic Burnout Factors Questionnaire (ABFQ). Data was analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation), inferential (t-test, ANOVA) and bivariate (correlation, regression) analyses. The results of the study showed that the overall level of academic burnout among NIS high-school students is considered average. Furthermore, neuroticism was found to be a significant predictor of academic burnout in school. Intrinsic motivation oriented on accomplishment had a modest negative effect on academic burnout. Considering school-related factors, teacher support and school support were negatively related to academic burnout. Among student background factors, female students’ burnout level was higher than of male students, tenth grade students had a lower academic burnout that eleventh grade, and natural sciences students experienced higher level of academic burnout than students majoring in technical sciences.Item Open Access ACADEMIC DISHONESTY IN KAZAKHSTANI HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CURRENT SITUATION AND ANTECEDENTS(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2021-05) Makhmutova, AliyaAcademic dishonesty is a widespread phenomenon that can be detrimental to the country’s intellectual progress. Students who cheat and plagiarize lose the learning opportunities. Thus, it is of great importance to try to understand the reasons for this behavior and to prevent unfavorable outcomes. However, the research on the topic of academic dishonesty in the Kazakhstani context is very limited. The current study aimed to contribute to the knowledge about academic misconduct in Kazakhstani higher educational context by analyzing the causes of the problem. The quantitative anonymous questionnaire adopted from Comas-Forgas and Sureda-Negre (2010) was answered by 180 students and teachers from two universities in Kazakhstan...Item Open Access ACADEMICS AND MANAGERS’ PERCEPTION AND EXPERIENCE OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: A CASE OF ONE KAZAKHSTANI UNIVERSITY(Nаzаrbауеv Unіvеrsіtу Grаduаtе Sсhооl оf Еduсаtіоn, 2023-05) Bopurova, ZhamilyaIn recent decades, Kazakhstani higher education has witnessed considerable transformations in quality assurance, with accreditation emerging as the foremost external quality assurance mechanism. Notwithstanding the abundance of global research on accreditation, studies focusing on Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations remain scant. This research seeks to investigate the participation of managerial and academic staff in the accreditation process at a Kazakhstani university, as well as their perceptions of continuous improvement. To provide valuable insights for Kazakhstani universities striving to refine their quality assurance mechanisms in alignment with international accreditation standards, this study employs both Cultural Theory and Institutional Isomorphism theory.Item Restricted ACCESS AND EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN: THE CASE OF UNDERGRADUATES STUDENTS AT NAZARBAYEV UNIVERSITY(Nаzаrbауеv Unіvеrsіtу Grаduаtе Sсhооl оf Еduсаtіоn, 2023-05) Kulmanova, AyazhanAccess and equity in higher education are crucial since higher education is an opportunity to diminish inequality among different social classes in any society. Despite the legislative actions and policies to provide higher education to everyone accessibility and equity, several factors such as students’ socio-economic status, academic performance, geographical, and disability remain as a barrier to equal access and fairness in higher education. Therefore, this study research aimed to examine the effectiveness of accessibility and equity policies from the perspective of students. Furthermore, this study analysed the existing factors, which create barriers and opportunities in the process of providing all students with higher education....Item Restricted Accessibility of the state financial support for small farmer households in Kazakhstan(Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy, 2018-11-25) Akkassov, Dulat; Taizhanov, AidosThis paper analyses the process of provision of financial support of the small farmer households by the Government of Kazakhstan. It describes the activities of JSC Fund for Financial Support of Agriculture, as a quasi-sector organization, which provides this financial support; the Farmers Union of Kazakhstan, which presents the interests of farmers; and small farmer households who are the recipients of financial resources. The primary data was collected in the forms of interviews with main stakeholders. The secondary data was represented as the statistical information, reports and international experiences in the literature review. This paper draws the current situation in Kazakhstan in the field of state financial support for small farmer households. The results of the interviews identified the common and non-common factors, which have affected the accessibility of state financial support for farmers. The analysis of key findings showed that the policy-makers are fully aware of the challenges for farmers. Moreover, the Government of Kazakhstan addresses much money and other resources to deal with them. Nevertheless, we conclude that the main obstacles to access to state financial support in Kazakhstan are complicated bureaucracy, low valued collateral in a rural area, and lack of business knowledge and skills among the farmers. Based on the key findings of this research, we recommend farmers to unite into farm cooperatives; in addition, the Government should continue to develop the digital technologies, and introduce large-scale educational programs.Item Restricted ACTION-DRIVEN TACTILE OBJECT EXPLORATION FOR SHAPE RECONSTRUCTION VIA OPTICAL TACTILE SENSORS(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-19) Mussin, TleukhanWe introduce an action-driven tactile exploration system using novel optical tactile sensors integrated into the gripper of a robot arm. These sensors consist of multiple silicone layers, with one layer featuring alternating yellow and red patterns. When this layer deforms — typically by stretching and reducing in thickness—the colored patterns shift. These changes are captured by an onboard camera and analyzed using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm. The gripper for the sensor was specifically designed and 3D printed to ensure the sensors operate correctly. The colored part of the sensor was isolated from the external light. We tested the sensor’s effectiveness in edge detection and localization using four different geometric objects. We evaluated our system using a diverse collection of objects in both medium and large sizes.Item Restricted ACTIVE OBJECT TRACKING USING REINFORCEMENT LEARNING(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2022-05) Alimzhanov, BexultanThe concept of "smart cities" has rapidly emerged as the means by which urban planners can improve the quality of life of citizens, providing better services at lower cost. Typical objectives include the optimization of traffic routing, the automatic detection of emergency "events" and related improvement in the response time of emergency services, and overall optimization of resource allocation and energy consumption. A core component of the smart city concept is the widespread deployment of closedcircuit cameras for purposes of monitoring and event detection. A typical application is to locate and track a vehicle as it moves through crowded urban scenarios. Usually, tracking and camera control tasks are separated, which induces problems for the construction of a coherent system. Reinforcement learning can be used to unify the systems, such that control and tracking can be resolved simultaneously. However, there are issues related to the collection and use of comprehensive real-world data sets for purposes of research. To avoid this problem, it is feasible to conduct the agent training using synthetic data, and then transfer the results to real-world settings. This approach also serves to address the issue of domain invariance. For the thesis, I investigate active object tracking using reinforcement learning by first developing a synthetic environment based on the videogame Cities: Skylines, using the extensive Unity engine, which accurately simulates vehicle traffic in urban settings. The complete system consisting of a trained object detector and a reinforcement learning agent is tuned in this environment with corresponding reward functions and action space. The resulting agent is capable of tracking the objects in the scene without relying on domain-specific data, such as spatial information. The thesis includes the creation of the synthetic environment, the development of the agent, and the evaluation of the resulting system.