BALANCING WORK AND STUDY AT NEO-LIBERAL UNIVERSITY: MOTIVATIONS AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT AMONG NU UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Abstract

Capstone project investigates the motivations of Nazarbayev University (NU) students for engaging in part-time work with their studies, within the consideration of the university as a neo-liberal institution. The study explores the influence of neoliberal policies shaped by Kazakhstan's post-Soviet political climate under President Nursultan Nazarbayev, which emphasize privatization, meritocracy, individualism, self-reliance, and competition. It assesses the effects of these policies on the educational system overall and thus students' academic performance, personal life, health, and career opportunities through seven semi-structured interviews. The project employs three main theoretical perspectives: Self-Determination Theory to evaluate personal motivations for work; The New Spirit of Capitalism to understand corporate expectations and self-exploitation; and Ecological Systems Theory to analyze socio-ecological influences on students' decisions. The findings aim to provide insights into how a neoliberal educational environment like at NU, which prioritizes corporate competitiveness and professional flexibility, motivates students to work and impacts their lives and career paths.