Simon Jones
Provost, Nazarbayev University
Simon.Jones@nu.edu.kz
(Delivered by Philippe M. Frossard
Vice-Provost for Research, Nazarbayev University)
Context
Success is not easily predictable
Failure easier to infer
Preconditions
19th Century model is picturesque
• Sustained by Brand and Endowment
Preconditions
20th Century Model
• Large
• HASTAC – Humanities, Arts, Science, Technology, Computing
• National Prestige
21st Century
Small
Teaching and Research
STEM
5:1 Student:Faculty Ratio
Entrepreneurship
Business Park
New Model University
Innovation Hub
Engages Society with Process of Renewal
Roll-out
Talent Not Infrastructure
The problem is not plans, people or methods
It is in collective mindset
Building things that need to be grown just won’t work
Infrastructure attracts Talent
Convergence of Curiosity
Challenge of Leadership is enablement
Connecting local money to expatriate researchers
‘Don’t know what we need’
‘They will leave soon’
‘We know what is best for us’
Elitism
Taught by people who defined a subject
Develop into outstanding graduate students
High Quality undergraduate teaching
Small class sizes
Systematic and persistent engagement with leading professors
Research and Teaching must always be 2 sides of the same coin.
Academic Freedom
Great Faculty deliver a Great University
Strong Faculty Governance
Difficulty coping with
changing landscape
Faculty argue for
Low Teaching Load √
Research Money √
Complete Freedom to research what they like ≈ √
21st Century institutions
Focus
Network
Challenge consensus
Research Strategy
International Challenges
Multi-disciplinary teams
• NU partners
Gearing and Traction through local context
Elitism
Taught by people who defined a subject
Develop into outstanding graduate students
High Quality undergraduate teaching
Small class sizes
Systematic and persistent engagement with leading professors
Research and Teaching must always be 2 sides of the same coin.
Leadership
University strategies appear
inter-changeable
Leadership acutely difficult
Business finds a querulous culture
Academics – unequipped
for management
Politicians – wax and wane
Leadership requires team set
Cheerleaders in the Community – Chancellor
Organisational management - President
Academic excellence – Provost
Financial Management - CFO
Finances
 Effective use of resources
 Acquire resources, allocate resources, utilise the subsequent outputs
most effectively
 Three main funding sources: Foundation; fees; research and
exploitation
Valorisation
Innovation
• Companies: UK spends $12M on innovation
• No Google yet……..
Licensing
• MIT
Science Parks
Summary
 Supportive political setting, diverse funding, nuanced leadership,
outstanding faculty, student-centeredness
 Collective self-confidence to proclaim the values of a university
 Persistence, resilience
 Nazarbayev University will succeed
Questions and Comments