Additional Educational Programs Catalog (Minor)

The Minor program "Occupational Safety and Environmental Assessment" is intended for students of all educational programs. It is based on the concept of organizing the educational process around students' selection of individual learning trajectories within the framework of the educational program.

Relevance: Occupational safety and environmental assessment are of great importance in the modern world due to the intensive development of the industrial sector and the emergence of new types of activity. Ensuring the safety of workers' life and health during their work is achieved through compliance with occupational sanitation and hygiene, along with measures to reduce the impact of harmful factors on workers' bodies. Preserving nature and improving the quality of the environment are also priority areas of activity for the state and society. Protection of the natural environment can be effective only when timely information about the state of its individual components and the entire biosphere as a whole is available.

Rationale: The program covers the study of optimal working conditions at the workplace, methods for analyzing reliability and risk, and the ability to correctly assess the scale and forecast the consequences of human activity on the environment. The Minor "Occupational Safety and Environmental Assessment" develops unique knowledge, skills, and abilities at the intersection of economics, management, all types of industry, and the service sector, including: the principles of labor legislation, the competence of all authorities in regulating labor relations, modern aspects of technogenic risk, the formation of ecological thinking, and the rational use of natural resources.

Goal: To provide students with the knowledge, skills, and experience of applying modern methods and tools for their future professional activity, the theory of reliability of process equipment and production risk assessment, as well as theoretical and practical knowledge on general issues of occupational safety and environmental protection.

Objectives:

• forming in students an understanding of hazardous and harmful factors of the production environment;
• acquiring knowledge related to the legislative and regulatory framework of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of industrial sanitation and occupational hygiene;
• applying methods for assessing environmental conditions in areas of work activity;
• developing measures to protect humans and the environment from negative impacts;
• developing the skill of maintaining technical and environmental documentation related to professional activity.

Competencies formed:

• able to search for, critically analyze, and synthesize information, and apply a systematic approach to solving assigned tasks;
• knows the origin, types, and sources of environmental pollution;
• knows the impact of harmful production factors on the human body;
• identifies methods and means of reducing the impact of harmful factors to regulatory values or completely eliminating their effect on people;
• applies collective and personal protective equipment against the action of harmful factors;
• is proficient in the main methods and systems for ensuring technosphere safety, and reasonably selects known devices, systems, and methods for protecting humans and the natural environment from hazards;
• possesses a culture of safety and risk-oriented thinking, in which issues of safety and environmental preservation are regarded as the highest priorities in life and activity;
• knows the origin and combined effect of technogenic and natural hazards;
• has skills in minimizing the effects of hazards and the fundamentals of protection against them;
• able to use measuring and computing equipment and information technologies to assess technogenic risk;
• able to use methods for calculating elements of process equipment based on operability and reliability criteria.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor "Fundamentals of Modern Biotechnology" is intended for the educational programs "6B05213 – Ecology" and "6B11230 – Life Safety and Environmental Protection". The program aims to reveal the key aspects of the modern biotechnological approach to solving environmental and biosafety problems. It covers the fundamental principles of molecular and cell biology, methods of genetic engineering, bioinformatics, microbiological and biochemical processes, as well as modern biotechnological technologies applied in environmental protection, waste management, bioremediation, and sustainable development.

Relevance: Modern advances in biotechnology have a significant impact on medicine, agriculture, environmental protection, and industry. The development of genetic engineering, cell technologies, biocatalysis, and bioinformatics makes it possible to create effective and environmentally safe solutions for global problems: environmental pollution, waste disposal, water and air purification, and the development of sustainable biomaterials. Amid environmental challenges and climate change, biotechnology is becoming a key tool of sustainable development. Studying the fundamentals of this discipline is especially important for future specialists in ecology and life safety, as it provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to introduce innovative approaches into professional practice.

Rationale: The program builds in students fundamental knowledge of modern biotechnological processes, biological systems, methods of genetic and cell engineering, and the possibilities of their application to solving current problems of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources. Particular attention is paid to practical skills: monitoring and preventing pollution, bioremediation, developing biodegradable materials, and using renewable energy sources.

Completion of the course makes it possible to participate in interdisciplinary projects and implement biotechnological solutions in areas related to environmental and biological safety.

Goal: To provide students with the knowledge, practical skills, and experience of applying modern biotechnological methods and approaches to solving problems in the field of environmental protection, rational use of natural resources, environmental safety, waste disposal, ecosystem restoration, and reduction of the negative impact on human health.

Objectives:

• study the principles and methods of modern biotechnology, including genetic engineering, microbiology, bioengineering, and fermentation processes, with an emphasis on their application in ecology and rational use of natural resources;
• teach how to use biotechnological approaches and tools for restoring disturbed ecosystems, biological wastewater treatment, waste disposal, and reducing the negative impact on the environment and human health;
• master the skills of performing practical tasks in academic and industrial settings using modern equipment and technologies;
• develop the ability to process and interpret the results of biotechnological research.

Competencies formed:

• understanding of the main concepts, methods, and directions of modern biotechnology;
• knowledge of the fundamentals of molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry required for professional activity;
• proficiency in modern methods of laboratory research and experimental work;
• skills in applying biotechnological methods in ecology, medicine, agriculture, and the food and processing industries;
• ability to plan and implement research and innovation projects;
• ability to analyze research results and assess the prospects for implementing biotechnological solutions.

Workload: 15 credits

The additional educational program Minor "6B02100 Design and Visual Communications" is aimed at developing in students interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills in designing the visual and material environment, as well as fostering creative thinking and design culture.

Relevance: It is driven by the growing demand of society and the labor market for specialists who master modern methods of artistic and design thinking, digital visualization technologies, and the skills of creating innovative design solutions.

Rationale: The program allows students from other fields to obtain an additional qualification in design, mastering the fundamentals of composition, color theory, costume design, graphic and interior design, which contributes to expanding the graduate's professional competence and competitiveness.

Goal: To develop in students creative thinking, design and artistic skills in the field of design, as well as the ability to apply design methods and technologies to solving professional and interdisciplinary tasks.

Objectives:

• mastering the fundamentals of composition, color theory, and artistic graphics;
• developing skills in working with digital tools and software for visualizing design solutions;
• developing creative and design competencies in the field of graphic and product design;
• preparing students to integrate design approaches into their future professional activity.

Competencies formed:

• is proficient in the fundamentals of composition, color theory, academic drawing, and design thinking;
• able to apply graphic and digital tools to develop design projects;
• demonstrates the ability to create design objects taking into account aesthetic, functional, and technological requirements;
• able to analyze artistic images, select stylistic solutions, and implement them in visual form.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor program "Food Industry" is intended for students of the educational program "6B11126 – Restaurant Business and Hotel Management". The program aims to reveal the key aspects of modern food production, management in the food industry, and the sustainable development of the sector. Within the program, students build competencies in technological processes and innovations in the food industry, the fundamentals of designing and organizing food service enterprises, product quality management, and the environmental and economic sustainability of the sector.

Relevance: Modern advances in the food industry provide organizations and enterprises with new trends in food technologies. The "Food Industry" is a field of science concerned with proper nutrition, the quality and safety control of food products, and new developments in their range. The additional education program "Food Industry" is an elective course within this educational program.

Rationale: Through completing the Minor program, the student develops the ability to acquire practical and professional skills in food production and to pursue successful professional activity in the future.

The program also includes the study of demand and the population's need for high-quality and competitive products with a wide range, with the aim of achieving a proper, balanced diet.

Goal: To train qualified specialists who possess the knowledge, skills, and experience of applying modern food technologies in food production, and who introduce the latest scientific discoveries that improve the efficiency and competitiveness of domestic food industries to meet the requirements of the modern economy and market.

Objectives:

• to give students knowledge of the technological processes of food production;
• to instill the ability to use the most productive and cost-effective production processes;
• to master the skills of performing practical tasks in industrial settings, where students directly engage with work processes.

Competencies formed:

• understanding of technological processes in the food industry;
• skills in managing the quality and safety of food products;
• competencies in designing and organizing food service enterprises;
• economic and environmental sustainability in the food industry;
• analytical and research skills in the field of nutrition and food technologies.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor program "Modern Aspects of Applying Artificial Intelligence" is intended for students of all educational programs.

It is based on the concept of organizing the educational process around students' selection of individual learning trajectories within the framework of the educational program. The educational program implements the Minor "Modern Aspects of Applying Artificial Intelligence". It contributes to the formation of a wide range of competencies required for work in conditions of digitalization and high technology. These skills not only increase the professional value of specialists but also promote the development of innovative approaches in various fields.

Relevance: The additional education program "Modern Aspects of Applying Artificial Intelligence" is relevant and in demand, since these technologies are becoming the basis for numerous technical and scientific achievements, changing people's lives and the ways they interact with technology. AI and neural networks open new horizons in various fields and make it possible to automate many processes, from production lines to more complex tasks such as data processing or business process management. Issues related to the ethical and social aspects of using AI are also relevant. The additional education program "Modern Aspects of Applying Artificial Intelligence" is an elective course within this educational program.

Rationale: Through completing the Minor program, the student develops the ability to acquire practical and professional skills in the field and to pursue successful professional activity in the future. This includes the ability to solve complex logical and formalized tasks related to classifying objects, ranking alternatives, finding the best alternative according to given criteria, and identifying trends in changing processes.

Goal: To train qualified specialists who master modern technologies and methods of intelligent data processing and analysis in the field of artificial intelligence, and who possess the knowledge and practical skills that meet contemporary requirements for the quality of specialists with higher education.

Objectives:

• introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into project management;
• analyzing the results of one's decisions (actions) and adjusting the algorithms for their implementation.

Competencies formed:

• demonstrates readiness to apply the acquired knowledge and skills to solving practical tasks using artificial intelligence based on hardware and software;
• able to develop hardware and software solutions based on artificial neural networks to solve applied problems;
• demonstrates the ability to use the studied methods and tools, as well as the solution-search methods applied in artificial intelligence systems;
• applies new methods of solving problems in their subject area, conducts a comparative analysis, and justifies the choice of an artificial intelligence language to solve their task.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor program "Economic Analysis and Management" is intended for students of all educational programs who are interested in acquiring applied knowledge in economics, the analysis of organizations' activities, and risk management.

Relevance: The program is relevant amid a rapidly changing economy, digitalization, and growing requirements for the professional flexibility of specialists. Knowledge in economic analysis and management enables graduates to make informed decisions, understand business processes, and effectively participate in project activities regardless of their main professional field. The program combines an academic foundation with an applied approach, creating a basis for developing managerial, entrepreneurial, and analytical thinking.

Goal: To develop in students the basic economic and managerial knowledge required to assess business processes, make informed decisions taking into account economic efficiency, and understand risks in a digital and market economy.

Objectives:

• introduce students to the fundamentals of enterprise economics and its internal business processes;
• teach how to apply economic analysis methods to assess the efficiency of activities;
• build an understanding of risks in the economic environment and ways to manage them;
• develop skills in interpreting economic information and formulating managerial decisions;
• foster the development of systems thinking in assessing and managing projects and resources.

Competencies formed:

• proficiency in basic economic and managerial categories;
• ability to analyze the activities of organizations based on quantitative and qualitative indicators;
• skills in assessing and minimizing risks in business and projects;
• ability to use economic data for decision-making;
• development of cross-functional thinking and an understanding of the relationship between economics and other fields of knowledge.

Workload: 15 credits

Financially literate behavior of the population is the foundation and a necessary condition for ensuring an appropriate level of citizens' well-being, increasing the stability and efficiency of the financial market, and supporting its qualitative transformation aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth.

Relevance: The program will help build the knowledge, abilities, and skills that enable citizens to make responsible decisions regarding personal finances, be aware of financial institutions and the products and services offered on the financial market, take rational actions to improve their financial situation, and calculate various taxes.

Goal: To train competitive professionals capable of successfully pursuing professional activity, having an understanding of the financial and credit system, and understanding the real sector of the economy in the context of globalization and digitalization of the economy.

Objectives:

• studying the fundamentals of finance and understanding basic concepts such as income, expenses, assets, liabilities, investments, etc.;
• managing personal finances;
• studying the functioning of financial markets and institutions, such as exchanges, banks, investment funds, and insurance companies;
• studying the basic concepts and principles of the securities market, including its structure, the roles of participants, and trading mechanisms.

Competencies formed:

• the ability to manage personal finances effectively and an understanding of the fundamentals of financial planning and budgeting;
• the ability to analyze financial information, make informed financial decisions, and assess financial risks;
• knowledge of various banking products and services, including loans, deposits, credit cards, mortgages, investment products, etc.;
• knowledge of the fundamentals of how the securities market functions, the ability to analyze market trends, and to develop investment strategies.

Workload: 15 credits

The program "Digital Accounting Practice: From Bookkeeping to Audit" is intended for students of all educational programs. "Fundamentals of Accounting and Audit" is an additional course. In accordance with the theoretical foundation of accounting, the student acquires systematic knowledge of the collection, processing, and storage of information on the results of an organization's financial and economic activity, masters the theoretical and practical aspects of audit and the professional basis for assessing organizations' internal control systems, and acquires skills in applying the "1C: Enterprise" software to maintaining accounting records in organizations.

Goal: To develop in students theoretical knowledge and practical skills in accounting and audit activities.

Objectives:

• to provide students with theoretical and practical training in maintaining accounting records and audit;
• to teach students to independently read accounting and reporting data for subsequent analysis, and to prepare accounting entries based on the double-entry method and the chart of accounts for financial and economic activity;
• to analyze the state of the balance sheet as a result of completed business transactions;
• to equip students with theoretical knowledge of accounting and the main methodological issues of accounting as an economic science;
• to study the accounting capabilities provided by the "1C: Accounting 8.3" software, from entering primary documents and accounting transactions to obtaining analytical reports and preparing financial statements;
• to quickly acquire the skills of working with the "1C: Enterprise 8.3" software system.

Competencies formed:

• able to navigate the regulatory and legal framework governing the maintenance of accounting records at an enterprise;
• gains theoretical knowledge and practical skills in organizing and maintaining accounting records at an enterprise;
• gains theoretical knowledge and practical skills in organizing and conducting audits;
• able to use a computer program for maintaining accounting records;
• masters the "1C: Accounting 8.3" software and the maintenance of computerized accounting in the "1C: Enterprise 8.3" system.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor program "Information Systems and Business Analytics" is intended for students of all educational programs. It is based on the concept of organizing the educational process around students' selection of individual learning trajectories within the framework of the educational program. It contributes to the formation of a wide range of competencies required for work in conditions of digitalization and high technology. These skills not only increase the professional value of specialists but also promote the development of innovative approaches in various fields.

Relevance: It meets the current needs of the modern labor market, contributes to the formation of interdisciplinary competencies, and provides graduates with competitive advantages in the digital economy. It develops in students systems thinking, data-handling skills, and an understanding of the logic of business processes, which makes them valuable specialists in any field related to technology and management.

Rationale: Through completing the Minor program, the student develops the ability to use the main business analytics technologies and applied software products to make sound managerial decisions at an enterprise.

Goal: To develop in students interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills in designing, implementing, and using information systems to support managerial decision-making and the data-driven analysis of business processes.

Objectives:

• to give students basic and applied knowledge of information systems used in management, economics, and business;
• to build skills in collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting data using modern tools (such as Excel, SQL, Power BI, Python, and others);
• to teach how to apply business analytics methods to support managerial decisions, assess the efficiency of business processes, and forecast.

Competencies formed:

• develops competencies in designing and implementing IT solutions, including requirements analysis, process modeling, and interaction with technical specialists;
• builds systems thinking and the ability to understand the relationship between technological solutions and the strategic goals of the organization.

Workload: 15 credits

The Minor program "Information Technologies in Business and Project Management" is intended for students of all educational programs. It is based on the concept of organizing the educational process around students' selection of individual learning trajectories within the framework of the educational program. The educational program implements the Minor "Information Technologies in Business and Project Management". It contributes to the formation of a wide range of competencies required for work in conditions of digitalization and high technology. These skills not only increase the professional value of specialists but also promote the development of innovative approaches in various fields.

Relevance: It responds to current trends in the digital transformation of the economy and the increasing role of information systems in managing organizations. Amid the rapid development of digital technologies, globalization, and the automation of business processes, the demand is growing for specialists who master business analysis tools, digital marketing, and international project management standards. The program aims to develop in students competencies in applying information technologies to the analysis, planning, implementation, and efficiency assessment of business and project solutions. Implementation of this minor contributes to training competitive specialists capable of managing digital projects, optimizing business processes, and ensuring the sustainable development of organizations in the digital environment.

Rationale: Through completing the Minor program, the student develops the ability to use the main business analytics technologies and applied software products to make sound managerial decisions at an enterprise, and to work with information in global computer networks and the enterprise's information systems.

Goal: To develop in students holistic knowledge and practical skills in applying modern information and communication technologies to solving problems of business analysis, digital marketing, and project management in accordance with international standards.

Objectives:

• to build in students a systematic understanding of the role of information and communication technologies in managing business processes and projects;
• to teach the application of digital tools and analytical methods to solving problems of business analysis and digital marketing;
• to familiarize students with international standards and methodologies of project management (PMI, PRINCE2, Agile, etc.) and their practical application;
• to develop competencies in planning, implementing, and monitoring digital projects using modern information systems.

Competencies formed:

• develops competencies in designing and implementing IT solutions, including requirements analysis, business process modeling, and effective interaction with technical specialists;
• builds systems thinking and the ability to see the relationship between technological solutions, the strategic goals of the organization, and economic indicators;
• develops skills in applying business analysis and digital marketing tools to make informed managerial decisions;
• builds the ability to plan, organize, and implement projects in accordance with international project management standards (PMI, PRINCE2, Agile, etc.);
• develops the ability to use modern digital platforms and software tools to analyze data, visualize results, and manage projects.

Workload: 15 credits