President ECOSF Calls upon the Vice Minister of Education and Science of Kazakhstan in Astana

Go Back

The President ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF), Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro called upon the Vice Minister of Education and Science Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. Takir Balykbayev at his office in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 14, 2014. He was flanked by the Chairman and Deputy Chair of the Science Committee- Mr. Sansyzbai Zholdasbayev and Dr. (Ms.) Lazzat Kussainova respectively. The Vice Minister warmly welcomed the President ECOSF for his visit to Kazakhstan and to the Ministry of Education and Science.

Prof. Soomro thanked the Vice Minister for sparing his precious time from hectic schedule and briefed him about the ECOSF and its aims and objectives. He further elaborated that main activity of the ECOSF is funding of applied nature S&T research projects linked with economic development, supported through the "S&T Fund" of the Foundation. The President ECOSF also said that to strengthen the science base for future generations and the region's economy, the Foundation aims to promote science education at school level using the Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) approach - La main a la pate in collaboration with its sister institution- the ECO Educational Institute (ECOEI) Ankara- Turkey and the collaborators; La main a la pate Foundation France and the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) Malaysia. Furthermore, Prof. Soomro added that the mobilization and promotion of youth engagement in science, technology and education for economic development and peace within the ECO region and beyond is and remains the priority of ECOSF and integrating gender perspective in policies, plans and actions directed towards the improvement of life and development of youth of the ECO region.

During the meeting, various aspects pertaining to the Republic of Kazakhstan i.e., scientific and technical cooperation between the ECOSF and the Ministry of Education and Science; an early completion of the process of Ratification of the Charter and Additional Protocol of the Foundation, the nomination of an expert for ECOSF Executive Committee and Focal Point and financial contribution to the "S&T Fund" of ECOSF came under discussion.

The Vice Minister of Education and Science (MoES) of Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. T. Balykbayev appreciated the scientific efforts of the Foundation being made for the whole ECO region; which he opined, will not only strengthen the cooperation among member states, but will lead to economic development. The Vice Minister ensured full cooperation and support of Kazakhstan for realization of aims and objectives of ECOSF. During the meeting, the Vice Minister agreed to:

1. Resume cooperation in the field of S&T with the ECOSF based in Pakistan and benefit from its programmes
2. Accelerate work on the ratification of the Charter of the ECOSF by the Republic of Kazakhstan according to paragraph 6.1 of the Protocol of the 7th session of the Kazakh-Pakistan joint intergovernmental commission on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation.
3. As a result of ratification of the Charter of the ECOSF in the Kazakhstan, present the candidature of the MoES to liaise with ECOSF and to create the representation of the ECOSF in the Republic of Kazakhstan.