Managing the Localization of Foreign Engineering Programs in Higher Education: Policy Alignment and Institutional Practices in Kazakhstan

Xuejie Dong

doi:10.55927/fjmr.v5i10.230

Authors

Xuejie Dong Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v5i10.230

Keywords:

Higher Education Internationalization, Localization, Engineering Education, Policy Transfer, Kazakhstan

Abstract

Foreign university programs are increasingly promoted in emerging economies to strengthen higher education and support economic development. This study examines the localization pathways of foreign engineering programs in Kazakhstan, where higher education internationalization is closely linked to state-led industrialization and innovation. Drawing on policy documents and institutional materials, the study qualitatively compares three types of foreign engineering education programs: joint engineering degree programs, English-taught and international engineering programs, and industry-embedded engineering education programs. The findings show that localization is shaped by policy alignment, institutional integration, and functional relevance to industrial development. Programs that integrate these dimensions more effectively are better positioned to support skills development, institutional capacity building, and alignment with domestic industrial needs.

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