Kazakhstan - English Language Project

An example of collaborative program design and implementation

Partner: The British Council

As both the Soros Foundation Kazakhstan (SFK) and the British Council Kazakhstan (BC) were developing programs and activities in Kazakhstan at the same time, the opportunity arose to identify their common interests in the field of English language, in accordance with each organisation’s broader mission in the country.

Building a close working relationship seemed natural given their strong, shared interests, as well as the enormity of the need and demand in Kazakhstan. Since one single donor could never have responded to this huge need and demand, pooling limited resources seemed logical. BC wanted to deliver intensive, high-quality, focused English language courses to priority groups and to improve the standards of English language and teaching through British certified courses for 60 key individuals in teaching. SFK aimed to create a platform for cross-cultural development through English language training and to promote the development of open society through English language training.

Thus, they decided to jointly develop and implement the English language teacher development/training project. The partnership aimed to develop English language teaching networks; to improve the standards of English language, English language teaching and English language teacher training; to promote INSET training for English language teachers; to extend English language training resources in institutions throughout the country; to move toward the internationalisation of English language standards; and to increase the access and information flow with other countries and cultures for the citizens of Kazakhstan.

"Building a partnership is an on-going process," says Arman Argynov of SFK. "The trust and confidence in the partnership was established through mutual respect for each partner’s mission, through mutual respect for each partner’s working practices, through frequent, on-going and frank discussion, and through the development of open and reliable channels of communication."

The project was funded on a 1:1 matching fund basis, which each partner contributing half of the total cost. The BC’s contributions included the provision of experienced, native speaker trainers; course design, materials acquisition, course delivery and evaluation; and administration and administering of examinations. SFK mobilised its network in the country to spread the word about the program and increase involvement through developing a publicity campaign. It also took care of the administration and coordination of the program, as well as the maintenance of networks. Both partners collaborated on setting of the selection criteria for trainees and the selection itself.

The commitments of both partners were defined in a formal agreement of cooperation. For each project and project item, funds were approved by both sides. There was no lead partner. The implementation was divided and undertaken according to each partner’s experience, speciality, and organisational ideology.

To date, five of the nine planned courses have been delivered. Unintended, but very welcome, outcomes of the partnership are the establishment of working networks and a clear identification of future training needs for priority groups in English language and other professional areas.

Arman Argynov (SFK) and Annalisa McManus (BC) agree that "The success of the partnership can be explained by the designing of a project that met clearly identified needs and demands, the flexibility and creativity of both partners, and the maintenance of good working relations." Both partners recognised difficulties as they arose and sought mutually acceptable solutions for these problems.

Reports of the project were made in the media, including on the radio. Further, unsolicited inquiries for additional courses and applications for current courses indicate the extensive public awareness of the courses and their quality. Both partners believe that the outreach of the courses could be broadened in the future by delivering courses regionally and by reviewing the approach to publicity to ensure that there is an increased number of applications from poorer regions.

Contact person: Balzhan Sujikova, Director of Educational Programs, Soros Foundation Kazakhstan
Tel. 7-3272-626973 or 625982 or 503811
Tfx. 7-3272-628783 or 503814
E-mail: bsujik@soroskz.glas.apc.org