The research team from the Graduate School of Education at Nazarbayev University (CARCEIT) presented the Positive Peace Education (PPE) project at the IQanat school in Burabay.
This initiative is aimed at fostering a peaceful and positive learning environment in schools across Kazakhstan. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Specifically, the project contributes to SDGs 4, 10, 16, and 17 by:
– promoting quality education through empowering schools to build emotionally supportive and inclusive environments grounded in trust;
– reducing inequality by addressing interpersonal, cultural, and systemic barriers within classrooms;
– supporting students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds in their pursuit of well-being and success; and
– fostering peace, justice, and strong partnerships by bringing together diverse stakeholders for collaborative social transformation.
The seminar was conducted by the research team led by Professor Lynne Parmenter, including Assemgul Bukutova, Nuraiym Seitova, Gulbagira Toleu, Aida Akhmetzhanova, Aizat Arystanbek, and Professor Hilary Cremin, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Cambridge. The event featured pedagogical sessions, an introduction to the PPE framework and its interactive methodologies, and discussions on the theoretical foundations of positive peace education. Participants engaged in reflective dialogue, group discussions, and applied the PPE matrix to their own school contexts.
Students shared that they felt “seen and heard,” while teachers reported a shift in their attitudes toward their students. The warm welcome and enthusiastic engagement of students, educators, and school leaders highlighted a shared commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and positive learning environment—a vision central to both the PPE framework and the SDGs.
“We deeply appreciate the openness, warmth, and thoughtful participation of the IQanat school community. This has been a meaningful step forward in advancing peace-oriented education practices in Kazakhstan,” NU representatives concluded.
