Abdulakhat Ismailov
Dean of the School of Energy & Petroleum Industry
Kazakh-British Technical University
Abdulakhat Abdukarimovich Ismailov is a petroleum engineering expert with over 40 years of experience. He is Dean of the School of Energy and Petroleum Industry at KBTU, author of 150+ scientific works, 2 patents, and a recipient of the Medal of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan for contributions to the oil and gas sector.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Technologies
Research, Technology Start-ups and Funding
Forum 19 | Technical Programme Hall 4
27
April
15:00
16:30
UTC+3
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Energy Technologies
Research, Technology Start-ups and Funding
Forum 19 | Digital Poster Plaza 4
28
April
10:00
12:00
UTC+3
The energy transition and social transformation: The role of universities through the case of KBTU
As the global energy sector undergoes rapid transformation, the role of educational institutions in preparing future leaders, innovators, and change agents becomes increasingly critical. This abstract explores how universities — particularly in emerging economies — contribute to the success of the energy transition through interdisciplinary education, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration with industry. Drawing on the case of the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), we examine how institutional strategy, curriculum reform, and public-private partnerships foster both technological and social innovation.
KBTU has positioned itself as a catalyst for energy transition in Central Asia by aligning its programmes with national sustainability goals and global energy trends. Through the launch of dedicated research centers focused on decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and digital energy systems, the university has built a foundation for applied research. In addition, KBTU fosters early-stage innovation by supporting student-led energy start-ups and facilitating access to seed funding and industrial mentorship.
As part of its outreach mission, KBTU actively collaborates with international organisations and integrates industry professionals into its educational processes. The university also implements energy transition technologies in its daily operations and student life, fostering a living lab environment for sustainability practices.
The university actively monitors and integrates best practices of energy transition from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, ensuring their contextual adaptation to the regional specificities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. This continuous benchmarking enhances the university’s capacity to deliver globally informed and locally relevant education and innovation.
This case study demonstrates how universities can act as multi-dimensional drivers of change-bridging science, entrepreneurship, and societal needs. The paper proposes a scalable model for how higher education institutions globally can respond to the demands of energy transition by combining technological excellence with social responsibility.
Keywords: energy transition, universities, KBTU, education, social transformation, research, startups, Central Asia.
Co-author/s:
Yevgeniy Kossov, Vice-Dean of the School of Energy & Petroleum Industry, Kazakh British Technical University.
Maratbek Gabdullin, Rector, Kazakh British Technical University.
As the global energy sector undergoes rapid transformation, the role of educational institutions in preparing future leaders, innovators, and change agents becomes increasingly critical. This abstract explores how universities — particularly in emerging economies — contribute to the success of the energy transition through interdisciplinary education, applied research, and innovation-driven collaboration with industry. Drawing on the case of the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), we examine how institutional strategy, curriculum reform, and public-private partnerships foster both technological and social innovation.
KBTU has positioned itself as a catalyst for energy transition in Central Asia by aligning its programmes with national sustainability goals and global energy trends. Through the launch of dedicated research centers focused on decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and digital energy systems, the university has built a foundation for applied research. In addition, KBTU fosters early-stage innovation by supporting student-led energy start-ups and facilitating access to seed funding and industrial mentorship.
As part of its outreach mission, KBTU actively collaborates with international organisations and integrates industry professionals into its educational processes. The university also implements energy transition technologies in its daily operations and student life, fostering a living lab environment for sustainability practices.
The university actively monitors and integrates best practices of energy transition from the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, ensuring their contextual adaptation to the regional specificities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. This continuous benchmarking enhances the university’s capacity to deliver globally informed and locally relevant education and innovation.
This case study demonstrates how universities can act as multi-dimensional drivers of change-bridging science, entrepreneurship, and societal needs. The paper proposes a scalable model for how higher education institutions globally can respond to the demands of energy transition by combining technological excellence with social responsibility.
Keywords: energy transition, universities, KBTU, education, social transformation, research, startups, Central Asia.
Co-author/s:
Yevgeniy Kossov, Vice-Dean of the School of Energy & Petroleum Industry, Kazakh British Technical University.
Maratbek Gabdullin, Rector, Kazakh British Technical University.
