The topic areas include:
- Central Asia and Kazakhstan
- Nation building in Kazakhstan and experience of other multi-ethnic states
- Nurly Kosh governmental program, 2009-2011: results, conclusions, and recommendations
- Trends of external migration in Kazakhstan
- Internal migration and governmental youth policy
- Government, religion, society. Analysis of governmental policy on religion in Kazakhstan
- Single-industry towns and regional development in Kazakhstan
- Long-term concept for management of the base-material sector revenues in Kazakhstan
- Social policy in Kazakhstan within the context of reforms in 2013
- Cultural policy in Kazakhstan
- Impact analysis regarding to introduction of a new criminal law concept in Kazakhstan
- Information policy of Kazakhstan o Educational policy of Kazakhstan: problems and prospects
- External debt of Kazakhstan: analysis and risk factors o Small and medium-sized business development in Kazakhstan
Anton Artemyev, Chair of the Executive Council at Soros Foundation Kazakhstan, said: “We see public policy as a cross-section of three areas which are an expert community, the mass media and the general public, people who make political decisions or policy-makers. We understand public policy as a formation of policy in health-care, education and so on. We think that interaction between experts and decision-makers is as important as interaction with the entire society. We see our prospective candidates as speakers who can develop quality analytical papers, help experts make political decisions, and capable of communicating freely with the society by making direct contacts with the mass media in various business venues. We will also try to build more such venues as part of our initiative.” Artemyev says that analytical writing is a completely different domain of expertise that could be highly important for people wishing to have a career in public policy.
“We understand that many of us can write academic reports, proposals, dissertations; however, a political paper is a somewhat different document. It has to be very laconic. Moreover, the addresser needs to make sure that the paper has been read and accepted by the decision-makers. We will also give data visualisation skills. Because the world is now shifting towards data compression and as much information as possible can be given through data visualization. Another thing is promoting these recommendations. As I say, any policy note should, of course, needs to be pushed forward, one should know how to present it, pitch for it in a reasonable manner via debates, meetings etc.” Bota Ayazbayeva, Director of Public Policy Initiative, pointed out that the topics offered for consideration are only research areas and are not topics per se.
“As part of these topic areas every candidate must define their own, specific and more focused, topic and indicate it in their application.” Anton Artemyev also said that the Foundation might assist some of the best out of the winning 10 candidates in their future work placements. “Next year we will be happy to offer such experts further development opportunities through work placements with some big international analytical centres or via arranging further education in our global partner universities or through work opportunities in some more serious and profound research efforts that would require primary data input. In short, there are a few options.”
Candidates wishing to apply may contact Bota Ayazbayeva, Director of Public Policy Initiative – bayazbayeva@soros.kz, tel. (727) 250-38-11