AP26103501 – Development and integration of models, methods and artifacts of project management into research activities of national universities of Kazakhstan

Objective of the project – Development and implementation of an effective methodology for managing research projects in higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, with a focus on the Agile model. This includes optimizing the preparation processes for research proposals and grant applications, improving their quality, and implementing flexible project management methods, aimed at more effective utilization of the scientific potential of universities.

Relevance: The relevance of the project is driven by the need to enhance the efficiency of research activities in technical universities of Kazakhstan amid increasing competition for grant funding. Traditional approaches to managing research projects are characterized by low flexibility, insufficient coordination, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration, which reduces the quality of research and the likelihood of obtaining funding. The implementation of Agile approaches and an interdisciplinary management model will improve the quality of Research Proposal preparation, accelerate project implementation, and enhance research outcomes.

Scientific supervisor: Tsekhovoy Alexey Filippovich, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor

Expected and achieved results:

The review and results of the study will be published in a review article (planned in the International Journal of Business Information Systems, ISSN 17460972) and two articles (planned in the International Journal of Project Management, ISSN 02637863), as well as at least 5 (five) articles and (or) reviews in peer-reviewed foreign and (or) domestic publications recommended by KOKSON (Bulletin of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Scientific Journal "Bulletin of the University "Turan" and Bulletin of KazNPU named after Abay).

The "Guide to Forming an Application for Research Projects" (preliminary title), "Guide to Managing a Portfolio of Research Tasks", "Guide to Interacting with Stakeholders for Commercialization" will be published, and a "Model for Forming and Managing an Agile Team for R&D" will be created.

The program of the discipline “Corporate Knowledge Management”, which is part of the PhD training program in the specialty Project Management, has been adjusted. The project plans to prepare and release one doctoral dissertation by a second-year doctoral student Baktygali Zhanibek on the topic “Project management of research work carried out under government orders in higher scientific institutions of Kazakhstan (using the example of KazNITU named after K.I. Satpayev)

A concept of the A-B-V-G model complex has been developed and described, integrating idea generation, Research Proposal preparation, task portfolio management, stakeholder interaction, and Agile team formation. The structures of Models A, B, V, and G have been established. Requirements and selection criteria for cross-functional research teams have been developed, including professional, communicative, and managerial competencies, as well as assessment methods (questionnaires, case studies, interviews). Tools for diagnosing motivation and thinking types of master’s and doctoral students were created and applied in a pilot survey. Preliminary data from the National Center for Science and Technology Development (NCSTD) on MNVO RK competitions from 2020–2025 have been collected, and analytical processing has begun.

Scientific novelty:
– For the first time, an integrated system of four interrelated research management models based on Agile approaches has been proposed, aimed at the university research environment in Kazakhstan, with subsequent formation and development of scientific schools.
– Approaches for developing criteria and selecting tools for forming Agile-compatible research teams have been designed, representing a new approach to organizing research activities in Kazakhstan.
– An original toolkit for diagnosing motivation for scientific activity and thinking types of graduate students has been created, enabling the formation of balanced research teams.