The Department of "Software Engineering" was established in 1987 when the Department of "Computer Science and Applied Mathematics" was founded at the university. It was headed by the Honored Worker of Science and Technology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Asaubayev Kanat Shaikhanovich.

In September 1989, the specialty 370440 – "Software for Computer Technology and Automated Systems" was opened, granting the qualification of software engineer. This established the department as a leading center for training specialists in the field of software.

In 1995, the department was renamed the Department of Computer Science and was headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Shuakayev Marat Kapashevich.

In 2003, a license was obtained to open and enroll students in the specialty 010540 – "Computer Science". The department was headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Uskenbayeva Raisa Kabievna. 

In 2004, a credit-based learning technology was fully implemented at the department for all levels of education.

In 2005, on the initiative of Professor R.K. Uskenbayeva, the department was renamed the Department of "Software for Systems and Networks" to align with the specialties it offered.

From March 2012, the department was headed by Candidate of Technical Sciences Beisembekova Roza Nuralievna. 

In the 2013–2014 academic year, due to changes in the organizational structure of the university, the department received a new name – "Computer and Software Engineering".

From August 2016, the department was headed by Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Atymtaeva Lyazzat Bakhitovna, and from 2018 to 2020, it was headed by Candidate of Technical Sciences Rasul Yunusov.

In 2019, the department was renamed to its current name – "Software Engineering". 

From June 2020, the department was headed by PhD Musa Turdalyuly.

From September 21, 2021, to September 1, 2023, the Department of "Software Engineering" was headed by Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Moldagulova Aiman Nikolaevna. 

From September 1, 2023, to October 1, 2025, the head of the department was Candidate of Technical Sciences Abdoldina Farida Nauryzbayevna.

Since October 1, 2025, the duties of the head of the department have been performed by PhD, Associate Professor Utegenova Anar Urantaevna.

The department is represented by highly qualified teachers and specialists in the field of software development, who have extensive practical experience and close engineering ties with industrial and research projects.

The main goals and objectives of the department are to train highly qualified specialists and scientists in the field of software engineering, data analysis and machine learning, as well as to ensure high quality of the educational process in accordance with international standards.

Graduates of the department have a high level of professional competence and are in demand in the labor market. Many of them work successfully in leading international companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, Apple and others.

The educational programs of the department are constantly improved in accordance with modern scientific and technological trends, which ensures the training of high-level specialists who can effectively realize themselves in the field of information technology and make a significant contribution to the development of science and innovation.

The department actively cooperates with the following foreign universities: [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.cmu.edu/), School of Computer Science, International Software Research Institute, USA; [University of Oxford, London, UK](https://www.ox.ac.uk/); [University of Applied Sciences, Amberg-Weiden, Germany](https://www.oth-aw.de/en/); [University of Applied Sciences, Schmalkalden, Germany](https://www.hs-schmalkalden.de/en/); [Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea](https://www.skku.edu/eng/index.do); [Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China](https://english.xju.edu.cn/); [University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA](https://www.unl.edu/); [University of Aveiro, Portugal](https://www.ua.pt/); [St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, St. Petersburg, Russia](https://itmo.ru/); [Penza State University, Russia](https://www.pnzgu.ru/); Kazakhstan-Russian Scientific and Technical Complex of Energy-Saving and Noospheric Technologies, Penza, Russia and others.

Students of the department demonstrate a high level of professional training and actively participate in scientific conferences, competitions and Olympiads in information technology. 

In 2025, the department's team participated in the intellectual competition SU Coding Cup 2025, organized by Satbayev University, and showed worthy results, winning prizes. 

Participation in such events contributes to the development of professional competencies, critical thinking and teamwork skills. 

The department systematically supports student initiatives aimed at increasing their research potential and professional growth.

Goals

Ensuring a high-quality educational process to achieve competitiveness of graduates majoring in computer science at three levels of education: "6B06102 - Computer Science" (Bachelor's degree), "7M06102 - Machine Learning and Data Science" (Master's degree), "7M06101 - Software Engineering" (Master's degree), "8D06102 - Machine Learning and Data Science" (Doctoral degree), "8D06101 - Software Engineering" (Doctoral degree) in the global educational space and researchers in the field of software engineering, data analysis and machine learning, corresponding to modern requirements of the labor market and global educational standards.

Tasks

• To ensure the competitiveness of the department's graduates in the educational services market of the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the international educational space by increasing the level of employment and professional adaptation; 

• To increase the efficiency and quality of the research activities of the department's teaching staff in order to integrate education, science and production, and increase the number of publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and international conference proceedings; 

• To ensure the integration of the department into the global educational process by establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with leading foreign universities, research centers and world IT companies; 

• To create and maintain conditions for concluding and implementing cooperation agreements with industrial partners (1-2 new agreements annually) in order to improve the quality of practical training of students and develop scientific research.

isoft@satbayev.university