Department of "Higher Mathematics and Modeling"
The history of the Department of Mathematics dates back to 1934, when the newly established Mining and Metallurgical Institute organized the Department of Higher Mathematics and Theoretical Mechanics.
The first head of the department was V.I. Volovik (1934–1935).
In 1935, Yermek Alimkhan, a graduate of Tomsk Polytechnic Institute, was appointed as head of the department.
He was the author of the first mathematics textbook in the Kazakh language and the first Kazakh mathematician to receive the title of professor.
Unfortunately, during the years of political repression, in 1938 he was persecuted as a “member of Alash-Orda.”
Over the years, the department was headed by:
– Assoc. Prof. N.S. Starkov (1937–1941 and 1943–1952);
– Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) N.I. Akhiezer (1941–1943);
– Prof. S.I. Gorshin (1952–1962);
– Assoc. Prof. O.M. Khaimuldin (1962–1972);
– Assoc. Prof. U.K. Kalizhanov (1972–1979);
– Prof. E.M. Khairullin (1979–2000).
In 1995, a new Department of Applied Mathematics was established under the leadership of Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) A.S. Sakabekov.
In 1999, it received the status of a graduating department, launching the program in Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics.
In July 2000, the Departments of Applied Mathematics and Higher Mathematics were merged into the unified Department of Mathematics, which became part of the Al-Mashani Institute of Natural Sciences and Humanities.
The first head of the renewed department was Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) A.S. Sakabekov.
Development Stage (2000–2020)
From 2002 to 2004, the department was headed by Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) A.B. Tungatarov.
From 2004 to 2016 — Prof. O.S. Satybaldyev,
and from 2016 to 2019 — Assoc. Prof., PhD (Phys.-Math.) R.T. Keltenova.
Over the years, six faculty members of the department were awarded the “Best University Teacher of the Year” state grant by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
E.A. Kasymov (2006), K.A. Khaseinov (2005, 2006), E.Zh. Aidos (2006), Zh.O. Otarbaev (2006), O.S. Satybaldyev (2007), and E.M. Khairullin (2009).
The department served as a leading organization for the defense of PhD and doctoral dissertations in the specialty 01.01.02 – Differential Equations and Mathematical Physics.
It trained bachelors in the specialty 510230 – Applied Mathematics and Informatics, awarding the qualification of System Programmer, Mathematician-Engineer with skills in mathematical modeling and forecasting.
In 2007, the department launched the specialty 5B070500 – Mathematical and Computer Modeling, whose graduates received the degree of Bachelor of Engineering and Technology.
In September 2008, a master’s program in 5M070500 – Mathematical and Computer Modeling was opened.
On March 15, 2019, under the supervision of Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) N.S. Dairbekov, the Scientific and Educational Center “Mathematics and Cybernetics” (MiC) was established as part of the Institute of Information and Telecommunication Technologies, and the Department of Mathematics was included within its structure.
Two laboratories were established within the center: Sigma Lab and Cuda Lab.
Between 2019 and 2021, the MiC Center held weekly scientific seminars, including:
Traffic Flow Control – Prof. N.S. Dairbekov;
Analysis on Stratified Manifolds – Prof. O.M. Penkin;
Logistics Problems – Prof. N.S. Dairbekov;
Finance Seminar – Assoc. Prof. R.T. Keltenova.
The department’s mission is to conduct educational, research, and innovation activities in accordance with the mission of the institute — to train highly qualified and competitive specialists.
Period from 2020 to the Present
Between 2020 and 2023, faculty members carried out several research projects funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including:
– “Determination of Aerodynamic Characteristics of Flying Vehicles Using a One-Dimensional Nonstationary System of Moment Equations” (Grant №AP08856926), supervised by Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) A.S. Sakabekov, funding amount – 42,124,000 KZT.
– “Algebraic and Definable Closures in New Strongly Minimal Theories” (Grant №AP09058419), supervised by Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) V.V. Verbovsky, funding amount – 18.5 million KZT.
Since 2018, the department has been publishing the International Journal of Advances in Applied Mathematics and Modeling, issued by DE GRUYTER POLAND (Warsaw).
The department maintains strong scientific cooperation with the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, V.A. Steklov Institute of Mathematics, Institute of Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Computing Center in Novosibirsk.
Faculty members and students regularly participate in international conferences and mathematical Olympiads.
In 2016, KazNITU students won prizes at the international Internet Olympiad superfinal held in Ariel, Israel.
In 2021, under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. S.N. Madalieva, students achieved high results at the national mathematics Olympiad in Astana.
In August 2021, the MiC Center was reorganized, and on its basis, the Department of Higher Mathematics was established within the Institute of Fundamental Education, headed by Assoc. Prof., PhD Zhomart R. Ualiev.
From September 1, 2022, the department became part of the Institute of Automation and Information Technologies and was renamed the Department of Higher Mathematics and Modeling.
Three academic programs were transferred to the department:
6B06103 – Mathematical and Computer Modeling;
7M06105 – Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence;
8D06104 – Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence.
Since December 15, 2022, the department has been headed by Assoc. Prof., PhD Gulnara Alipovna Tulesheva.
Currently, the department employs 25 full-time academic staff, including:
– 1 Doctor of Science,
– 13 Candidates of Science and Associate Professors,
– 1 PhD,
– 8 Senior Lecturers (5 of them hold a Master’s degree),
as well as 10 part-time lecturers.
In June 2023, the department launched two new academic programs:
7M06110 – Digital Modelling,
8D06105 – Digital Modelling.
The mission of the 7M06110 program is to train highly qualified specialists capable of independently solving engineering problems using modern analytical, numerical, and experimental methods, as well as mathematical and computer modeling techniques.
The goal of the 8D06105 program is to prepare researchers with deep knowledge in mathematical and digital modeling among specialists in information technology and computer science.
Faculty members regularly complete professional development courses on the Coursera platform.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, Prof., DSc (Phys.-Math.) A.S. Sakabekov was included in the University’s “Golden Fund” for his outstanding contribution to the development of science and education.
In the 2025–2026 academic year, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, he was awarded the medal of “Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
