October 30, 2018 al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted an international seminar within the framework of the: “World Cities Day”.

The Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development at al-Farabi KazNU, in conjunction with the United Nations (UN) Global Resilience Center for Sustainability, the UN Model – New Silk Road, the Green Bridge Through Generation Program, the UNESCO Chair for Sustainability and the Alma Mater of the Journalist Club, has attracted attention to the problems of the cities of the world on the part of the international community on the implementation of the new Urban Agenda.

UN representatives, heads of departments of the university, as well as scholars of KazNU and Almaty universities where discussed a sensible and sustainable cities, new approaches to the concept of “Smart Green Campuses”, and the consequences of digitalization, the development of artificial intelligence and financial integration in urban management, in the region of Central Asia.

The first vice-rector of the al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Professor M. Burkitbayev opened the event with a speech: “The UN initiative has a huge potentials for the development of new formations in our cities, including access to services and new opportunities, involvement and mobilization of human resources …”. He also dwelt on important project of the university within the urbanization, namely, on the development of the “Smart University – Smart City”, which was presented by Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan Member of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences, rector of KazNU Professor G. Mutanov, at the UN Global Alliance of Civilizations Forum.

Welcoming remarks to the meeting from the UN headquarters in New York were addressed by Mr. Ramu Damodaran, who is the deputy director for participation and participation in the outreach department of the United Nations Department of Public Information and the head of the UNAI global network.

In his speech, Mr. Ramu Damodaran noted the importance of “the Kazakh National University heads the UN Global Hub “Academic Impact” and the UNESCO Regional Hub on Sustainable Development in Central Asia, and the UN University has a special and important mission”. Also, Mr. R. Damodaran noted that “the spiritual and moral values ​​and ideas of Abu Nasyr Al-Farabi on the peaceful path of building a virtuous society, played a role in promoting this idea of the UN”.

The representative of the UN Department of Public Information in Kazakhstan, Mr. Vlastimil Samek, addressed all those present through a video message, stressing the importance of the cities of the world. He noted the special role of young people in globe on realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and solutions.

Representative of the UN Information Department in Kazakhstan, Acting Director of the UNIC, Mr. A. Mukhidov, read the Welcome speech of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Guteresh. In his speech, Mr. A. Mukhidov dwelled on topical issues such as “making cities and towns open, safe, viable and sustainable.” In his opinion, “it is very important to actively begin the process of implementing the new urban development agenda.”

Director of the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development, Professor R. Abazov, noted, “the idea of ​​the virtuous society of the Eastern thinker Abu Nasyr al-Farabi was taken as the basis of the projects for the development of smart cities”.

“Nowadays, students are the carriers of the idea. I am sure that we will make decisions on the topical issues discussed at the seminar on the proposal of projects to improve our city” said Professor R. Abazov.