HSE Scholars Spotlight Service Learning and Social Impact at AlmaU’s Transformative Humanities Conference
RepLab Presented Innovative Approaches to Service Learning and Social Entrepreneurship at the International Conference at AlmaU (Kazakhstan)
Almaty, Kazakhstan — April 19, 2025 — Almaty Management University (AlmaU) hosted the First International Conference on Transformative Humanities (ICTH 2025), dedicated to the 180th anniversary of Abai Qunanbaiuly and held under the theme “Tolyq Adam: Transforming the Content of Education.” The conference served as a significant platform for dialogue between national and international scholars on innovative educational approaches and the integration of the “Tolyq Adam” (Holistic Human) concept into Kazakhstan’s national education policy.
Among the key participants were Dr. Magdalena Gaete, Head of the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education and the Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability at HSE University – Saint Petersburg, and Olga Dymarskaya, a Leading Researcher at the same laboratory.
Dr. Gaete delivered a keynote address in the session “Service Learning: The Link Between the Third Mission, Civic Engagement, and University Reputation.” In her presentation, she emphasized the transformative potential of service learning within higher education, underlining its role in fostering student engagement, building community partnerships, and driving innovative solutions to social challenges. Drawing on international experiences and research from the HSE Satellite Lab, she also highlighted the connection between service learning and social entrepreneurship, positioning both as essential tools in cultivating responsible and active citizens.
Dymarskaya presented a research paper titled “Service Learning: Social Impact,” based on empirical studies conducted at the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education. Her work demonstrated how such pedagogical models contribute to student development and have a positive influence on local communities. The presentation sparked active discussion among participants interested in the practical application of theoretical approaches in the field of education.
The ICTH 2025 conference was held in a hybrid format, covering five key thematic areas: philosophy, biohacking, language education, and the digital transformation of Kazakh language instruction. The event marked a crucial step in AlmaU’s mission to create a human-centered, innovative educational environment of the future.
The participation of representatives from HSE University – Saint Petersburg highlighted the university’s growing role in international academic and educational dialogues on education reform, civic responsibility, and social innovation. The contributions of Gaete and Dymarskaya reaffirmed HSE Saint Petersburg’s leadership in advancing socially impactful and collaborative educational models.
