Professor Dr. Akhylbek Kurishbayev stands as a preeminent figure in the Republic of Kazakhstan, whose distinguished career bridges the highest levels of agricultural science, national policymaking, and academic leadership. His professional trajectory reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing the agricultural sector and the scientific enterprise of Kazakhstan.

Professor Kurishbayev currently holds a dual mandate as President of the Management Board of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairman of the Management Board – Rector of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, positioning him at the intersection of national science governance and advanced agrarian education.

Professor Kurishbayev’s career demonstrates a rare and consistent progression from foundational scientific research to national-level stewardship. His professional path began in 1983 at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture, where over a fourteen-year period he advanced from Laboratory Assistant to Deputy Director. This formative phase provided him with deep expertise in agricultural research and institutional management. Building on this foundation, he served as Director of the A.I. Barayev Kazakh Research Institute of Grain Farming from 1997 to 2002, a leading institution central to Kazakhstan’s food security and grain production system.

Professor Kurishbayev’s scientific authority and managerial competence led naturally to national public service. Professor Kurishbayev played a significant role in shaping Kazakhstan’s agricultural policy, serving as Vice Minister of Agriculture during two separate terms (2002–2005 and 2007–2008) and later as Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2008 to 2011. During this period, he was instrumental in developing strategic policy frameworks, regulatory mechanisms, and sectoral development programs for the country’s agricultural system.

Beyond the executive branch, Professor Kurishbayev contributed to legislative governance as a Deputy of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 2020 to 2022. In his capacity as Secretary of the Standing Committee on Agrarian Issues, Environmental Management, and Rural Development, he played a key role in aligning agricultural and environmental policy objectives with legislative initiatives.

Parallel to his policy work, Professor Kurishbayev has made a sustained contribution to higher education and research-based training. He served as Rector of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University from 2011 to 2020 and has been serving as Rector of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University since 2022. In these roles, he has overseen institutional governance, academic modernization, research development, and international cooperation, with a focus on preparing future scientists, agronomists, and industry leaders.

Professor Kurishbayev was appointed as President of the Management Board of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2024, representing the culmination of his professional career. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating fundamental scientific research nationwide, defining strategic priorities for science and innovation, and strengthening international scientific collaboration. This position integrates his extensive experience in research, public policy, and academic leadership.

Professor Kurishbayev holds the degree of Doctor of Agricultural Sciences and the academic title of Professor of Agronomy. He is an Academician Agronomist Scientist and the author of numerous scholarly works. His service to the nation has been recognized with high state honors, including the Order of Parasat (2018), the Order of Kurmet (2012), and the honorary title Honored Worker of Kazakhstan (2006).

Akhylbek Kurishbayev, DAgrSc

Chairman of the Management Board – Rector of Kazakh National Agrarian Research University

Member of the Board of Directors

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Email: rector@kaznaru.edu.kz