The Kostanay College of Automotive Transport (KCAT) organized a major press tour for media representatives. The event took place as part of the Year of Blue-Collar Professions, which is being celebrated with particular enthusiasm in Kostanay. For journalists, this was an opportunity to see firsthand how a new generation of specialists for Kazakhstan’s machine-building industry is being trained.

The atmosphere was electric — you could feel that the college is focused on the future and moving forward with confidence.

International Standards

The college received international accreditation this year. This confirmed the high level of training and recognized that the college does not merely impart knowledge but transforms it into real-world practical experience. Today, KKT is a platform where education meets industry, and students have the opportunity to immediately engage with their chosen profession.

The Kostanay College of Automotive Transport trains specialists according to WorldSkills global standards. The latest educational methods are implemented here, cutting-edge technologies are applied, and most importantly, there is close collaboration directly with machine-building enterprises in the region and across the country. During their internships, students learn to work on modern equipment that is exactly the same as that found in large factories. This is precisely what makes the training as close as possible to a real production environment.

Experience and New Ambitions

“Last year, the college celebrated its 65th anniversary. Over the years, we have trained tens of thousands of specialists,” says Dmitry Pavlenko, director of the Kostanay College of Automotive Transport. “And we began to think about which direction to take next. First and foremost—to obtain the status of a higher college. We believe that our education meets the requirements for this status. We can offer students an applied bachelor’s degree and train junior engineering staff. We have the material and technical resources, as well as an excellent faculty, to do this.”

These words carry particular weight, given that the college has already established itself as the region’s leading center for workforce training. Obtaining the status of a higher college is a logical continuation of the systematic work that has been carried out here for decades.

It is worth noting that the process is already underway: the status of KKAT as a higher college is in the legal finalization stage. The regional governor signed the relevant decree back in August, and now it is only a matter of time.

International Cooperation and Integration

The college is not limited to internal reforms. The administration is looking much further—to the international level. Plans include launching new programs and establishing partnerships with foreign educational centers and colleges.

The main idea behind KCAT’s internationalization is not at all about sending students abroad. The goal is much broader: to adopt best practices from educational institutions in various countries, integrate them into the domestic education system, and thereby improve its quality.

“Our goal is for our students to enter the real sector of the economy, at enterprises in the Kostanay region and throughout Kazakhstan,” emphasizes Dmitry Pavlenko. “In December 2024, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the German educational center ERFURT Bildungszentrum. In June 2025, the college signed an international Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with the Korean TVET University and College Association for Recruiting International Students. As early as October, one of our staff members will travel to Korea, and we will begin implementing dual-degree programs, internships for our faculty, and student exchanges. We have very ambitious plans.

These plans speak for themselves: KKA is becoming a bridge connecting Kazakhstani education with global expertise.

Validating Knowledge

The college proves its worth not only with words but also with results. Among the students are winners and prize-winners of both national and international professional skills competitions. For example, graduates Andrey Stepanuk and Stanislav Goritsyn won silver at EuroSkills 2023 in the “Network and System Administration” category. Today, new students are preparing for TurkishSkills, meaning the tradition of winning continues.

Workforce for factories: training ahead of the curve

The college takes particular pride in its partnership with the KIA plant. Already, 250 employees of the company have completed training at KKAT.

“They honed all their practical skills here, learning every stage of automobile production: assembly, welding, and painting,” says college director Dmitry Pavlenko. “The plant isn’t operational yet, but as partners, we’re already collaborating in full swing. That’s the principle behind our work—training personnel ahead of the curve. In addition, if necessary, we’re launching new programs.”

Just a few years ago, the main program here was “mechanical technician.” But as early as 2020, the college launched five new programs. To do this, faculty members traveled to Naberezhnye Chelny to familiarize themselves with the educational programs and equipment required for a modern learning process.

“At first, we tried to retrain mechanical technicians to become automotive engineers, but it didn’t work out,” notes Dmitry Pavlenko. “Then, with the approval of the Allur plant, we launched a new program—technician-technologist in small-batch production. A real mini-plant was set up at the facility for student training.” Kamlit KZ needed foundry workers, but there was no such specialty in the Kazakhstani classification system. We added it ourselves. Now we alternate: one year we train foundry workers, the next—molders.

New Language Programs

Starting in 2021, instruction at the college became available in Kazakh as well. This was an important step, as the Kostanay region is considered a labor-deficient area. We encouraged young people from the southern regions of Kazakhstan to enroll at KCAT. Today, the college has students from Zhanaozen, Turkestan, and even Almaty. A dictionary of mechanical engineering terms in Kazakh was created specifically for students in collaboration with the Allur plant.

An Inside Look: Interns on Their Work

Journalists on the press tour were able to see the workshops and competence centers with their own eyes, as well as the Allur plant, where students complete their internships. One of the interns shared his experience.

“I work on the chassis line, at the first station,” says Kirill Dirse. “Here I install fuel tanks, brake lines, and protective heat shields. We assemble the KIA Sportage, KIA Cerato, and Chevrolet Onix. In the first few days, I was installing wheels.” The conditions are excellent: free transportation, meals, interesting leisure activities, and good pay. I receive a full salary—250,000 tenge. Specialized courses at our college began in our second year and continue to this day. We’ve completed several internships where we were taught both theory and the practical operation and repair of vehicles.

Mentoring and Support from Manufacturing Plants

An active partnership with machine-building companies provides students with employment opportunities even while they are still studying.

“It’s very important to us when curricula are updated,” says Lyudmila Olkinyan, head of the Allur Corporate University. “We have an active mentorship system. Our mentors teach at the college, serve as group advisors, and act as instructors. We’ve updated our curricula, and we’re now actively recruiting students for these programs at .” We want students to become part of Allur while they’re still in school.

This collaboration has led to the launch of a new major: “Information Security.” Tuition is paid, but the company allocates funds for grants and scholarships, making the profession accessible to motivated students.

Memorandums and Partnerships

The college’s international cooperation is developing rapidly. In May 2024, KCAT signed a memorandum with KIA Kazakhstan LLP on training personnel for the automotive industry. Today, the college has more than 50 active partners among enterprises in the Kostanay region.

Modern competence centers, equipped with world-class brands, enable graduates to be competitive in the labor market. Most importantly, the college demonstrates that education must keep pace with the times, anticipate market needs, and prepare specialists “ahead of the curve.”

Source: qagro.kz