Signatory Spotlight: Sustainable Kazakhstan Research Institute (SKRI), Narxoz University, Kazakhstan

The Sustainable Kazakhstan Research Institute (SKRI) at Narxoz University, in partnership with Qazaq National Parks LLP (QNP), is advancing responsible management education by translating the Principles of PRME to a pioneering public-private partnership (PPP) for sustainable tourism in Kazakhstan. Inspired by the collaborative governance model of the U.S. National Park System, the initiative demonstrates how universities can move beyond theory to enable real-world systems change aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SKRI completed a comprehensive sustainability assessment of QNP LLC, evaluating its economic, social, governance, environmental, and cultural performance dimensions. Building on this foundation, SKRI is now developing a Sustainability Strategy with detailed indicators aligned with the UN Global Compact, UNEP, UNWTO, and European Commission frameworks. Together, the assessment and strategy provide QNP with a clear roadmap for accountability, continuous improvement, and the integration of sustainability into core operations.

Importantly, students at Narxoz University play an active role throughout the research process, conducting field-based interviews with QNP staff and contributing to data collection and analysis for the sustainability assessment. This experiential learning approach allowed students to apply responsible management concepts to real-world contexts, strengthening their research, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability evaluation skills.

The PPP is currently being piloted in three national parks at four locations: Ili-Alatau, Charyn Canyon, Altyn-Emel, and Turgen, with the goal of expanding nationwide. Through this model, QNP is enhancing tourism infrastructure, opening five visitor centers (with a sixth underway), while embedding sustainability and responsible management practices into operations. The initiative has already created new jobs in rural communities, supported training in sustainable tourism management, and engaged local populations, mirroring the U.S. model of inclusive park stewardship.

At an institutional level, the SKRI at Narxoz University has emerged as a regional leader in applied sustainability and responsible management education. By bridging academic expertise with industry practice, SKRI is demonstrating how higher education can shape both national policy and private-sector transformation. The partnership also led to QNP’s membership in the UN Global Compact and its application for UN Tourism affiliation, further embedding international standards of corporate responsibility and international collaboration at the core of Kazakhstan’s emerging tourism industry.

Together, SKRI and QNP are proving how responsible management education can generate measurable impact across economic, environmental, social, governance, and cultural dimensions—supporting the advancement of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Global Partnerships).

This partnership underscores a core PRME value: responsible management education achieves its greatest impact when universities become catalysts that bridge sectors and disciplines. The SKRI–QNP partnership shows how embedding the Principles of PRME across economic, social, governance, environmental, and cultural dimensions can create scalable, measurable pathways toward sustainable development at national level.