Post
Head of Department & Associate Professor

Profile
Dr. Ainur Abdrazakova serves as Head of the Economics and Business Department and
Associate Professor at SDU University. Her scholarship focuses on human capital development,
strategic HRM, and sustainable institutional transformation within higher education systems. She
brings over two decades of extensive international academic experience.
Throughout her career, Dr. Abdrazakova has held research, visiting scholar, and invited
academic positions across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Türkiye, China, and
Kazakhstan. Her global academic background includes postdoctoral research at the University of
Huddersfield Business School; academic appointments at Florida State University, Middle East
Technical University, and the Silesian University in Opava; and participation in the Horizon
Europe MSCA Staff Exchange Project ORCA: Opening Research in Central Asia. She has
additionally delivered invited lectures and keynote talks at leading global universities, including
the University of Cambridge, Columbia University, and Indiana University.

Degree Qualifications
PhD in Economics and Business, Narxoz University, Kazakhstan
Postdoctoral Studies, University of Huddersfield Business School, UK
Professional Retraining in Economics and Management, Lomonosov Moscow State University,
Russia
Master of Management (with distinction), Narxoz University, Kazakhstan.
Diploma in Education, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh–Turkish University,
Kazakhstan
Educational Leadership Programme, Institute of Education, University of London, UK

Research interests
– Human capital development and strategic HRM
– Educational and institutional leadership
– Digital HRM, AI-enabled workforce analytics, and the future of work
– Sustainability and the circular economy
– Higher education strategy, governance, and quality assurance
– Behavioural economics and decision-making in labour markets
– Cost–benefit analysis and evidence-based policy evaluation

Publications
– Tatibekov, B., Abdrazakova, A. (2024). Relationship between unemployment and
inflation in the economy of Kazakhstan: Theory, analysis methodology, and
implementation practice. Bulletin of the Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and
International Trade, 3(56), 103–112.
– Majerova, I., Abdrazakova, A. (2021). A Bibliometric Mapping of Cost–Benefit Analysis:
Three Decades of Studies. Economies (MDPI).
– Poór, J., Engle, A., Abdrazakova, A. et al. (2020). Multinationals and HRM Practices in
CEE and the Former Soviet Union. Employee Relations, 42(3), 582–608.
– Abdrazakova, A. (2017). Contributing Author — HRM in Transition: Practices of MNC
Subsidiaries in CEE, Russia and Kazakhstan. J. Selye University.

Research Projects
2025–2027
Research Team Member — Horizon Europe MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie) Staff Exchange.
ORCA: Opening Research in Central Asia.
Grant No. 101182752.
Contributing to comparative research, regional analysis, and cross-institutional academic
collaboration across 18 partner universities in Central Asia and Europe.
2025–2026
Principal Investigator — Navigating New Markets: A Qualitative Study on Drivers, Barriers,
and Policy Effectiveness in the Internationalization of SMEs in Kazakhstan
NCSTE Registration No. 11-11/434.
Leading qualitative research design, analytical strategy, and policy recommendations.
2024–2025
Invited Expert — Development of a Data Management System with AI Applications
Contributed to designing institutional knowledge-management architecture, data-governance
logic, and organizational memory frameworks.
2019–2022
Invited Research Expert — SMART Technologies to Improve the Quality of Life in Cities and
Regions
Grant No. CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/17_049/0008452, Czech Republic
Provided Kazakhstan-specific contextual analytics; contributed to Scopus-indexed publications
and multinational comparative studies.
2015–2020
Research Contributor — HRM in Transition: Practices of MNC Subsidiaries in Central and
Eastern Europe, Russia, and Kazakhstan
Central & Eastern European International Research Team (CEEIRT-HRM)
Collected Kazakhstan-specific HRM data, developed organizational case studies, and co-
authored scholarly publications, including a monograph.

Professional memberships
Institutional Roles
– SDU Science Council
– SDU Academic Council
National & International Associations
– Association of HR Managers of Kazakhstan
– BELMAS – British Educational Leadership, Management and Administration Society
– CEEIRT – Central and Eastern European International Research Team
– CESS – Central Eurasian Studies Society
Expert Reviewer Roles
– National Center for State Scientific and Technical Expertise (NCSTE)

Awards
– Keynote Speaker Recognitions — JEBAC 2025 (Universitas Jambi, Indonesia) and
Economic and Societal Challenges of the European Economy (Silesian University, 2022)
– Certificates of Appreciation — Contribution to National Ranking of Educational
Programs (Atameken & SDU, 2025) and Sustainability Week (SDU, 2025)
– Recognition for Leading the “HR in Public Service” Forum — Agency for Civil
Service Affairs (2023)
– Excellence Award in Education — National Innovative Research Center “Bilim-
Órkenieti” (2021)
– Jubilee Medal, Honorary Certificate, and Letter of Appreciation from T. Ryskulov
Kazakh Economic University in recognition of academic and institutional contributions
(2013, 2007).

Supervision areas
– Human capital development, HRM, and employee well-being
– Higher education strategy and governance
– Sustainability and the circular economy
– Digital HRM and AI-driven workforce systems
– Educational leadership