17 June, the Research Department presented the preliminary findings of the NIS/SHARE project at the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) 2026 Conference held at Nazarbayev University. The presentation was delivered as part of the panel session “Collaborative Action Research: In Search of Professional Autonomy,” chaired by Dr Nazipa Ayubayeva. The session explored an important question: Does collaborative Action Research foster professional autonomy, or is autonomy a precondition for it?

Gulbagira Toleu, Senior Manager at the Research Department, presented a paper titled “Improving Teaching and Learning through Collaborative Action Research: Evidence from the NIS/SHARE Project,” sharing the preliminary findings of the study conducted within the project. Other panel participants also presented their experiences of implementing collaborative Action Research in their own projects and discussed its role in supporting the development of teachers’ professional autonomy.

At the end of the panel session, the discussants reflected on the presentations and shared their perspectives on the issues raised during the discussion. They supported the view that collaborative Action Research is not merely a result of teachers’ professional autonomy, but rather a process that contributes to its development. They also posed a number of thought-provoking and critical questions, encouraging participants to further reflect on the topic.