The Second Institutional Research Forum in Kazakhstan, organized by SDU University in collaboration with Nazarbayev University and KIMEP University (May 31, 2024), continued the discussions initiated at Nazarbayev University's 2019 forum and expanded upon earlier workshops.

This forum focused on leveraging internal university data to enhance academic quality, inform planning, and support decision-making processes. Participants explored emerging trends, challenges, best practices in institutional research, and fundamental principles for monitoring student outcomes from admission through to graduation.

The forum featured two sessions: a panel discussion and a practical workshop. During the panel discussion, speakers shared their experiences in institutional research. The practical workshop included sessions on using computer programs and applications such as SurveyMonkey and Qualtrics for institutional surveys, Microsoft Excel for data management, and open-source reporting systems like RMarkdown for data reporting. Additionally, a round table discussion addressed topics such as the use of digital systems by universities and the integration of institutional research into university strategy.