History:

The Department of Physical Chemistry was established in 1977, and its first head was Academician Ye.A.Buketov, the first Rector of Karaganda State University. The initial staff of the department included R.G.Omarova, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, and students of Ye.A.Buketov, invited to the university from the Chemical and Metallurgical Institute: N.Kh.Valikhanova, M.I.Zhambekov, L.G.Kozorin, I.V.Egorova, S.N.Novik, and Sh.M.Kalanova. Later, after defending their candidate dissertations in Moscow, A.S. Massalimov, B.Z.Nurgaliyev, E.K.Zhumadilov, and G.V.Makarov joined the department.

In the 1980s, several structural units were established on the basis of the Department of Physical Chemistry, including the Problem Research Laboratory “Chemistry and Technology of Chalcogens and Chalcogenides”, the Department of Colloid Chemistry and Ecology (headed by Professor V.P.Zhuravlev), the Department of Electrochemistry (headed by Professor M.Zh.Zhurinov), and the second Department of Quantum Chemistry in the Soviet Union (headed by Professor B.F.Minaev).

As a result of the optimization of the higher education system in Kazakhstan, the Departments of Physical and Quantum Chemistry were merged in 1995 under the leadership of Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.S.Massalimov.

In 1997, the Departments of Quantum, Physical, and Analytical Chemistry were united to form the Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry. During the existence of the department, doctoral dissertations were defended by B.F.Minayev, G.V.Makarov, M.Sh.Sharipov, A.S.Massalimov, S.A.Beznosyuk, I.S.Irgibaeva, Sh.K.Amerkhanova, and S.N.Nikolskiy.

More than forty candidates of sciences have defended their dissertations, including current staff members A.I.Khalitova, L.K.Abulyaisova, S.N.Nikolskiy, I.A.Pustolaykina, M.S.Kassymova, A.F.Kurmanova, K.Zh.Kutzhanova and others. It should be noted that a significant number of these dissertations were defended at leading centers of science and education, such as Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, and the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry.

Since its establishment, the department has been headed by Academicians Ye.A.Buketov and Z.M.Muldakhmetov, as well as Professors V.G.Shkodin, M.Z.Ugorets, M.Sh.Sharipov, A.D.Kagarlitskiy and A.S.Massalimov. At present, the department is headed by Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor S.N.Nikolskiy.

Students:

The demand for the department’s programs is evidenced by the growth in the student body, which has increased more than fivefold over the past 5 years. Twenty-nine students from Altai State University (Barnaul, Russia) have participated in the academic mobility program.

Employment

The graduate employment rate is 100%.

Teaching staff:

90% of the department’s faculty members hold academic degrees. Among them: two recipients of the national title “Best University Teacher” (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.S.Massalimov, and Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Professor L.K.Abulyaisova); recipient of the state scholarship for young scientists (Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor I.A.Pustolaykina); three recipients of the O.Sh.Kurmanaliyev Prize (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor S.N.Nikolskiy, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professors I.A.Pustolaykina and A.F.Kurmanova);

recipient of the D.Kunayev Prize (Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor A.F.Kurmanova); three recipients of the Honorary Certificate of the Akim of the city (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor S.N.Nikolskiy, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor I.A.Pustolaykina and Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor A.F.Kurmanova); three recipients of the Honorary Certificate of the University Rector (Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor I.A.Pustolaykina, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor K.Zh.Kutzhanova, and Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor A.F.Kurmanova); Academician of the International Academy of Higher Education Sciences (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.S.Massalimov); two members of the International Society of EPR (ESR) Spectroscopy (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.S.Massalimov and Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor S.N.Nikolskiy); two honored employees of Karaganda University named after Ye.A.Buketov (Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.S.Massalimov, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Professor A.I.Khalitova, and Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor S.N.Nikolskiy).

Educational programs

The educational programs “Chemistry” and “Fundamental Chemistry” offer a multilingual learning format at three levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral (PhD) programs.

Dissertation Council:

The university has established a specialized dissertation council for the program 6D060600 – Chemistry.

Leadership and Accreditation

All department programs hold national accreditation and occupy strong positions in national rankings such as IQAA and Atameken ratings. According to these rankings, in 2020, the educational program 6B060600 – Chemistry ranked 2nd in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Partners:

International cooperation is carried out with Altai State University (Russia), B. Khmelnytskiy National University (Ukraine), and Norfolk State University (USA).

Educational programs

6B05301 – “Chemistry” (Bachelor’s Program)

The program focuses on the natural science foundations of chemistry. During their studies, students learn to plan and organize scientific research and programs, as well as manage production and technological processes in chemical industries and the economy. A distinctive feature of this program is multilingual education. Students have the opportunity to study courses in Russian, Kazakh, and English. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Natural Sciences degree and can work in research and production laboratories of analytical, environmental, customs, sanitary-epidemiological, and certification services; research organizations (institutes and laboratories) in chemical, petrochemical, environmental, metallurgical, and pharmaceutical fields; general secondary educational institutions.

7M05308901 – “Chemistry” (Master’s Program)

The program aims to train highly qualified specialists in chemistry with strong foundational knowledge. Graduates are capable of clearly and accurately explaining basic principles of classical chemistry, applying modern theoretical chemistry knowledge to solve applied and innovative research problems, conducting research, and understanding the logical interconnection between different branches of chemistry. Students master laboratory research techniques, and skills for collecting and interpreting scientific data.

Graduates earn a Master of Natural Sciences degree and may work as University lecturers, be engaged in scientific-research activity, be engineers, laboratory assistants, methodologists in structural subdivisions of chemical, metallurgical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries, professionals in education and science.

8D05301 – “Chemistry” (Doctoral/PhD Program)

This program is unique in integrating scientific, pedagogical, and practical training, preparing graduates as versatile specialists in chemistry capable of independent research and teaching. Graduates acquire knowledge and skills for qualified work in government education authorities, chemical industry, research institutes, central plant laboratories in petrochemical, gas, and coal production, control and analytical services, standardization and certification centers, and environmental management agencies. Graduates receive a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemistry and may work as University lecturers, be engaged in scientific-research activity, be laboratory heads, production managers, chief and senior researchers.

6B05302 – “Fundamental Chemistry” (Bachelor’s Program)

This program provides advanced study of the fundamental principles of chemistry. Students learn to conduct chemical experiments, analyze, process, and systematize data obtained during research, and work with scientific and technical information. A distinctive feature of this program is multilingual instruction. Students have an opportunity to study courses in Russian, Kazakh, and English. Graduates earn a Bachelor of Natural Sciences degree and can work as laboratory assistants in chemical research organizations; chemistry teachers in secondary schools, specialized schools, colleges, lyceums, and gymnasiums.