01 / Education & research

Ainur Suranchina

I study how decisions made by university leaders in Kazakhstan shape teaching and the student experience.

In education since 2009Third-year doctoral researcher · University of Bristol

Explore collaboration ↗

02 / About

From the classroom to research

University of BristolMSc in Education Management

I am an educator and researcher from Kazakhstan. I have served as acting dean and deputy dean, designed curricula and led workshops for teachers. I hold an MSc in Education Management from the University of Bristol, where I now conduct doctoral research in the School of Education.

My career in education

2009
Ablai Khan University
After graduating, I stayed on to teach at my university. I became a senior lecturer and deputy dean for academic affairs.
2016
Satbayev University
I joined as a lecturer in academic and business English. From October 2019 to August 2021, I served as senior lecturer and vice dean for academic affairs in the School of General Education. In 2019 I launched a group of 88 student representatives.
2018–2019University of
Bristol
University of Bristol
I completed my MSc in Education Management with Merit on a Bolashak scholarship. As course representative, I brought students’ views to meetings with staff.
2021–2022
Acting Dean, Faculty of Kazakh and World Languages, QyzPU
I oversaw academic affairs across five departments with 122 faculty staff and around 2,500 students. The faculty prepared teachers of English, Kazakh and Russian.
2022–2023
IQanat High School of Burabay
I taught English to 37 students and served as academic mentor to 25.
October 2023 – April 2024
IITU · UNICEF project
As an English language teaching expert, I led online workshops for schoolteachers in Almaty, Astana and Shymkent. I observed lessons and held follow-up consultations with teachers.
November 2023 – January 2024
Energo University · SAVER project
I investigated difficulties students faced for an incoming university management team. I analysed the findings and presented recommendations to the academic council.
January–August 2024
Return to Satbayev University
I worked as a senior lecturer from January to August before starting my doctoral research in Bristol.

03 / ERC 2026

How do university decisions reach the classroom?

My doctoral research explores the work of deans, deputy deans and heads of department in Kazakhstan. How do they explain institutional decisions to teaching staff? What happens when administrative expectations diverge from departmental needs? Through interviews and document analysis, I examine how cultural identity shapes their leadership practices.

My article on the student experience at Satbayev University ↗
Қоғам және Дәуір · № 1 (65) · 2020 · 103–120

Presenting my research poster · ERC 2026

ENERGO UNIVERSITY · SAVER · 2023–2024

I presented recommendations to the academic council

The brief

In 2023 an incoming university leadership team wanted to understand the difficulties students faced. I joined its Student Voice project.

My work

I ran workshops for students and advisers, wrote a handbook for student representatives and designed a student satisfaction survey. I analysed the responses and prepared a report for the university.

Professional skills

04 / Collaboration

Ways to work together

For universities

I can help pilot a Student Voice project, interview students, identify recurring difficulties and work with your team to decide which changes to try. With new deans and department heads, I can help map priorities for their first months in the role.

For schools and educators

In a workshop, we can redesign a lesson, select tasks for mixed-ability learners and plan assessment. I help trainee teachers prepare for classroom practice and work with universities and colleges to design syllabuses and interdisciplinary projects.

For research teams

I help researchers refine their questions, select participants, plan interviews and conduct thematic analysis. Together we can examine which conclusions the material supports and how to communicate them to an audience.

For students and applicants

I work with school leavers preparing for independent study and help university students plan a semester around coursework, internships and projects. With postgraduate applicants, I review application steps, personal statements and research proposals.

05 / Education & research

Speaking topics

I welcome invitations to give talks, join panels and lead workshops tailored to your audience.

01
Talk · Academic leaders
How deans translate university decisions into everyday practice
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02
Panel · Faculty teams
Student Voice. What happens after feedback is collected?
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03
Discussion · Schools and colleges
From a school timetable to independent study at university
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04
Workshop · Teacher educators
Preparing trainee teachers for their first lesson
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05
Seminar · Graduate researchers
Interviewing for education research: from questions to findings
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