Expert meeting “Job Coach in Almaty: Developing a Support System for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities”

Dr Dilyara Urmanova, Director of the Ban Ki-moon Institute for Sustainable Development at Farabi University, participated in the expert meeting “Job Coach in Almaty: Developing a Support System for the Employment of Persons with Disabilities.”

The meeting took place on 20 October 2026 and brought together representatives of the Almaty Development Centre, the Almaty Labour Mobility Centre, the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, employers and partner organisations.

Participants discussed the first year of the Job Coaching service in Almaty, existing models for supporting persons with disabilities in employment, cooperation with employers and assistance provided directly in the workplace. Particular attention was given to the candidate’s pathway, the distribution of responsibilities between Job Coaches and partner organisations, employer preparedness for inclusive recruitment and the sustainability of employment.

During the discussion, Dr Urmanova proposed several areas of cooperation between Farabi University, municipal institutions, employers and social-sector organisations:

• joint training and professional development programmes for Job Coaches and human resources specialists;
• training for employers on inclusive recruitment, workplace adaptation and employee support;
• involvement of students and faculty members in interdisciplinary projects covering social work, psychology, law, digital technologies and inclusive education;
• student internships and practical placements within employment services and partner organisations;
• development of accessible digital solutions connecting candidates, Job Coaches, employers and support organisations;
• joint research and monitoring of employment sustainability, including the reasons for employment termination;
• pilot projects providing support to persons with disabilities before and after they enter the workplace.

Dr Urmanova also emphasised the need for a unified Job Coaching framework covering assessment of candidates’ needs, vacancy matching, employer preparation, workplace adaptation and continued support after employment.

Farabi University’s engagement in developing the Job Coaching system reflects its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Building a sustainable supported-employment system requires collaboration between universities, municipal institutions, social organisations and employers committed to creating genuinely inclusive workplaces.