The article aims at examining the present state of higher education faculty development in Kazakhstan in the context of multidimensional nationwide development reforms and exploring implications for the National Human Resource Development of the country. For the purpose of this research, theoretical human resource development (HRD) and perspectives of the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) were identified and a qualitative research methodology and the case study method were used, which included interviewing of 20 faculty members from two large universities of national status in Kazakhstan. The research findings indicate that: (1) there is a need to update professional expertise of higher education faculty members; (2) there is a lack of systematic and consistent approach to faculty development in higher education and (3) there is a link between implementation of higher education reforms and higher education faculty development, whereas the latter shapes implications for NHRD in Kazakhstan. In addition, the absence of faculty development model in higher education negatively affects implementation of HE reforming, whereas compliance with the international standards of higher education implied by the Bologna process is required. Adopting Western model of HE does not imply ‘blind’ copying. The new HE system has to be tailored to Kazakhstan’s context, which will open a constructive dialogue between academia and the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) as well as reduce resistance to change.

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