Department History

The history of the department dates back to 1987. By order of the Rector of the Almaty Institute of Railway Transport Engineers (AlIIT), the department was initially named “Electric Traction.” Later, the necessity of supplying skilled specialists for railway enterprises dealing with power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption led to the development of the “Power Supply” domain. Consequently, in 1990, it was split into two separate departments: “Electric Locomotives and Electric Trains” and “Power Supply of Railroads,” headed by Associate Professors M.K. Shalabayev and V.A. An, respectively.

In 1996, the Kazakh Academy of Transport and Communications (KazATC) was established on the basis of AlIIT and the Highway Institute, leading to the formation of the new “Power Supply and Electrification” department. A.Yu. Ershov was appointed as the Head of the Department. Subsequently, a consolidated department named “Power Supply and Electrification” was formed, led by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor B.R. Kangozhin.

In June 2004, by order of the President-Rector of the M. Tynyshpayev KazATC, the “Power Supply and Electrification” department was renamed the “Electrical Power Engineering” department.

Heads of the Department from 1996 to the present:

• 1997–2002: Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Bekmukhambet Rashidovich Kangozhin;

• 2002–2003: Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Sergey Evgenievich Sokolov;

• 2003–2005: Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Meruert Sovetovna Zharmagambetova;

• 2005–2008: Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Temirkhan Kosybaevich Koishiev;

• 2008–2014: Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Meruert Sovetovna Zharmagambetova;

• 2014–2019: Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Anara Tlyulesovna Egzekova;

• May 2019 – September 2021: Candidate of Technical Sciences (RF), PhD, Associate Professor Zhanybek Zhanatuly Kaliev;

• September 2021 – September 2022: Candidate of Technical Sciences, ALT Associate Professor Kazima Zhanbyrbaevna Kalieva;

• September 2022 – May 2025: Candidate of Technical Sciences, Assistant Professor Anara Tlyulesovna Egzekova;

• September 2025 – March 2026: Candidate of Technical Sciences (RF), PhD, ALT Associate Professor Zhanybek Zhanatuly Kaliev;

• February 2026 – present: Master of Technical Sciences, Senior Lecturer Galim Primzhanovich Kalimbetov.

The most recent institutional restructuring took place at the beginning of the 2020–2021 academic year. In line with the optimization of the Academy’s departments, the physics cycle was integrated into the “Electrical Power Engineering” department, which was subsequently renamed the “Power Engineering” department.

At various times, the department’s faculty included leading experts in the field of railway power supply, including Doctors of Technical Sciences, Professors: A.K. Ibraev, N.R. Turgambaev; Candidates of Technical Sciences: A.M. Solyannikov, S.E. Sokolov, T.K. Koishiev, B.R. Kangozhin; Associate Professors: I.V. Kazanina, O.N. Efimova, L.Sh. Uteshkalieva, K.Zh. Kalieva, G.T. Erkeldesova; and Lecturers: N.G. Stepanova, A.Z. Rakhmatullina, K.U. Galiev, E.G. Mikhalkova, S.S. Dautov, D.D. Akhmettaev, D.K. Chirikov, U.U. Sultanbaev, G.G. Prozorov, D.E. Nurshalova, I.K. Kilibayev, E.A. Zimina, A.T. Arshabekova, G.G. Sadybekova, A.O. Oralbekova, A. Imanbaeva, D. Raiymbekova, I. Otarbai, G. Askanbai, and G. Zhetpisbaeva.

The following milestones mark the historical development of the department’s academic and research priorities:

• In 2008, the department obtained a state license to launch a Master’s degree program in “Electrical Power Engineering.” In 2009, the first cohort of 6 Master’s students, all undergraduate alumni, was enrolled. From 2009 to the present, more than 74 students have successfully graduated with a Master’s degree.

• In 2010, the department received a license to offer PhD doctoral programs in “Electrical Power Engineering.”

• In 2022, student admission was initiated for the newly launched educational program “IT-Power Engineering.”

• A specialized Dissertation Council for doctoral defense successfully operates at ALT.

Furthermore, owing to close institutional partnerships with Russian railway transport universities, several young faculty members were sponsored to pursue postgraduate (aspirantura) studies abroad. Faculty members D.G. Insepov, A.A. Zhumatova, D.T. Shabdanov, and Zh.Zh. Kaliev were dispatched to the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering (MIIT). Consequently, A.A. Zhumatova successfully defended her thesis in 2010, followed by Zh.Zh. Kaliev in 2011, both earning the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences of the Russian Federation.

In 2016, faculty member S.M. Utepbergenova was enrolled in a full-time postgraduate program at the Omsk State Transport University (OmGUPS), specializing in “Railway Rolling Stock, Train Traction, and Electrification.” Upon graduation, she was awarded the qualification of “Researcher. Instructor-Researcher.” On December 22, 2020, she successfully defended her dissertation on “Improving the Efficiency of Electric Locomotives during Extended Operating Modes under Heavy-Haul Traffic Conditions,” receiving the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences of the Russian Federation.

Currently, the department’s faculty actively conducts fundamental research and contract-based commercial R&D projects aligned with their core scientific specializations. Additionally, faculty members regularly publish scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, alongside completing timely professional development programs.

The department maintains robust partnerships with leading enterprises in the energy sector. Industrial branches of the department successfully operate on the basis of the Almaty Power Supply Distance of “NC “KTZ” JSC and “Alatau Zharyk Company” JSC. Within this cooperation, dual education elements are implemented into core disciplines for 3rd and 4th-year students, while introductory site tours to production facilities are arranged for 1st and 2nd-year students.

The educational program “IT-Power Engineering” was successfully accredited in 2024, followed by the successful program accreditation of the “Electrical Power Engineering” program in 2026.

As part of driving research initiatives and advancing institutional capacity, Associate Professor S.M. Utepbergenova, Associate Professor A.T. Egzekova, and Senior Lecturer M.Sh. Sakitzhanov successfully completed scientific research internships under the prestigious “500 Scientists” track of the “Bolashak” International Scholarship.

To consolidate theoretical and practical skills among students of OP-6B07121-Electrical Power Engineering in major disciplines, a branch of the Department of “Energy” has been created and is functioning on the basis of the enterprise of the branch of JSC NC KTZ of the Almaty Electricity Distance.  On the basis of this branch, practical classes are conducted in real production conditions, as well as educational excursions for junior students.