History of the department

The Department of Transport Services and Business was established and has been operating since September 1, 2024, through the merger of the previously existing departments: “Organization of Transportation and Transport Operations,” “Logistics and Management in Transport,” and the “Economic Disciplines” department.

Brief History of the Departments

The “Organization of Transportation and Transport Operations” department was one of the oldest departments, created alongside the establishment of the Almaty Institute of Railway Transport Engineers (AIIRT) by decree No. 351 of the USSR Council of Ministers on May 20, 1976. Initially, it was named “Railway Operations.” Between 1976 and 2009, the department underwent several name changes: “Operational Management,” “Organization of Transportation.” In 2009, the departments of “Organization of Transportation” and “Organization of Road Traffic” merged into the single department of “Transport Traffic Organization.

Since 2004, a bachelor’s program in the specialty 050901 – “Organization of Transportation, Traffic, and Transport Operations” was introduced. Specialists in this field are trained for organizational and technological, production management, design, service, and operational activities in the management of transport enterprises and divisions.

The first head of the department was Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor Kuldmanov Kadyr Azhgereyevich, who led the department in the 1976/1977 academic year. Under his leadership, the department took its first steps in creating the material and technical base, opening specialized laboratories. From 1976 to 1989, the department was headed by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Academician of the Russian Academy of Transport, Kadyrbekov Murat Bekbaevich. From 1989 to 2000, the department was led by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Academician of the International Academy of Ecology and Life Protection Sciences (MANEB) Kobdikov Madeniet Arimbekovich. Several other prominent figures headed the department over the years, contributing significantly to its growth.

Graduates of this department currently hold leadership positions in major transport companies in Kazakhstan and the CIS countries (e.g., JSC “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy,” JSC “Passenger Transportation,” JSC “KTZ Express,” Aktau Port, Almaty International Airport, and many others).

Department of “Logistics and Management in Transport”

The Department of “Logistics and Management in Transport” was established on August 26, 2004, by order No. 331. Initially called the “Transport Logistics” department, it was formed to train specialists in the emerging field of intermodal and multimodal transportation processes and transport and forwarding services. The first head of the department was Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor Karsybaev E.E.

In 2009, by order No. 151 dated May 29, the department was renamed “Logistics in Transport.” For the first time, the specialty of “Logistics (by sectors)” was included in the classifier of higher and postgraduate education specialties of Kazakhstan.

The department’s mission is to train modern, competent managers in the provision of transport and logistics services and the organization of international transportation.

Department of “Economic Disciplines”

Kazakhstan’s transition to a market economy necessitated fundamental changes in the training of broad-profile economists. Economic training for future specialists in railway transport began from the early days of AIIRT’s existence. The independent department of “Economics and Planning in Railway Transport” was created on November 2, 1978.

In 1992, the department became part of the newly organized Faculty of Economics and became a graduating department for the specialty “Economics and Management in Transport.” Various esteemed economists led the department over time, contributing to its long-term success.

The new department of Transport Services and Business is currently led by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Musalieva R.D., offering programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.