Higher Education and Human Capital Development for Food Security in Kazakhstan: A Comparative Analysis of Agricultural University Programs with Implications for Border Regions

Ensuring food security increasingly depends on both the development of the agri-food sector and the quality of higher education in preparing skilled professionals to address contemporary economic, technological, and environmental challenges. This study examines the role of higher education in developing human capital for food security in Kazakhstan through a comparative analysis of educational programs at five leading agricultural universities, with particular attention to workforce development in border regions.The research used content analysis of strategic documents, documentary analysis of educational programs, comparative analysis, and methods of systematization and synthesis. The findings reveal that agricultural higher education in Kazakhstan generally aligns with national agri-food priorities, although the integration of modern educational components differs across universities..The study’s scientific novelty lies in developing a typology of agricultural workforce training models, assessing the alignment of university curricula with agri-food development priorities, and proposing a framework for strengthening human capital to support food security. Its practical significance lies in the potential application of the findings by Kazakhstan’s ministries responsible for science, higher education, and agriculture, as well as university administrators and curriculum developers, to improve professional training and support the implementation of national food security policies. Received: 27 July 2026 / Accepted: 17 October 2026 / Published: November 2026