Outstanding intellectual of the 21st century

Undasyn Baykenovich was born on March 21, 1951 in the village of Zerenda, Kokshetau region in the family of a state and public figure. Father – Ashimov Bayken Ashimovich, WWII veteran, Hero of Socialist Labor, excellent statesman and public figure, led the Kokshetau, Karaganda, Taldyqorgan regions, worked as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh USR (1970-1984), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh USR. Mother, Ashimova Bakhyt Asetovna, worked as a math teacher in high school.

In 1968, after graduating from high school with a silver medal, Undasyn Baykenovich enrolled to the energy faculty of the Kazakh Polytechnic Institute. The inclination to scientific work manifested itself already in his student years: in 1972, fourth-year student Ashimov U.B. was awarded the medal of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education of the USSR "For the best student scientific work". After graduating from the Institute, Ashimov U.B. remained at the Department of "Power Supply of Industrial Enterprises" as a trainee researcher. In 1975-1978 he was a postgraduate student at the Almaty Energy Institute. During these years, he was engaged in the creation of theoretical foundations and electrotechnological equipment for electric arc melting of highly refractory oxide materials. The results of his research were implemented at the Saratov plant "Techsteklo", the Podolsk plant of refractory products, the "Kazogneupor" plant in Rudny. In 1978, Ashimov U.B. successfully completed his postgraduate studies and defended his PhD thesis "Development of technology for the production of high-refractory materials and the study of their properties" at the specialized Academic Council at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute.

Intense and fruitful scientific and pedagogical activity begins. In 1982, on the initiative of Undasyn Baykenovich, two branch research laboratories were created at the Almaty Energy Institute: "Electrical Technology of refractories", funded by the USSR Ministry of Energy, and "Application of low-temperature plasma in the technology of production of refractories for non-ferrous Metallurgy of Kazakhstan", funded by the Kazakh USR Ministry of NFM. The only large and multidisciplinary scientific-experimental and personnel base in the USSR was created with operating electrotechnological equipment, modern methods and equipment for scientific research in this field of science. Energy specialists, physicists, chemists and materials scientists were involved in the work. The research topics were determined by the All-Union and republican coordination plans of scientific research, and the results were implemented at industrial enterprises of the USSR: the "Kazogneupor" Plant and the Podolsk Refractory Products Plant.

The Higher Attestation Commission of the USSR awarded Undasyn Baykenovich the academic title of "Senior Researcher" in 1984. In 1992, he defended his dissertation "Development of theoretical foundations, creation of electrical equipment for the production of refractory materials and optimization of its work" for the degree of Technical Sciences Doctor in the specialized Academic Council at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute and became the first Doctor of Sciences in Kazakhstan in the specialty "Electrical Engineering". In 1993, the Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan  was certified Ashimov U.B. in the academic rank of professor, in 1995 he was elected a corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in 2004 - an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The labor activity of Ashimov U.B. is entirely connected with the higher school of Kazakhstan. From 1996 to 2000, he worked at the Kazakh National Technical University as the first vice-rector, Vice-rector for Academic Affairs. Since June 2000, he has been the First Deputy Chairman of the Higher Attestation Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Ashimov U.B. became the initiator of the only doctoral dissertation council in Kazakhstan on specialties: 05.09.03 – Electrical complexes and systems, including their management and regulation; 05.09.10 – Electrical engineering, opened at the Kazakh National Technical University.

Since 2002, U.B. Ashimov has been rector of the North Kazakhstan State University named after M. Kozybayev.

Possessing systematic thinking, analytical mindset and the makings of a statesman, Ashimov U.B. identified the key areas of the team's activities for the further development of higher and postgraduate education in the region. Professor Ashimov U.B. as the rector of the university proved himself to be a skillful organizer of the higher school. Under his leadership, the North Kazakhstan State University named after M. Kozybayev received a new impetus for the use of advanced information technologies in the educational process, research and management of the university.

Scientific and pedagogical professional activity of Ashimov Undasyn Baykenovich is highly appreciated by the state. In 2006, he was awarded the Order of Dostyk of the 2nd degree, in 2015 the Order of Parasat, apreciate of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, jubilee medals: "10 years of the Constitution of Kazakhstan", "10 years of Astana", "20 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan", "20 years of Tenge", A. Baitursynov medal, "Inventor of the USSR", bronze medal of the USSR EANE, has badges: "Honorary Worker of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan", "For merits in the development of science of the Republic of Kazakhstan". In 2012, He was awarded the Honorary Badge of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The high intellectual level and deep knowledge, versatility of interests of U.B. Ashimov are appreciated by international organizations. In June 2006, for his personal contribution to the intellectual development of modern society in Barcelona, Undasyn Baykenovich was awarded the "Order of Socrates" ("Sokrates International Award"), in September 2006, for his personal contribution to the development of European integration in Oxford, he was awarded the international award "United Europe" ("The UnitedEurope") and in the same year he received the international title of "Teacher of International Engineering" (Tallinn). In 2008, he was awarded the international medal "200 outstanding intellectuals of the 21st century" for personal achievements in the field of modern education and science, Cambridge (England). Ashimov U.B. is a Full member of the International Society of Engineering Pedagogy (INGPAEDIGiP).

Creative professional activity, the ability to think outside the box, systematically analyze the state of affairs, see the future, achieve the highest practical results – qualities that defined Ashimov Undasyn Baykenovich as a citizen, scientist and teacher.

Z.P. Tabakova, Professor, Doctor of Philology