Abstract
The transformation of higher education in Kazakhstan holds strategic significance amid the shift to a knowledge-based economy, intensifying global competition, and the rapid digitalization of educational and administrative processes. Universities are increasingly viewed as pivotal institutions tasked with innovating educational models, refining governance structures, and fostering integration into the global academic landscape. This study aims to deliver a comprehensive analysis of the primary trajectories of transformation in Kazakhstan's higher education system, employing an analytically derived typology of institutional change. Key research objectives encompass systematizing conceptual frameworks for university transformation, tracing the evolution of national education policies, delineating managerial, digital, and internationalization reforms at the institutional level, and pinpointing structural barriers and risks that undermine the sustainability of these reforms. Methodologically, the study draws on qualitative analysis of policy and strategic documents, thematic content analysis, comparative evaluation of international governance models, and institutional analysis techniques. Findings reveal that Kazakhstan's higher education reforms are influenced by a blend of externally imposed adaptations and internally driven strategies, yielding divergent development paths among university clusters. The study's scientific novelty lies in its contextual adaptation of global analytical frameworks to transitional systems and the development of a typology for systematically interpreting institutional dynamics. Practically, the results offer valuable insights for optimizing national education policies, guiding university strategic planning, and evaluating risks to ensure the long-term viability of reforms.