Abstract
A practical approach to the development of dual education for training specialists in the water management sector of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan is presented. The relevance of the study is determined by a shortage of personnel in the water sector, insufficient professional orientation of graduates, and the need to adapt educational programs to labor market requirements. The objective is to develop a methodology for a dual educational platform that ensures the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical experience within a unified educational space, as well as continuity between secondary technical and university education. Methods are based on an analytical algorithm. The study includes a comparative assessment of dual system models implemented in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, China, and the United States. Additionally, a documentary analysis of the regulatory framework, educational standards, and industry practices determining the conditions for implementing the dual format in the republic was carried out. As an applied element, the regional case “Flood-MAR-Kaz” is used as an example of combining digital solutions and practice-oriented learning in the context of water resource management. Results show that the effectiveness of the dual form was evaluated by the level of cooperation “college university–business–government bodies,” the share of competence formation, and the degree of digitalization of educational activities. The acquisition of dual skills contributes to higher employment rates of graduates, improvement of engineering competencies, and resilience of rural areas to water and climate risks. Conclusions indicate that the practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of applying the proposed technology in the development of educational plans, disciplines, and projects for water management and in monitoring their effectiveness using key indica tors. Thus, the constructed structural-functional scheme serves as a tool for understanding and clearly presents the mechanism for designing specialist training under dual education conditions