Abstract
Purpose – this paper examines the historical development of institutional research (IR) practices and explores its relevance for strengthening data-driven quality management in Kazakhstani higher education. Methods - a conceptual framework combined with a systematic literature review, organizational models, and practices in IR and higher education analytics, with a focus on adapting these approaches to the Kazakhstan context. Findings – a bibliometric comparison of publications from the USA, Europe, England, and Central Asia shows substantial differences in scholarly attention to IR. The USA accounts for 4,750 publications (40.9% of the reviewed total), followed by Europe with 4,554 (39.2%), while England accounts for 18.9%. Central Asia contributes only 115 publications (1.0%), covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. These results suggest that IR remains at an early stage of development in the region. More detailed normalization, such as publications per institution or researcher, is proposed for future research. Drawing on the U.S. “combo office” model and existing practices at Nazarbayev University and KIMEP, the paper proposes pillars for developing IR capacity in Kazakhstan. Conclusions – developing institutional research capacity can strengthen evidence-based decision-making and data-driven culture, support continuous quality improvement, and help universities respond more effectively to a rapidly changing labour market.