Abstract
This study explores the cultural and value foundations of the educational goals of higher education in Kazakhstan and China. Based on the historical development and cultural traditions of the two countries, this study compares the similarities and differences of the educational goals of the two countries through qualitative literature content analysis. Both countries have taken “modernization and internationalization” as one of the core development directions of higher education development, but China’s educational philosophy is rooted in Confucianism and socialist core values, emphasizing country and collectivism; while Kazakhstan, based on neoliberal orientation, draws on the European education framework, gradually integrates multicultural concepts, emphasizes national identity and attaches importance to students’ individual development. This study uses Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and postcolonial education theory to explore how different nation-building narratives affect the educational goals of higher education. By comparing value systems, institutional logics, and student training models, it helps to understand how the educational systems of the “Global South” countries seek a balance between international standards and local cultural identity. It provides inspiration for the development of education based on culture and mutual reference under the global education trend, and provides a comparative education perspective for reform localization.