FURO project on developing rural schools included in the world’s top 100 education innovations
# News
13 November, 2025
A Kazakhstani project to build the capacity of small rural schools through digital technologies has been included in the HundrED Global Collection 2026, a list of the world's 100 best education innovations recommended for scaling internationally.
The project is being implemented by the Fund for sustainable development of education (FURO) under the Aitas Foundation in Aktobe region, with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the regional akimat, the Qazaqstan Halkyna Fund, and other partners.
Every year, HundrED, an international nonprofit organization based in Finland, selects the most effective and scalable educational practices from around the world. In 2025, more than 800 applications from 70 countries were submitted for consideration. Following an expert evaluation that included more than 3,000 reviews from 250 specialists, the 100 best innovations were selected, and the project from Kazakhstan was among them.
This is the second time a Kazakhstani education initiative has been included in the HundrED global collection. Earlier, in 2019, a project of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools received international recognition.
The FURO project is based on a comprehensive approach to developing small rural schools, including the introduction of digital educational solutions, the strengthening of teachers' professional competencies, and the development of cooperation between educational organizations. A key role in implementing the initiative is played by collaboration between the government, business, and society, aimed at narrowing the gap in education quality between urban and rural schools.
The effectiveness of the model made it possible to expand the project's geography. In 2025, on the instruction of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the experience of Aktobe region was scaled up to two more regions of the country.
HundrED's international recognition confirms the potential of Kazakhstani educational practices and opens new opportunities for their wider dissemination. The next important step will be the systematic adoption of such solutions, so that quality education is available to every rural child regardless of where they live.
The project is being implemented by the Fund for sustainable development of education (FURO) under the Aitas Foundation in Aktobe region, with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the regional akimat, the Qazaqstan Halkyna Fund, and other partners.
Every year, HundrED, an international nonprofit organization based in Finland, selects the most effective and scalable educational practices from around the world. In 2025, more than 800 applications from 70 countries were submitted for consideration. Following an expert evaluation that included more than 3,000 reviews from 250 specialists, the 100 best innovations were selected, and the project from Kazakhstan was among them.
This is the second time a Kazakhstani education initiative has been included in the HundrED global collection. Earlier, in 2019, a project of Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools received international recognition.
The FURO project is based on a comprehensive approach to developing small rural schools, including the introduction of digital educational solutions, the strengthening of teachers' professional competencies, and the development of cooperation between educational organizations. A key role in implementing the initiative is played by collaboration between the government, business, and society, aimed at narrowing the gap in education quality between urban and rural schools.
The effectiveness of the model made it possible to expand the project's geography. In 2025, on the instruction of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the experience of Aktobe region was scaled up to two more regions of the country.
HundrED's international recognition confirms the potential of Kazakhstani educational practices and opens new opportunities for their wider dissemination. The next important step will be the systematic adoption of such solutions, so that quality education is available to every rural child regardless of where they live.
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