History of the Symbat Institute of Design and Technology at AHEU
Academy of Design and Technology “Symbat” was the only educational institution established on the rich and unique foundation of the Republican Houses of Fashion for clothing, footwear, and knitwear, founded in 1947. It was recognized as a pioneer of Kazakhstan’s fashion industry and operated on the principle of integrating science, education, and production.
The Symbat Academy played a key role in the development of design education in Kazakhstan, particularly in the fields of fashion, costume, and textiles, and deserves special recognition in the historical narrative. In the 1980s, Symbat became a leading center for fashion modeling and artistic costume design, where the national school of costume design was effectively formed.
In 1996, an educational division — the Symbat Academy of Business and Fashion — was established on the basis of the House of Models, training specialists under vocational education programs. Later, in 1998, the institution was granted the status of the Symbat Institute of Design and Technology (providing higher education programs), and in 2001 it received the status of the Symbat Academy of Design and Technology as a specialized higher education institution. Thus, it became the first non-state university in Kazakhstan authorized to train higher education specialists in “Fashion Design” and “Garment Production Technology.”
For the first time in Kazakhstan, a national concept of fashion design was developed here, based on Kazakh ethnocultural motifs and supported by modern modeling technologies.
Within the walls of the Academy of Design and Technology “Symbat,” a fashion magazine began to be published in Kazakhstan for the first time since 1958, and in 1987 the country’s first fashion theater was established.
The Academy actively participated in international competitions and exhibitions in major cities across more than 20 countries — including Moscow, Paris, Seoul, and Milan — representing the Kazakh school of fashion design.
The Academy of Design and Technology “Symbat” occupies a unique place in the history of design education in Kazakhstan:
– It became the first private specialized university training designers.
– It opened the country’s first Dissertation Council for doctoral thesis defense in its specialty (operating from 2003 to 2010).
– It made a tremendous contribution to the development of human and methodological resources in the industry.
– It preserved and advanced national traditions of costume and fashion.
– It was among the developers and the first holder of the general license for the production of state symbols — the Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Even during the Soviet period, Symbat served as:
– An experimental production base for new clothing collections.
– A methodological center for light industry enterprises and the author of more than 20 national textbooks in the specialty.
– A platform for implementing mass garment production technologies.
On this foundation, the educational concept of the future Academy was built — combining art, design, and technology.
Under the leadership of Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Sabyrkul Zhaylaubekovna Asanova, the Academy developed a unique educational model (at a time when national standards were not yet established), based on the integration of:
– Design creativity (fashion design and artistic modeling),
– Engineering and technological disciplines (materials science, production technology, construction),
– Production management and fashion industry marketing.
The Academy offered the following training programs:
The main feature of the Symbat Academy was the close connection between education and real production. The academic process was based on its own Symbat Training and Production Complex, which included:
– Sewing and garment construction facilities,
– Materials science laboratories,
– Experimental modeling and 3D design workshops,
– Training ateliers and showrooms.
As a result, graduates received not only theoretical knowledge but also practical qualifications as engineer-technologists and garment constructors, ready to work in factories, fashion houses, and private brands.
The Academy made a significant contribution to:
– The development of state educational standards for “Fashion Design” and “Technology of Light Industry Products” (in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan);
– The preparation of textbooks and methodological guides in garment construction and technology in Russian and Kazakh;
– The formation of the first national scientific and practical school of fashion design.
Many faculty members and graduates became authors of curricula for other universities and colleges of light industry in Kazakhstan.
Over the years, the Academy trained:
– Hundreds of engineer-technologists and garment constructors,
– Costume and textile designers,
– Managers of light industry enterprises,
– Instructors for vocational colleges and universities across Kazakhstan.
Most leading specialists in the country’s fashion and light industry are graduates or trainees of Symbat.
By order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the University “Almaty” was established in 2013 through the merger of the Symbat Academy of Design and Technology and the Almaty University of Continuing Education.
In August 2021, the Symbat Institute of Design and Technology became part of the Almaty Humanitarian and Economic University as a result of the reorganization of University “Almaty” and the Almaty Humanitarian and Economic University.
Today, the Institute of Design and Technology once again confirms its name as a center of professional growth, creativity, and an innovative approach to education.
The Symbat Academy played a key role in the development of design education in Kazakhstan, particularly in the fields of fashion, costume, and textiles, and deserves special recognition in the historical narrative. In the 1980s, Symbat became a leading center for fashion modeling and artistic costume design, where the national school of costume design was effectively formed.
In 1996, an educational division — the Symbat Academy of Business and Fashion — was established on the basis of the House of Models, training specialists under vocational education programs. Later, in 1998, the institution was granted the status of the Symbat Institute of Design and Technology (providing higher education programs), and in 2001 it received the status of the Symbat Academy of Design and Technology as a specialized higher education institution. Thus, it became the first non-state university in Kazakhstan authorized to train higher education specialists in “Fashion Design” and “Garment Production Technology.”
For the first time in Kazakhstan, a national concept of fashion design was developed here, based on Kazakh ethnocultural motifs and supported by modern modeling technologies.
Within the walls of the Academy of Design and Technology “Symbat,” a fashion magazine began to be published in Kazakhstan for the first time since 1958, and in 1987 the country’s first fashion theater was established.
The Academy actively participated in international competitions and exhibitions in major cities across more than 20 countries — including Moscow, Paris, Seoul, and Milan — representing the Kazakh school of fashion design.
The Academy of Design and Technology “Symbat” occupies a unique place in the history of design education in Kazakhstan:
– It became the first private specialized university training designers.
– It opened the country’s first Dissertation Council for doctoral thesis defense in its specialty (operating from 2003 to 2010).
– It made a tremendous contribution to the development of human and methodological resources in the industry.
– It preserved and advanced national traditions of costume and fashion.
– It was among the developers and the first holder of the general license for the production of state symbols — the Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Even during the Soviet period, Symbat served as:
– An experimental production base for new clothing collections.
– A methodological center for light industry enterprises and the author of more than 20 national textbooks in the specialty.
– A platform for implementing mass garment production technologies.
On this foundation, the educational concept of the future Academy was built — combining art, design, and technology.
Under the leadership of Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Sabyrkul Zhaylaubekovna Asanova, the Academy developed a unique educational model (at a time when national standards were not yet established), based on the integration of:
– Design creativity (fashion design and artistic modeling),
– Engineering and technological disciplines (materials science, production technology, construction),
– Production management and fashion industry marketing.
The Academy offered the following training programs:
- Technology of Light Industry Products
- Garment Construction
- Costume and Textile Design
- Fashion Industry Management
The main feature of the Symbat Academy was the close connection between education and real production. The academic process was based on its own Symbat Training and Production Complex, which included:
– Sewing and garment construction facilities,
– Materials science laboratories,
– Experimental modeling and 3D design workshops,
– Training ateliers and showrooms.
As a result, graduates received not only theoretical knowledge but also practical qualifications as engineer-technologists and garment constructors, ready to work in factories, fashion houses, and private brands.
The Academy made a significant contribution to:
– The development of state educational standards for “Fashion Design” and “Technology of Light Industry Products” (in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan);
– The preparation of textbooks and methodological guides in garment construction and technology in Russian and Kazakh;
– The formation of the first national scientific and practical school of fashion design.
Many faculty members and graduates became authors of curricula for other universities and colleges of light industry in Kazakhstan.
Over the years, the Academy trained:
– Hundreds of engineer-technologists and garment constructors,
– Costume and textile designers,
– Managers of light industry enterprises,
– Instructors for vocational colleges and universities across Kazakhstan.
Most leading specialists in the country’s fashion and light industry are graduates or trainees of Symbat.
By order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the University “Almaty” was established in 2013 through the merger of the Symbat Academy of Design and Technology and the Almaty University of Continuing Education.
In August 2021, the Symbat Institute of Design and Technology became part of the Almaty Humanitarian and Economic University as a result of the reorganization of University “Almaty” and the Almaty Humanitarian and Economic University.
Today, the Institute of Design and Technology once again confirms its name as a center of professional growth, creativity, and an innovative approach to education.