Seminar “Why Operations Matter in the Era of AI: Processes, Value Chains and Business”
16.02.2026As part of the AI-Sana program, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, jointly with JSC Science Fund and Zemex Inc., held a seminar titled “Why Operations Matter in the Era of AI: Processes, Value Chains and Business” at Maqsut Narikbayev University.
The keynote speaker was Yoo-Taek Lee — Professor, international expert in operations management and the first Dean of the J.W.K. Kim College of Future Studies at Woosong University (Republic of Korea).
The event took place on February 16, 2026, in Astana and brought together more than 250 participants from universities across Kazakhstan, including faculty members, digitalization leadership teams, heads of AI centers, and students engaged in developing technological solutions.
During the seminar, the following topics were discussed:
- the role of operations management as a key function in AI implementation;
- approaches to identifying value creation points;
- common mistakes made by companies and startups when implementing AI projects;
- methods for transforming industry challenges into scalable AI solutions.
The audience actively engaged in the discussion: participants listened attentively, asked insightful questions, and shared their own experiences of implementing AI in the educational environment.
Following the seminar, a campus tour was organized for the professor. Yoo-Taek Lee noted the high level of infrastructure and was impressed by the modern and creative spaces available for students and faculty in Kazakhstan.
The seminar served as a platform for professional dialogue and knowledge exchange, reaffirming the strong interest of the academic community in the practical implementation of artificial intelligence and the development of international cooperation in this field.
