The Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan expands cooperation with The National Archives of the United Kingdom

Within the framework of the International Congress of Archivists “Digital Archive EXPO,” held in Astana, the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The National Archives. The document provides for the development of bilateral cooperation in archival affairs, exchange of professional experience, implementation of joint research projects, advancement of digital technologies, and organization of joint seminars, webinars, and educational programmes for archivists and records managers.

The signing ceremony took place on June 8 in Astana during a bilateral meeting between the Director of the  Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Aliya Mustafina, and the Chief Digital and Information Officer at The National Archives of the United Kingdom, John Sheridan.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to the digital transformation of the archival sector, preservation of electronic records, implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, and development of international professional dialogue.

“We highly value our cooperation with The National Archives of the United Kingdom and are interested in further developing our partnership. We are confident that joint initiatives and projects will strengthen our professional ties and promote bilateral cooperation. Today it is especially important to reinforce our relationships and jointly seek solutions to the challenges facing the archival sector, particularly in preserving digital heritage,” Aliya Mustafina noted.

John Sheridan expressed interest in deepening cooperation with the Archive of the President, emphasizing the strong potential for exchanging expertise and implementing joint projects.

“We are very pleased with this opportunity to develop our cooperation. The work of archives is of great importance for preserving the collective memory of our nations. In the digital era, we face serious challenges, and archival institutions need to join efforts to develop new approaches to preserving records and ensuring access to them. That is why we welcome platforms such as this Congress, which create conditions for professional interaction and exchange of experience. Equally important is the development of bilateral relations with organizations such as the Archive of the President to jointly develop practices needed to preserve documentary heritage in the future. I am delighted to be here today, to sign this Memorandum of Understanding, to become acquainted with this impressive archive, and to gain new colleagues and friends,” John Sheridan said.

The Memorandum covers a wide range of cooperation areas, including exchange of professional expertise, joint educational initiatives, collaboration in document digitization, and research into archival collections.

Partnership relations between the two archival institutions have been developing for several years and have already expanded through international seminars, professional meetings, and expert consultations.

This year, representatives of The National Archives of the United Kingdom also actively participated in the III Congress of Archivists, delivering presentations within its programme. In addition, Andrew Payne, Head of Education and Outreach at The National Archives, will conduct a special seminar for teachers devoted to the use of artificial intelligence technologies in education and the possibilities of applying archival resources in the modern educational environment.