Inclusive education initiatives often begin with local needs, but under the right conditions they can influence thinking and practice far beyond their origin. One such example is a project implemented by World Bank and UNOWA in Kazakhstan, which over a few years grew from a pilot into a model with global relevance and impact.
Originally launched between 2021 and 2024 as Project No. 8709-KZ, this initiative focused on strengthening inclusive education at several levels within the national system. Rather than offering isolated tools or one-off interventions, the project was structured around three interconnected components: model development, specialist training, and infrastructure support.
Model, People, Infrastructure
A national inclusive education model was developed jointly with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Kazakhstan. This framework integrated international best practices with local realities and was centred on a holistic methodology that assesses a child’s development across multiple dimensions. This structured approach ensured coherence from policy to classroom practice
Human capacity was a core focus. Between 2022 and 2024, university lecturers and practicing specialists completed advanced training in modern inclusive methodologies, supported by a rich digital knowledge base that includes video lectures and online courses.
Material infrastructure was also crucial: reference inclusive classrooms were established in pedagogical universities, equipped with modern technology and didactic resources that allowed teacher candidates to engage with inclusive methods in practice.
Scaling Expertise into a Global Brand
UNOWA played a central role throughout this process as a developer, integrator, and provider of full-cycle solutions that combine methodology, capacity building, and technology. The project’s success became the foundation for UNOWA’s transition to an internationally oriented EdTech company, consolidating its expertise into a portfolio of solutions and entering the global stage.
A milestone of this transition was the presentation of the MIKKO AI Agent at Bett 2026 in London, where UNOWA showcased a comprehensive model of inclusive education that spans assessment, specialist training, analytics, classroom tools, and AI support. The Kazakhstani experience served as the earliest large-scale implementation of the system that underpins MIKKO.
MIKKO AI Agent: Supporting Educators at Scale
MIKKO is designed to automate one of the most labour-intensive tasks in inclusive education: developing tailored education plans. Based on structured assessments, the AI agent transforms developmental profiles into personalised recommendations and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), including instructional pathways and, where relevant, behaviour support strategies.
This automation reduces administrative burden for educators, enabling them to focus on direct interactions with learners — a need highlighted by experts at global forums such as the World Inclusion Congress 2025. By operationalising structured processes from assessment to monitoring, the system helps establish consistency and coherence across teams and settings.
Research, Validation and Expansion
UNOWA’s inclusive solutions are not just deployed but scientifically tested and validated. In 2025, a joint pilot with East Kazakhstan University engaged over 100 children and a network of school and kindergarten partners to apply and refine the “six domains” methodology in real conditions. This research informs ongoing refinement of MIKKO and other elements of the inclusive model.
By grounding solutions in evidence before scaling them, the Kazakhstan project has become a standardisation hub — a preparatory step toward implementation in other countries.
A Model for Cross-Border Collaboration
The Kazakhstan initiative demonstrates how a well-designed, evidence-driven project can evolve from a regional priority into a globally relevant blueprint. International partners such as the World Bank have recognised this work as among the most effective examples of technology-supported inclusive education implementation.
What began as a response to local needs — a collaborative project addressing gaps in support for children with diverse learning requirements — has now become part of a global conversation about inclusive learning systems without borders.
Read the full original article on the UNOWA website: From a Pilot Project to a Global Inclusive Education Brand: UNOWA
About UNOWA
UNOWA is an innovative education technology company focused on inclusive, scalable solutions for modern learning systems. Its flagship product, MIKKO, is the world’s first full-cycle inclusive education system, already implemented in national programmes like Kazakhstan’s Project 8709-KZ. UNOWA also leads with Ulabs, a next-generation STEM platform using AI and sensor-based tools to deliver immersive, hands-on learning. With a strong focus on localisation and policy alignment, UNOWA supports governments in achieving measurable impact in education.
Article Submitted by:
Anastasiia Medianyk
Poland
