The department of «Industrial Safety and Environmental Science»
The Department of Mine Ventilation was established in 1958 and was reorganised as the Department of Mine Aerology and Occupational Safety later that same year. Its first Head was N. F. Kremenchutsky, who subsequently became a Doctor of Technical Sciences and Professor. The Department initially had six members: Associate Professors G. E. Panov, T. E. Gumenyuk, N. F. Kremenchutsky, N. F. Grashchenkov, and V. M. Malyarevsky, and postgraduate student D. A. Amanbayev.
In 1962, Associate Professor N. F. Grashchenkov was elected Head of the Department and remained in this position for 30 years. During this period, Nikolai Fyodorovich defended his doctoral dissertation, became a Professor, and founded a research school in occupational safety in mining. More than 50 Candidates and Doctors of Sciences were trained under his supervision. N. F. Grashchenkov also served for ten years as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute.
Over the years, the Department employed prominent researchers specialising in occupational safety across various industries, particularly the mining sector. They included Great Patriotic War veterans Professor N. F. Kremenchutsky and Associate Professor T. E. Gumenyuk, Associate Professor G. E. Panov, and Professors N. F. Grashchenkov, V. P. Zhuravlyov, A. K. Akimbekov, Yu. D. Obukhov, V. S. Kharkovsky, Zh. G. Levitsky, and others.
From 1992 to 1995, the Department was headed by Associate Professor Yu. D. Obukhov. In 1995, Professor A. K. Akimbekov was elected Head of the Department of Mine Aerology and Occupational Safety.
From 2001 to 2002, the Department was led by V. S. Kharkovsky, a 1961 graduate of the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute, Candidate of Technical Sciences, and Professor. The Department was headed by Associate Professor Zh. K. Amanzholov from 2002 to 2006, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Professor Zh. G. Levitsky from 2006 to 2007, and Doctor of Technical Sciences P. V. Emelin from 2007 to 2009. From 2009 to 2015, the Head of the Department was N. Kh. Sharipov, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Professor.
From 2015 to 2024, the Department of Mine Aerology and Occupational Safety was headed by N. R. Zholmagambetov, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Associate Professor.
Since 2024, the Department has been headed by N. A. Medeubayev, Candidate of Technical Sciences. In 2025, it was renamed the Department of Industrial Safety and Ecology.
The Department maintains professional links with specialised departments at higher education institutions in Russia and Kyrgyzstan to enhance the quality of specialist training. Doctors of Technical Sciences and Professors K. S. Kolikov and D. A. Sambayeva of the Kyrgyz State Technical University in Bishkek participate in the educational process, exchange professional experience, and conduct joint research with Karaganda Technical University.
Throughout its history, the Department has developed dozens of technical solutions. Many were introduced into production and used at coal mines and at construction materials, mining, and metallurgical enterprises in Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. The implementation of these solutions helped improve the safety of production processes and reduce harmful atmospheric emissions.
Graduates of Professor N. F. Grashchenkov’s research school continue to develop its research areas and work at educational institutions and industrial enterprises in Kazakhstan and abroad.
The Department conducts educational and research activities. It contributed to the development of state compulsory education standards in Life Safety and Environmental Protection. Regulatory, teaching, and methodological materials developed with the Department’s participation were approved and used in the delivery of the relevant educational programmes.
The Department currently delivers the bachelor’s programme 6B11201 and the master’s programme 7M11201 Life Safety and Environmental Protection.
