Positive changes in Government policy in the field of addressing the problems of socially vulnerable categories of citizens are reflected in the activities of PSU named after S. Toraighyrov. The University developed its own social policy that allows addressing important social tasks.

Easy-term loans for the students

In accordance with the decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Approval of the Agreement on Cooperation between Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund JSC, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan", the undergraduate and postgraduate students of all specialities have the opportunity to apply for an easy-term loan provided that their academic performance is excellent or good, they study full-time programs on a contractual basis and meet the requirements provided below. The crediting has been carried out since the 2008-2009 academic year within the State Program for Easy-term Loans.

The criteria for selection of the students eligible for receiving easy-term loans were as follows:

- academic performance and social status (orphans and children left without parental care);

- students with disabilities;

- students who have parents with disabilities;

- students from families with many children, low-income and/or single-parent families;

- students whose parents have reached retirement age.

Due to the amendments and additions to some of the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated November 3, 2009 (No. 1747), the State Program for Easy-term Loans enables the undergraduate and graduate students of all specialities to apply for easy-term loans provided that their academic performance is excellent or good, they study full-time programs on a contractual basis and meet the requirements provided below.

In the first year of the program (the 2008 - 2009 academic year), 6 students concluded agreements with Alliance Bank JSC. The sum of KZT 658,061 was transferred to the account of the University as a payment for their education.

In the 2009-2010 academic year, 178 students were eligible for applying for an easy-term loan, but only 3 students applied and received loans. The second-tier banks offer credit programs for all other categories of students (not eligible for an easy-term loans):

- BankTuranAlem JSC - 21% per annum;

- Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan JSC - 15% per annum.

In the 2010-2011 academic year, the presentations of the GNPF Accumulative Pension Fund JSC and House Construction Savings Bank of Kazakhstan JSC were held.

The University concluded an agreement on charitable assistance with Tsesna Bank JSC for the period from January till June of 2011. Under this agreement, 4 students (orphans and children left without parental care) studying on a contractual basis were receiving 15,000 tenge per month.

Orphan students

Special attention is paid to orphan students. At the beginning of each year, Vice Deans for General Affairs prepare socio-demographic data sheets for each faculty, where they provide information about the social status of the students of their Faculties.

Table 4 – Total number of orphans, including those living in the dormitory

The places in the dormitory are allocated by faculties in proportion to the number of students at the beginning of the academic year. The orphans, students with disabilities, from low-income families and other cities have the priority right to apply for accommodation. The dormitory has 360 beds. The accommodation is provided mainly to the needy students. According to the decision of the Academic Council, orphan students are exempt from paying for accommodation. Every year, free meals are organized for orphan students in the canteen of the University. The Department of Education of Pavlodar provides free tickets for public transport.

The Department for Educational Work and Social Affairs and the director of the Students House carry out regular monitoring of accommodation availability for the students. Meeting the demand for accommodation is achieved by means of continuous control of meeting the rules of living in dormitory carried out by the mentors, staff, and director of the Students House. A significant progress in this field was achieved owing to the video surveillance systems which help to prevent minor offenses. In 2009, asphalt works were carried out on all access roads to the Students House within the Road Map State Program.

A thorough overhaul had been finished by the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year: wood windows were replaced with plastic ones, sanitary facilities, sinks and pipes were renewed, old light bulbs were replaced with new energy-saving ones, shower cabins were repaired, the room doors and linoleum were replaced, a new fire alarm system was installed.

Social protection

Great attention is paid to the issues of protection of socially vulnerable categories of students enrolled on a fee basis. The University has a system of discounts for such students which is based on the Regulation on Discounts on Educational Services for the Students at PSU named after S.Toraighyrov. The discounts are offered to the students with disabilities, orphans, spouses, as well as to many other categories of students.

For the purpose of social protection of PSU students' families, a special program was developed (Students' Family). Its task is providing psychological and pedagogical assistance, medical and social help, as well as legal consultations for young families. Within the Students' Family program and cooperation with the Pavlodar Regional Center for Healthy Lifestyle under the Salamatty Kazakhstan program for 2011-2015, students' families of PSU named after S.Toraighyrov attended the Healthy Young Families school in March.

Bobek Charity Fund

Since 2006, Bobek charity fund annually provides assistance to the foster children from orphan asylums and boarding schools for orphans and children left without parental care. In the 2008-2009 academic year, 8 students of the University received the scholarships of the First Lady of Kazakhstan S.A. Nazarbayeva. Every month they were receiving 3,000 tenge. In the 2009-2010 academic year, there were 8 scholarship holders. The size of the scholarship was 5,000 tenge per month. In the 2010-2011 academic year, 5 students from orphan asylums received financial aid (5,000 tenge per month). In the 2011-2012 academic year, there were 8 scholarship holders. In the 2012-2013 academic year, there were no scholarship holders.

Bota Public Fund

The main mission of the Bota Foundation registered in April 2008 is helping needy Kazakh children and young people and their families through investing significant funds in their health, education and social welfare.

The main purpose of the Educational Grants Program (EGP) is to support young people (under 29) with good academic performance who do not have sufficient funds to study at universities and colleges of Kazakhstan.

Besides the tuition fees, these educational grants also cover accommodation and transport expenses, as well as the cost of the learning materials. Moreover, every grant includes a scholarship. During the academic year, each holder of the BOTA Foundation grants participates in training seminars.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, the BOTA public fund concluded 5 agreements on free provision of educational services for the sum of 1,710,900 tenge.

Students with disabilities

Every year the University prepares an action plan on working with students with disabilities. A ramp was installed in the lobby of the main building of the University to make the educational facilities more accessible for students with disabilities. Changes in the schedule are made where necessary, so that the wheelchair-bound students could attend classes on the first and second floors of the University. Work is underway to install an elevator in the main academic building. An annual charity marathon is held at the University On the eve of the International Day of Disabled Persons, a glass box was installed in the lobby of the University in order to raise funds for landscaping the territory of Samal rehabilitation center.