Narxoz University students explore Kazakhstan businesses’ readiness for AI tools in KAPIOR research sprint

A team of students from Narxoz University, supported by mentors from BISAM Central Asia, participated in the Research Sprint student research competition organized by the Kazakhstan Association of Professional Public Opinion and Market Researchers (KAPIOR).

As part of the competition, participants were tasked with addressing a real business challenge presented by Bitrix24. The objective of the study was to assess the readiness of Kazakhstani businesses to adopt AI-powered tools that enable users to create digital solutions independently, without the involvement of professional software developers. The project was conducted under the title “Vibe Coding: Kazakhstan Businesses’ Readiness for AI Tools for Independent Development.”

The Research Sprint format closely mirrors professional research practice. Student teams work on real-world business cases under the guidance of industry experts, completing all stages of the research process within tight deadlines and high-quality standards.

During the project, the Narxoz University team carried out a full-cycle research study, including refining the research problem, developing hypotheses, designing the methodology, preparing research instruments, conducting in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys, analyzing data, and formulating recommendations for the client.

The study involved business owners and executives from Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent, as well as professionals outside the IT sector. The findings helped assess awareness of artificial intelligence technologies among businesses, identify key barriers to adoption, and evaluate the potential for using AI tools in the development of digital products and solutions.

The research team consisted of fourth-year Sociology students from the School of Humanities at Narxoz University:

· Aiganym Smagi
· Bikymbat Nurtas
· Valentina Blednykh

The academic supervisor from Narxoz University was Aiman Zhussupova, Candidate of Political Sciences. The team was mentored by Natalia Volkova, Head of Research Department at BISAM Central Asia, and Jasmine Bitakhan, Junior Researcher.

One of the most valuable aspects of the project was its practical nature. Students worked with a real client, analyzed real-world data, and presented their findings to a professional jury and business representatives.

Participation in projects like Research Sprint enables students to develop research and analytical skills, gain hands-on experience in solving real market challenges, and strengthen collaboration between universities and the professional community.

We congratulate the team on their successful participation in Research Sprint and extend our gratitude to KAPIOR for organizing the competition and to Bitrix24 for providing an актуal and engaging research challenge.