In the context of global climatic, social and economic challenges, sustainable development is becoming an integral element of government policy and strategies for the development of education. Higher education plays a key role in training future specialists who are able to act meaningfully and responsibly in the face of uncertainty and complexity of modern problems. In this regard, the formation of students' competencies in the field of sustainable development is of particular relevance. Despite the recognized importance of integrating sustainable development into the educational process, traditional approaches are not effective enough to form students' deep knowledge, motivation and practical involvement. Purpose is study the potential of the MAKE (Motivation, Attitude, Knowledge, Engagement) structure as an innovative tool for developing competencies in the field of sustainable development among students of universities in Kazakhstan. Methods - analytical and comparative methods based on the study of foreign experience in the implementation of the MAKE model and its adaptation to the Kazakh educational context are applied. The results and their significance: the high efficiency of the MAKE model for the formation of holistic sustainable attitudes among students has been established. Recommendations for its integration into educational programs are proposed. The results of the research contribute to the development of a scientifically based approach to personnel training for a sustainable economy.