Today, Abai University hosted a national research and practical conference entitled “The Educational Landscape of Kazakhstan at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries: Secular and Muslim Educational Institutions.” The main objectives of the conference were to explore the history of education in Kazakhstan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, conduct a scholarly analysis of the formation and development of secular and Muslim educational institutions, and examine the historical significance of national enlightenment ideas.

    The conference opened with a welcoming address by Bolat Anapiyauly, Chair of the Management Board and Rector of the university. The address highlighted the historical continuity of the education system and the distinctive features of enlightenment movements in Kazakh society. It also emphasized the importance of fostering scientific cooperation, exploring pressing issues in Kazakhstan’s historical scholarship, and examining the historical experience of education.

    The conference was moderated by Gabit Kenzhebayev, Dean of the Faculty of History and Law, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, and Professor. He emphasized the relevance of studying the history of education to national scholarship and noted that examining historical heritage enables a deeper understanding of educational practices in previous eras. During the conference, scholars from Kazakhstan and abroad presented their research findings and delivered papers on the historical development of the education system in Kazakhstan. Participants included scholars from Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as representatives of higher education institutions across Kazakhstan.

    The conference paid particular attention to the distinctive features of the educational landscape at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Discussions focused on the scholarly and pedagogical legacy of Akhmet Baitursynuly and the key ideas within his educational thought that remain relevant to the modern education system. Participants also addressed the promotion of national values in education and the expansion of access to education. It was noted that Baitursynuly’s views on education continue to be relevant today.

 Participants also examined the role of secular and religious educational institutions in public life, the spread of enlightenment ideas, and historical transformations in the education system. In addition, the history of education in Kazakhstan was explored through the interaction between secular and Muslim educational institutions, with an emphasis on the importance of studying historical processes from multiple perspectives.

    The event provided an opportunity for members of the national and international academic communities to exchange experience, discuss research findings, and strengthen scholarly ties in the field of educational history. The conference also underscored the importance of studying historical heritage, developing a scholarly understanding of the history of national education, and connecting the lessons of the past with contemporary educational practices.