A significant contribution to enhancing the scientific potential of the Department of Arabic Studies was made by graduates of the Faculty of Oriental Studies – B.A. Atabay, Zh.R. Seitmetova, B.N. Zhubatova, A.K. Akhmetbekova, and Sh.S. Kaliev. Some faculty members and alumni of the department were invited to serve in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, where they achieved notable success and made a substantial contribution to advancing Kazakh diplomacy on the international stage.

In 2011, in connection with the reorganization of the university, the Arabic and Persian languages were combined into one department, hence the department of Arabic and Iranian studies was opened, and Professor G. E. Nadirova was elected head of the department.

In 2012-2014 department was headed by Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor Akhmetbekova A.K., in 2014-2017. M.B. Salkynbaev took the role.

As a result of modernization, from February 1, 2015, the name of the department of “Arabic and Iranian Studies” was changed to “Department of the Near and Middle East”, and in the 2015-2016 academic year, in connection with the addition of the Department of Indian Studies, the name of the department became known as the “Department of the Middle East and South Asia."

2014-2019 Head of the Department of Arabic Studies was Ph.D., Associate Professor Koptileuova D.T., 2020-2022. - PhD. Zhumazhanova F.T.,  and since 2022 it was headed by senior lecturer, Master of Arts Havan Aydyngul.

Currently, the Department of Arabic Studies employs 19 qualified specialists - 2 doctors of science, professors, 7 candidates of science, 5 candidates of science, 4 master of arts.

GRADUATES ARE OUR PRIDE

INDOLOGY

          Urdu language has been taught at the Faculty of Oriental Studies since 1992. The first teacher of the Urdu language at the faculty is Dr. Dosova Senimgul Nauryzbekova, a graduate of Tashkent University, Ph.D. In 1998, Hindi was taught for the first time in the Indian Studies Department. The first Hindi teacher, a graduate of Tashkent University, is Zaure Erenovna Iskakova.

         Since 1996, the Department of South Asia Studies has trained about 100 bachelors, 20 masters and 10 doctoral students. Among the graduates there were 4 candidates of sciences, 3 doctors of sciences. Graduates of the department work in universities, research centers, ministries of foreign affairs and defense, national companies and other areas. One of the first graduates, Erlan Altynbayuly Alimbayev, currently works as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva (Switzerland). Previously, he served as an Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to India and other high-ranking positions. Daniyar Ramazanuly Kadyrov served as Vice Minister of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Today he is the Deputy Head of the Department for Consideration of Appeals of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In addition, Shoibekov Zavir is the military attache of the Republic of Kazakhstan in India, Serikbosyn Azat is an adviser to the ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in India.

Foreign partners are Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Punjab University (Lahore), National University of Modern Lanuguages (Islamabad), the Embassy of the Republic of India in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Consulate General of the Republic of India in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Indian Cultural Center of the Republic of India named after S. Vivekananda in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Hindi Language Center in India, Wardha University, Jamia Millia University (Delhi). The Department has the M. Gandhi Center, the Muhammad Ali Jinnah Center. 

IRANIANISTICS

Persian has been taught at the Faculty of Oriental Studies since 1989. The first instructor of Persian at the faculty was M.M. Munataev, a graduate of Leningrad University. In 1990–1994, A.T. Orazbay, S.A. Musoev, M.K. Abuseitova, A. Aidashov, I. Zhemeney, M. Zhursinbekov, Zeynali, and M. Kanagatov delivered lectures at the Department of Iranian Studies.

In 1991, the Department of Iranian and Turkish Philology was established, headed by Professor L.Z. Rustemov. In 1993–1994, the Department of Iranian and Indian Studies was led by Doctor of Historical Sciences Zh.M. Zhapassbayeva-Tolebaeva, a graduate of Leningrad University; in 1994–2008 by Professor Ö.K. Kumisbayev; and in 2008–2011 by department graduate G.T. Zhumadilova.

The department also employed Iranian scholars, including Hakam, Gulzari, Islami-Torbati, PhD Movahedinfard, PhD Kamaladdin, PhD Mohammadi, PhD Isfarham, PhD Novin, PhD Chenari, PhD Izadi, and PhD F. Shakiba.

In 2012–2015, the position of Head of the Department of Iranian Studies was held by Senior Lecturer G.T. Zhumadilova; in 2015–2017 by Candidate of Historical Sciences Zh.Zh. Zhenis; in 2017–2018 by PhD F.K. Akhmetova and Senior Lecturer T.N. Makhmutov; in 2018–2019 by Senior Lecturer G.T. Zhumadilova; in 2019–2020 by Senior Lecturer A.Zh. Boranbayeva; in 2020–2021 by PhD B.Sh. Batyrkhan; in 2021–2022 by Senior Lecturer B.K. Bazarkulova and Candidate of Philological Sciences G.A. Kambarbekova; and since 2022 by Senior Lecturer A.Zh. Boranbayeva.

Since 1994, the department has graduated approximately 170 bachelor’s and 28 master’s degree holders. Six graduates have completed doctoral studies.

Among the alumni are 9 Candidates of Sciences, 7 PhD holders, and 2 members of the Writers’ Union. Graduates work at universities, research centers, ministries, national companies, in the business sector, and other fields. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Iran, O.S. Onalbayev, is a graduate of this department.

The department hosts the student club “Gulistan,” supervised by N.T. Ateibekova.

International partners of the department include the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Almaty, the Iranian Cultural Center under the Consulate General, the Consulate General of the Republic of Tajikistan in Almaty, and the Saadi Foundation (Iran).

In 2024, Senior Lecturer and Candidate of Philological Sciences Galiya Amzekyzy Kambarbekova received the International Farabi Award (FIA) from the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. In 2024–2025, she completed a research internship at Sorbonne University under the Bolashak Program.

Currently, the Department of Iranian Studies employs 2 Candidates of Sciences, 2 PhD holders, and 4 Master’s degree holders in the humanities.