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 language has been taught at the Faculty of Oriental Studies since 1989. The first teacher of the Persian language at the faculty was a graduate of Leningrad University Munataev M.M. 1990-1994 At the Department of Iranian Studies A.T. Orazbay, S.A. Musoev, M.K. Abuseitova, A. Idashov, I. Dzhemenei, M. Zhursinbekov, Zeinali, M. Kanagatov gave lectures.

In 1991, the Department of Iranian-Turkish Philology was created, the head of which was Professor L.Z. Rustemov. In 1993-1994, the department of Iranian and Indology was headed by Leningrad University graduate Zh.M. Zhappasbaeva-Tolebaeva, 1994-2008 - Professor O.K. Kumisbaev, 2008-2011 - graduate of the department G.T. Zhumadilova.

Iranian specialists worked in the Department of Iranian Studies, such as Hakam, Gulzari, Islami-Torbati, Movahedinfard Ph.D., Kamaladdin Ph.D., Mohammadi Ph.D., Isfarham Ph.D., Novin Ph.D., Chenari Ph.D., Izadi Ph.D.

2012-2015 The “Department of Iranian Studies” was headed by senior lecturer G.T. Zhumadilova, 2015-2017 – Ph.D. J.J. Zhenis, 2017-2018 – Ph.D. F.K. Akhmetova and senior teacher T.N. Makhmutov, 2018-2019 senior teacher – G.T. Zhumadilova, 2019-2020 – senior lecturer A.Zh. Boranbaeva, 2020-2021 – PhD B.Sh. Batyrkhan, 2021-2022 – senior lecturer B.K. Bazarkulov and Ph.D. G.A. Kambarbekova. Since 2022, the head of the department is senior lecturer A.Zh. Boranbaeva.

From 1994 to the present day, the Department of Iranian Studies has graduated about 170 bachelors and 25 masters. 4 graduates of the department completed doctoral studies.

Among the graduates of the Department of Iranian Studies there were 9 candidates of sciences and 4 PhDs. Graduates of the department work in universities, scientific institutes, ministries, national companies, etc.

The Department of Iranian Studies has the Center for Iranian Studies, the Center for Tajik Language and Culture and the Iran-Turan Research Center. The department has a student group “Gulistan”, headed by Ph.D. G.A. Kambarbekova.

Foreign partners are the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Almaty, the Cultural Representation at the Consulate General, and the Saadi Foundation (Iran).