XIII International Book and printing exhibition: new trends in education, technology and publishing

The XIII International “Along the Great Silk Road” Book and Printing Exhibition, held on 19–20 November 2025, once again showcased the main trends, new technologies, and the active participation of various educational institutions in the publishing and printing industries.
Visitors entering the exhibition pavilion first passed through the registration area, where a separate service system was organized for representatives of schools, colleges, and universities. According to the order of the Education Department, the large attendance of school students expanded the scale of the event and increased its significance for educational purposes.

On 21 November, as part of the exhibition, the faculty members of the Department of Publishing, Editing and Design Art of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University delivered a series of open lectures, where they discussed current issues and new opportunities in the publishing sphere.

The lecture series was opened by the head of the Department of Publishing, Editing and Design Art, Aigul Amirgalikyzy. She introduced the main directions of work carried out by the department’s professors and lecturers, emphasizing their contribution to the development of the publishing industry. She also noted that the number of students enrolled in the department had significantly increased in recent years—exceeding the 2019 figure by more than 50 percent. This, she stated, indicates a growing interest in the field of publishing.

Next, Professor Konyr Mukataykyzy spoke, sharing insights from her forty years of experience. She noted that research related to book culture requires effective time management. In her presentation, she discussed common violations of publishing standards found in books and explained that there are two state standards for writing annotations. Mastering these standards, she emphasized, is an essential requirement for professional editors and publishing specialists.

Associate Professor Karlyga Mysaeva highlighted the importance of digital platforms and electronic products in the publishing industry and emphasized the need to master them effectively. She noted that collaborative projects involving both teachers and students are necessary for the further development of the field. She also proposed organizing a broad discussion in the future dedicated to the overall state of the publishing industry.

Artist and senior lecturer Serikbay Beisenbek explained that in the modern digital era, a designer’s professional ability is not limited to artistic skills alone—they must also be able to act as information creators and users. He emphasized that the design profession requires creativity and comprehensive knowledge.

Journalist Karagoz Simadil demonstrated with concrete examples that the use of artificial intelligence has become widespread today and that it is impossible to avoid it.
In her speech, she provided several international case examples and stressed that the issue is not to fear AI but to learn how to use it correctly.

After the lectures, department head Aigul Amirgalikyzy expressed her gratitude to the Director of the National Book Chamber, Adil Koitanov. In return, Adil Koitanov presented an award to the Journalism Faculty of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University for its active participation in the exhibition.

The participants concluded the event by taking commemorative photographs.

Dariga DOSAN
3rd-year student,
Department of Publishing, Editing and
Design Art, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University