The Rector of KazNU spoke about the strategic importance of the Turkic languages

Chairman of the Board – Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev took part in the scientific and educational seminar "Unity in Diversity: Turkic languages and World civilization", which was held in Astana.

The event was organized in honor of the 15th anniversary of the International Turkic Academy and was timed to coincide with the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the World Day of Turkic Languages.

The anniversary event highlighted the role of the International Turkic Academy in the scientific association of the Turkic world and contributed to the expansion of international cooperation in the field of linguistic and cultural heritage preservation. The seminar was attended by renowned Turkologists, representatives of scientific organizations, university professors and young researchers.

In his speech, the rector first congratulated the participants on Independence Day and emphasized the special significance of this date in the country's history: "December 16 is a symbol of our country's sovereignty and spiritual and cultural identity. This is a historic day that defines the right of every citizen to preserve and develop their identity. The unity and stability of the people of Kazakhstan will become a solid foundation for future generations",- he said.

Zhanseit Tuimebayev also drew attention to the symbolic coincidence of the seminar with the World Day of Turkic Languages. On November 3, 2025, at the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, a historic decision was made to proclaim December 15 as the "World Day of Turkic Languages".

In his report, the rector also emphasized the scientific significance of the date of December 15th. It was on this day, in 1893, that the Danish scientist Wilhelm Thomsen first deciphered the Orkhon inscriptions and revealed the secret of ancient Turkic writing. This discovery laid the foundation for the development of the science of Turkic languages and cultures.

He also noted that the monuments of the Orkhon inscriptions were discovered in 1889 by scientist Nikolai Yadrintsev and subsequently studied in detail by Turkologist Vasily Radlov. The main topic of the rector's speech was "Turkic civilization – a strategic resource for cultural diplomacy and national development". Zhanseit Tuimebayev focused on the role of the Kazakh and Turkic languages in the modern global humanitarian space, emphasized the importance of academic mobility, scientific translations and digital projects.

He noted that in the 21st century, thanks to digital technologies and the Internet, Turkic languages, including Kazakh, have become an important resource for the development of cultural dialogue, the preservation of national identity and the formation of a young generation open to multilingualism and cultural diversity.

In addition, the rector highly appreciated the scientific school formed by the Turkic Academy over 15 years of research on Turkic languages and civilizations. "The Turkic Academy is a unique scientific platform that unites the Turkic world. For 15 years, the academy has become not only a research center, but also an important institute of cultural diplomacy",- said the Rector of KazNU.

Part of the report was devoted to the preservation of the languages of the small Turkic peoples. According to the rector, today over 30 languages belonging to the Turkic language family are in limited use and need systematic and targeted support.

In this context, he highlighted the activities of the KazNU Scientific Research Institute of Turkology and Altaic Studies, which actively cooperates with the Turkic Academy in the scientific field, noting that international research and scientific and educational initiatives are being implemented within the framework of the institute. "The Turkic languages are not only an object of scientific research, but also an important resource for cultural diplomacy, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development",- the rector summed up.

During the seminar, the participants noted the role of the Turkic Academy over the past 15 years in the scientific association of the Turkic world and stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation in the field of studying Turkic languages and culture.

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University