Materials Science Students Participate in an Advisory Hour Dedicated to the Discussion of the Draft Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan. SDG 16 and SDG 4

An advisory hour was held with second-year students of the Materials Science educational program at the Department of Solid State Physics and New Materials Technologies of the Faculty of Physics and Technology at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The meeting was devoted to explaining the key provisions of the draft new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and to discussing the upcoming national referendum scheduled for March 15.

During the meeting, master's students of the department specializing in materials science provided a detailed explanation of the main differences between the current version of the Constitution and the proposed amendments. Through presentations and an open dialogue format, the graduate students informed participants about the objectives of the constitutional reforms, the structure of the proposed changes, and the significance of citizens’ participation in the referendum as an essential element of democratic processes.

Particular attention was paid to issues of legal awareness and civic participation of youth in the socio-political life of the country. The master’s students emphasized that an active civic position among university students and their engagement in public discussions contribute to the development of a responsible civil society and the strengthening of legal culture among young people.

During the advisory session, official invitations to participate in the referendum were distributed to students residing in university dormitories. Participants were also informed about the locations of polling stations and the procedures for voting on the day of the referendum. This enabled students to obtain practical information regarding the voting process and prepare for exercising their civic rights.

The meeting was conducted in the format of an interactive dialogue and discussion. Students actively raised questions regarding both the substance of the proposed constitutional amendments and the practical aspects of participating in the referendum. The graduate students provided comprehensive answers, shared their knowledge, and illustrated their explanations with practical examples. As a result, a meaningful discussion took place in which students, master’s students, and the advisor exchanged views and discussed the significance of the constitutional reforms for the future development of the country.

The group advisor, Svetlana L. Peshaya, Vice-Dean for Scientific Innovation and International Relations at the Faculty of Physics and Technology, emphasized the importance of such meetings for developing students’ legal literacy, critical thinking, and active civic engagement. According to her, the university environment should contribute not only to the professional development of future specialists but also to their conscious participation in the public life of the country.

The organization of such educational and awareness-raising activities corresponds to the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 – Quality Education, which aims to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and competencies necessary for sustainable development, and SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which promotes the strengthening of democratic institutions, the development of legal culture, and the engagement of citizens in decision-making processes of public importance.

Thus, the advisory hour served as an important platform for informing students, fostering civic responsibility, and promoting a culture of open dialogue. Such meetings allow students not only to receive up-to-date information about socio-political processes taking place in the country, but also to actively participate in discussions on issues that are significant for the future development of Kazakhstan.