The Path to Science: A Practical Seminar for Young Researchers

In today's rapidly evolving digital age, one of the primary tasks of the scientific community is to equip young scientists with tools for searching, selecting, and analyzing high-quality information rather than simply providing them with ready-made data.
In this regard, on November 10, 2026, a significant event was held within the framework of the 4th direction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals "Quality Education," organized by the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The practical seminar for master's and doctoral students on the topic "Working with international scientific information databases and analytical platforms" became a real learning experience for young scientists. Organizers: Kurmanaliyeva A., Baltymova M., Karybayeva A.
During the seminar, Ainur Kurmanaliyeva, Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, and Professor, noted that modern academic requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. According to the scientist, admission to the defense of master's and doctoral dissertations is directly linked to publications in ranking publications, so writing a high-quality article that meets international requirements is essential for every applicant. 
Mira Rashidovna Baltymova, Deputy Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies for Scientific and Innovative Activities and International Relations, Candidate of Philological Sciences, and Acting Professor, practically demonstrated the mechanisms for conducting research in international databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. He explained in detail how to determine the quartile and percentile of peer-reviewed journals, how to find articles by author, journal title, and industry, how to avoid predatory publications, and how to effectively monitor citation indexes (h-index). 
PhD, Assistant Professor Ainur Nesibekovna Karybayeva explained the capabilities of the SciVal analytical tool and practically discussed it with undergraduates and doctoral students. This platform allows researchers to track scientific trends, find interdisciplinary connections, relevant keywords, and world-class leading research groups. With the help of SciVal, it is possible to assess the relevance of the topic at the global level and create a roadmap for future collaborations. 
Such events aimed at increasing the potential of young scientists will continue in the future. Next, the department plans to provide in-depth training on the functionality of specialized digital resources such as ScienceDirect and LeapSpace. These initiatives will undoubtedly give a powerful impetus to the reliable integration of domestic humanities into the international space.