Discussed issues of archival development

Within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals №17. Partnership for Sustainable Development

In the framework of the II International Congress of Archivists ‘Heritage Institutions on the Way to Sustainable Development of Society’ a discussion session on ‘Professional Education and Development of Archivists’ was held at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

The event was attended by Chairman of the Board - Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebaev, Director General of the National Library of Jordan Nidal Ibrahim, Head of the Department of Education and Enlightenment of the National Archives of Great Britain Andrew Payne, Director of Kaunas Regional State Archives of the Republic of Lithuania Gintaras Druchkus, leading experts and scientists of the CIS countries, representatives of UNESCO and specialists of the European Union.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the meeting the participants exchanged views, shared their experience and ideas on joint development of archival business. The main goal is to create a constructive dialogue with the professional community on topical issues of preservation of historical and cultural, documentary heritage. This will serve to generate innovative ideas for the development of archives and replication of the best archival practices.

The event was opened by the Rector of Al-Farabi KazNU Zhanseit Tuimebaev, who spoke about the work carried out in the higher education institution in the field of archives. Also in his speech, the rector noted that the university annually trains specialists necessary for this field.

‘Head of State Kasym-Jomart Tokayev pays special attention to the country's history. ‘We need to look at our history honestly and impartially and accept it as it is. Our main task is to study the centuries-old history and restore historical justice,’ the President said. Today the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi and the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Department of world history historiography and source studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and archive of the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan closely cooperate. KazNU for its 90-year history is a unique institution of higher education, which has trained several generations of archivists. Preservation, study, development and use of historical and cultural heritage for the benefit of the nation is our common goal. In this regard, I call on all the expert scientists present today to hold a lecture at KazNU in the field of archival science in the future. This initiative will allow to jointly use and study archival materials of Kazakhstan and other countries’, - said the rector.      

In turn, Director General of the National Library of Jordan Nidal Ibrahim said: ‘I am glad to meet you for the second time in Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. As the rector of the university Zhanseit Tuimebayev said, we should always help and support each other. In this context, it is important to intensify work on the exchange of teachers and students. I think that in the near future we will sign agreements and establish partnerships with libraries and universities of Kazakhstan in the field of archives’.

 Also at the international meeting, expert scholars from Poland, Russia, Uzbekistan, Lithuania and other countries spoke, expressing various opinions on the development of archival science.

The plenary session continued in sections devoted to various topics.

It should be noted that the ІІ Congress of archivists is held by KazNU together with the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Council of Archives (ICA), the UNESCO regional office in Almaty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the akimat of Almaty.

Responsible persons are Professor of the Department of World History, historiography and source studies R.S. Myrzabekova, N.K. Alpysbaeva, G.S. Zhugenbaeva, B.E. Nurpeisova, G.E. Sabdenova