Istanbul University students took part in the winter school

On December 27, the fourth-year students from the Department of Modern Turkic Languages and Literature, Faculty of Literature, Istanbul University, visited the Department of Turkology and Language Theory at the Faculty of Philology of  Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, within the framework of  a 10-day winter school.
The first day of the winter school began with a meeting with the head of the department, Professor Raushangul Amirdinovna Avakova, who introduced the students to university life, the educational process, and the content of courses in the Turkology specialty. During the meeting,  the students shared their thoughts, exchanged opinions, and expressed their impressions of Kazakhstan’s rich culture and education system.
The university tour continued with an excursion to the Al-Farabi Library. The guide spoke about Al-Farabi’s life and philosophy, while Senior Lecturer Gulnur Orkenkyzy Ualikhanova translated into Turkish and explained Al-Farabi’s contributions to science.  The students received answers to their questions, learned about the library’s other reading halls, and how to use them. During the excursion, they also were  acquainted with other prominent figures of the Alash Orda movement. This was a wonderful opportunity for them to learn more about the history and culture of Kazakhstan. At the end of the tour,  the students took several memorable photographs at the university’s historical sites.
Additionally, the Turkish students attended a seminar on the subject of "Golden Horde Literature (13th-14th centuries)" with a focus on «The Spiritual Traditions of Golden Horde Poetry and Their Continuity in the Works of Kazakh Poets»  The seminar was  delivered   by Senior Lecturer A.U. Daulet.  The lecturer provided an in-depth explanation of the key characteristics of Golden Horde poetry and its influence on later Kazakh literature. The students from Turkey actively participated in the seminar, asked  questions and tried to  deepen their understanding of the content and the  significance of Golden Horde poetry, as well as its impact on Kazakh literature. There was an interesting exchange of opinions on the linguistic and cultural commonalities among Turkic peoples.
The Turkish students highly appreciated the university’s teaching methods and students'  interaction formats. In their view, open dialogue between lecturers and students, along with discussions in a question-and-answer format, made the learning process more engaging, fostered enthusiasm for knowledge, and contributed to the advancement of science and education. The literature and culture of the Turkic world continue through generational continuity. This seminar further strengthened the spiritual and literary connections among Turkic-speaking peoples and provided a new perspective on our shared scientific and cultural heritage.
This event was an important step in strengthening cultural and educational ties between Kazakhstan and Turkey. The students of Istanbul University  received   unforgettable impressions and new knowledge due to  this visit.
Organizers: Senior lecturers of the Department of Turkology and Language Theory: Gulnur Orkenkyzy Ualikhanova, Aigul Ualibaykyzy Daulet.