MALAY LANGUAGE – NEW HORIZONS OF COOPERATION FOR THE FACULTY OF ORIENTAL STUDIES
Kazakhstan and Malaysia have maintained stable diplomatic relations since the establishment of ties in 1992. Both countries are active participants in international Islamic and regional organizations such as the OIC and the Non-Aligned Movement. Kazakhstan plays an important role as a connecting bridge between Southeast Asia and Central Asia.
Given the growing interest of Kazakhstani students in studying at Malaysian universities, the Faculty of Oriental Studies is initiating a new direction — the Malay language — and exploring the possibility of launching joint academic programs.
An online roundtable was held with the University of Malaya. The participants from Universiti Malaya included: Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Professor Dr. Surinderpal Kaur; Head of the Department of Malay Languages and Applied Linguistics, Dr. Elantamil Maruthai; Malay language lecturers/coordinators, Dr. Amir Rashad Mustapha and Dr. Norfaizal Jamein; and Rabiatul Adawiah Salleh from the Internationalization Office of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics.
From Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, participants included: Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Associate Professor Natalia Borisovna Em; Director of the Institute for Asian Studies, Professor German Nikolaevich Kim; Head of the Department of the Far East, PhD Akerke Bolatbekovna Abagan; Professor of the Department of the Middle East and South Asia, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Gulnar Yermuratovna Nadirova; Scientific Secretary of the Dissertation Council of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, PhD Aigerim Yermekovna Belyalova; Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Culturology of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science, Ainur Dürbelenovna Kurmanaliyeva; and Leading Specialist of the Department of International Cooperation, Aitolkyn Ashimova.
During the meeting, the following agreements were reached:
The parties agreed to prepare and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish formal cooperation between the universities. An agreement was reached on inviting a lecturer from the University of Malaya. Kazakh National University expressed interest in hosting a lecturer from the University of Malaya to conduct academic courses and contribute to the development of educational programs. Starting from the new academic year, a Malay language course will be launched at KazNU.
In addition, the parties discussed cooperation in the fields of scientific research, joint publications, and doctoral supervision. Dates were determined for joint summer and winter schools, teaching the Kazakh language at the University of Malaya, and internships at KazNU for students from the University of Malaya studying Russian.
Both universities — as representatives of Kazakhstan and Malaysia — have significant potential for strategic partnership in education. Deepening bilateral cooperation will bring mutual benefits and strengthen the positions of both countries at the regional and international levels.
