Experience from an internship in Malaysia, which is considered a leader in the field of Islamic studies

Malaysia, located in Southeast Asia, is known for its achievements in Islamic studies. From July 10 to August 9, 2025, N.M. Yeleussyzbayeva, a first-year doctoral student in the "8D02204-Islamic Studies" program, completed a foreign internship at the Academy of Islamic Studies of the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

Since Malaysia gained independence in 1957, research has been conducted on current issues in various fields of Islamic science, including works that encompass theories and specific plans for the Islamization of knowledge.

The internship was conducted with the aim of carrying out comprehensive scientific research for a dissertation concerning the religious educational and methodological foundation of Kazakhstan. To achieve this goal, in addition to the academy and university libraries, materials related to the planned articles and dissertation work were studied from the libraries of the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC). We discussed the research work and plan with a foreign consultant, Associate Professor of the Department of Islamic History, Civilization and Knowledge, PhD Aizan binti Ali@ Mat Zin. With the hospitality of the visiting professor at the University of Malaya, Doctor of Philosophy Science, Prof. Ainura Durbelenovna Kurmanaliyeva, we became acquainted with professors and teachers of the Academy, introduced Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to doctoral and master's students, and established connections for joint research.

During the visit, we did not limit ourselves to events organized at the University of Malaya, but also participated in a series of lectures held at ISTAC-IIUM. We facilitated the organization of the "History and Development of Hadith Studies in Kazakhstan" seminar held on July 8th at the Academy of Islamic Studies.

As a result, we fulfilled the assigned tasks, and the scientific and cultural centers of Malaysia that we visited during the internship contributed to broadening our horizons, strengthening scientific partnerships, and conducting quality research in the future.