Nazarbayev University hosted the II International Scientific and Theoretical Conference, “Social Sciences and Humanities: A Discourse of Public Values,” bringing together scholars to examine postcolonialism, identity, and the transformation of social values in Kazakhstan and other countries that gained independence after 1991. The event was organized by the Department of Kazakh Language and Turkic Studies at NU.
The conference opened with remarks by Vice President Kadisha Dairova, Dean of the School of Sciences and Humanities Gonzalo Hortelano, and Professor Uli Schamiloglu, chair of the Department of Kazakh Language and Turkic Studies.
Professor Schamiloglu emphasized that postcolonial discourse remains an important analytical framework for the academic community, noting a growing interest among students in this area of research. “This is a highly important topic for Kazakhstan, as it enables students to analyze their own culture through contemporary conceptual frameworks that are widely used to study other regions of the world but not very well known for this part of the world,” he said.
The conference focused on language as a carrier of collective memory, cultural codes, and the search for new theoretical approaches—an effort that, participants noted, is increasingly moving beyond purely academic discussion. The conversation is not only about reinterpreting the past, but also about shaping an independent intellectual voice within global scholarship.
“New generations of Kazakh scholars, with increasing exposure to international academic environments, are now combining Kazakh, Russian, and Western viewpoints in unique ways, contributing new scholarship to global conversations while remaining rooted in local knowledge and experience,” said Professor Anna Oldfield of Coastal Carolina University, one of the keynote speakers. “At the same time, new generations of Western scholars are studying the Kazakh language, literature, and history, working side by side with you to better understand local lives and intellectual traditions.”
Keynote speakers also included Dr. Rosa E. Wellman of the University of Michigan–Dearborn, Associate Professor Ainash Mustoyapova of Buketov University, and Vice Rector Elmira Orazaliyeva of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. The conference featured more than 50 presentations across disciplines including linguistics, literary studies, Turkic studies, and philosophy.
