National kurultai: uniting the nation

National Kurultai: uniting the nation

On 31 March 2025, the Philological Faculty of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University had the privilege of hosting a curatorial session titled "The national kurultai – uniting the nation". The event was conducted within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 "Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions" and 17 "Partnerships for the Goals." The primary goal of the educational session was to explain the significance of the national Kurultai, increase students' interest in socio-political changes, and create a platform for open dialogue.

During the event, the students engaged in extensive discussions on the purpose and role of the national Kurultai and its impact on Kazakh society. To this end, a role-play exercise was conducted, where participants acted as members of different sections, presenting their proposals. The topics that the students focused on included "Education and Science," "Social Development," and "Culture," and it was suggested that these could be the way forward in dealing with some of the issues that are currently being experienced. It was heartening to see that foreign students studying in Kazakhstan participated actively in the event. They shared experiences from their countries, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace and cooperation in a multicultural society and achieving sustainable development goals. The importance of friendship among peoples and intercultural understanding was highlighted. For feedback, students used the "Exit Ticket" method, writing down the three most important ideas they took away from the session. This method was found to be a useful tool for evaluating their impressions and understanding of the new knowledge.

The session fostered critical thinking, open dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. By the end of the discussion, students recognised the national Kurultai's potential to serve as a bridge between the government and society, ensuring inclusive decision-making and sustainable development.

It is suggested that events such as this one can play a crucial role in promoting youth involvement in governance, fostering national unity, and reinforcing democratic values. Through active participation, students demonstrated their commitment to the cause.

Department of Foreign Philology and TranslationStudies

Senior Lecturers Azimbayeva I.K.

Iskakova G.

1st-Year Master’s Students 

R. Bekenova, A. Kairat