The “Kazakh Language Teaching Programme” for students of the University of Oxford has commenced at our university. This international project has been organised within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, our university, Wolfson College at the University of Oxford, and the Akhmet Baitursynuly Institute of Linguistics.

The primary objective of the programme is to teach international students the fundamentals of the Kazakh language and help them develop practical speaking skills. It also aims to introduce them to the history and culture, literature and arts, national traditions and spiritual values of Kazakhstan, as well as to strengthen educational, scientific, cultural and humanitarian ties between Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom. This initiative is considered a practical continuation of the “Oxford Birsöz” project, which seeks to promote the Kazakh language within the United Kingdom’s academic community.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Elmira Idrissova said:

“Dear guests, welcome to Kazakhstan and to the sacred city of Turkistan! This project was launched in 2024 with the support of Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. We are delighted to see the practical continuation of the project at our university. I would like to thank you for travelling from Oxford and showing such great interest in our native language. As the great Kazakh poet Abai said, ‘Every new language opens a new door.’ The Kazakh language has opened the doors of Kazakhstan wide for you. The language and history of our country have deep roots, and studying them requires considerable time. May your interest never fade along this journey. I wish you every success in your studies!”

Special gifts were also presented to the guests on behalf of the university.

During the programme, international students will study the fundamental structures and usage of Kazakh at beginner level and improve their ability to use the language in everyday communication. Kazakh language classes will be delivered by the university’s highly qualified academic staff. Through modern teaching methods, experienced specialists will create favourable conditions for international students to acquire practical proficiency in Kazakh effectively.

It should be noted that scholars from the Akhmet Baitursynuly Institute of Linguistics contributed to the development of the programme’s academic and methodological content. The specialists proposed teaching, methodological and linguodidactic approaches designed to teach Kazakh to international students according to different proficiency levels.

Graduates of the Bolashak Programme are also contributing to the implementation of this international project. The academic ties they have established with the University of Oxford have paved the way for the development of this cooperation.

Alongside Kazakh language classes, the programme will include lectures, cultural and educational meetings, practical sessions and informative activities aimed at introducing Kazakhstan’s historical and cultural heritage. Participants will become acquainted with our national traditions and handicrafts, taste traditional dishes and discover the rich artistic heritage of our people.

The participants will also undertake educational visits to the cities of Turkistan, Shymkent and Taraz. These visits will provide them with an opportunity to explore the historical and cultural monuments, sacred sites and architectural landmarks of our people.

In addition, they will participate in the Third International Symposium entitled “Kazakh as a Language of Science: Scientific Transformation in the Era of Digital Qazaqstan”, which will be held at Akhmet Yassawi University on 28–29 September 2026.