Scientific activity

The research work of the department is one of the important strategic directions of the activity of the department of religious studies.

The department of religious studies composes a research strategy in accordance with world standards and trends in world religious studies and the humanities, taking into account the Kazakhstani context.

The teaching staff of the department is actively involved in research activities and its results are published in Kazakhstani and international journals. 

Over the past three years, the number of publications of teaching staff in the rating journals and journals of the Republic of Kazakhstan, included in the CCES, has significantly increased. Teachers T.T. Aimukhambetov, M.N. Smagulov, Yu.V. Shapoval, K. Tyshkhan have a h- index - 1.

 

Over the past five years, teaching staff have published 13 articles in journals included in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, including co-authorship with PhD students of the EP "8D02206-Religious Studies". Among them:

1.Shapoval, Yuliya, Bekmaganbetova, Madina (2021) “Hijra to ‘Islamic State’ through the Female Narratives: The Case of
Kazakhstan”, Gosudarstvo, religiia, tserkov’ v Rossii i za rubezhom 39(3): 289-315. 
(In Russian).

2. Lipina T. A., Shapoval Yu. V. Religious education in Kazakhstan: The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies, 2021, vol. 37, issue 2, pp. 352–368. (In Russian)Шаповал Ю.В., 

3. Temirbayeva A., Temirbayev T. Tyshkhan K.,  Kamarova R. Sufi practices in contemporary kazakhstan: Traditions and innovations// Central Asia and the Caucasus. -2021.Vol. 22, Issue 1, pp. 91-98.

 

Research projects of the department since 2013 till nowadays

During the existence of the Department of Religious Studies since 2013, the teaching staff of the department has participated in various projects at the national and international levels.

           Among the Kazakhstani projects, the department carried out two research projects on fundamental scientific research (grant of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

 

1.          Historical monuments of the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (2015-2017).

 

2.                            2. Ethno-cultural centers of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan: the interaction of religion

 

    and ethnicity in a secular society (2015-2017).

 

Based on the results of the projects, two significant monographs were published: 

1)          Muminov A.K., Kumekov B.E., Sultonov U.A., Shukhovtsov V.K., Kenzhetaev

D.T., Kabylova A.S., Utepbergenova U.A. ., Aibasov A.A. "Historical documents of the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmad Yasawi", 2017;

2) Nurmanbetova D.N., Kamarova R.I., Tyshkhan K., Shapoval Yu.V., Antipin A., Lipina T.A. "Ethnocultural centers of the Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan: the interaction of ethnic and religious in a secular society", 2017.

 B.A.and M.A. students of the department were involved in these projects: Antipin A., Musabekova I., Asylbekova D. and others.                 

 

The following project also were conducted with the participation of Religious Studies department`s teachers:

3. Republican project on deradicalization, 2020-2023 (Tyshkhan K.)

4. Analysis of the current state and prospects for the development of religious and religious studies  education in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2020 (Malgaraeva Z.B.)

5. Tengrianism in Kazakhstan, 2022 (Malgaraeva Z.B.)

6 Christianity in Kazakhstan, 2021 (Malgaraeva Z.B.)

7. Assessment of state policy in the religious sphere by the population of Kazakhstan, 2019-2020 (Zhakiyanov T. Zh.)

8. On the religious situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2019–2020 (Zhakiyanov T. Zh.)

9. Services for conducting sociological research in the field of interethnic harmony, 2019–2020 (Zhakiyanov T. Zh.)

10. On the situation and problems in the Muslim Ummah, including in the activities of the Spiritual Board of Muslims of Kazakhstan (Zhakiyanov T. Zh.).

 

Current research activities and participation in projects

Currently, teachers of the department are participants in the following Kazakhstani projects:

1.Shapoval Yu.V. is the executor of the project of program-targeted financing of the MNWORK Mass political repressions in Kazakhstan in the 20-50s. 20th century and rehabilitation processes: the creation of a single database "(2021-2023), which is being implemented on the basis of the Institute of History and Ethnology. Sh. Valikhanov, Almaty. Shapoval Yu.V. is a member of the working group for the rehabilitation of the clergy-victims of political repression as part of the State Commission for the full political rehabilitation of victims of political repression, created on the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

In 2022, the Collection Materials of the State Commission for the Complete Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repressions (20s-50s of the XX century) Anti-religious policy of the Soviet state and repressions against the clergy in Kazakhstan” was published. Collection of documents and materials. Eds. D.T. Kenzhetaev, B.M. Satershinov B.M., M. Tolegen, Yu.V. Shapoval. - Astana, 2022. - 352 p.

2.Smagulov M.N. Topic АР15473191 "Spiritual and cultural values of Islamic education in a modern secular society: on the example of Central Asian countries" under the program for funding research by young scientists under the Zhas Galym project for 2022-2024, MHES RK.

 PhD student of the department Aigerim Temirbayeva has received a grant on a competitive basis under the program for financing research by young scientists “Zhas Galym” project for 2022-2024. RK on the topic: АР14972881 "The confessional palette of Kazakhstan in the context of the study of domestic and foreign Sufi practices." , MHES RK.

International projects:

Among the international projects, the participation of the teaching staff of the department in recent years in the following projects should be noted.

1.          Research project "Studying the approach and experience of Kazakhstan in the rehabilitation and reintegration of repatriates" with the support of the International Organization "Search for Common Ground" (EU). (September-December 2020) (individual research grant Shapoval Yu.V.) Analytical material is available at https://www.sfcg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/KZ-approach-and-experience-in-rehabilitation-of-repatriates-RU.pdf

2.           International project of ENU. L.N. Gumilyov and UNICEF-Kazakhstan "Creation and support of a national center of resource groups on education, psychosocial support and mental health of children and their families" and the creation of a National center of resource groups on education, psychosocial support and mental health of children and their families" with a focus on children and their families who returned from conflict zones (https://ncrg.kz/ru/) (Yu. V. Shapoval, national expert) (February 2022-March 2023).

Individual international research projects of doctoral students of the Department of Religious Studies

 

PhD students of the department are involved in individual international projects:

1. Temirbaeva A. Influencers of the 21st century: Sufi leaders of modern Kazakhstan. (Individual grant from the Institute for Knowledge Integration (IKI), (March-October, 2023)

2. Lipina T.A. Youth and Religion. policy paper. (2021, grant from the F. Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan)

Our mission is to attract students and researchers of all levels to participate in our research activities.

 

Undergraduate students participate in the Annual Republican Student Research Competition.

One of the priorities of the department of religious studies in the process of training in educational programs of all levels "6B02206 - Religious Studies", "7M02206 - Religion and Theology", "8D02206-Religious Studies" is the formation of research and expert-analytical competencies among students. Undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students actively participate in national and international conferences.

 The department of religious studies holds International Scientific and Practical Conferences almost every year, involving its students in the organization, holding and participation. Students and scientists from Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, etc. took part in these International Conferences. It has become a good tradition for representatives of religious organizations to participate in these conferences, as well as participation in the organization and holding of employers from “The N. Nazarbayev Center for development of interfaith and inter civilization dialogue”.

Also, the department of religious studies annually holds a section "Religion in the Post-Secular World: New Opportunities, Limits and Challenges" as part of the annual International Scientific Conference "GYLYM JANE BILIM - 2023" moderated by PhD students of the department.

Table. International scientific and practical conferences held by the department of religious studies over the past three years

Year

The title of International Scientific Conference

Format of conducting

2019 г. 

 

 Heritage of Saduakas Gylmani and scientists of the Great Steppe”, together with the Research Center for the Study of Islamic History, Culture and Art.

 

offline

2020 г.

"Religion and humanistic values in the heritage of Abai"

(collection of materials)

online

2021 г.

 

"Religion and religious studies in the context of the digitalization of society".

(collection of materials)

online

2022 г. 

 

 "Religion and religious studies in the context of the digitalization of society" .

(collection of materials).

Hybrid(online/offline)

 

 Participation of our students in international conferences

Students of all levels of training of the Department of Religious Studies actively participate in foreign international scientific conferences. Among the publications in foreign conferences are the following:

1. Temirbayeva A. Pedagogical aspects of Sufi educational practices in modern Kazakhstan // Collection of the international conference "The experience of Islamic studies in the context of the revival and development of the national theological school", RSCI RF, 2019. - P. 82-88.

2. Lipina T. Religion and artificial intelligence: from educational practices to the creation of God//VII International Scientific and Practical Conference of the Department of Cultural Studies and Philosophical Anthropology of the NPU named after Dragomanov and the laboratory of metaanthropological research People and piece intelligence: the world of philosophical anthropology, psychoanalysis, art therapy and philosophical journalism. Pіdkhіd filosofskoі antropologii і kak metaantropologii". - K .: KNT, 2020. - P. 102-109.

3. Nauryz G.O., Aimukhambetov T.T. Value Orientations of Youth in the Conditions of Modernization of Modern Society / Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference. - Gorno-Altaisk: RIO Gorno-Altaisk State University, 2020 - P.597.

4. Aimukhambetov T.T., Nauryz G.O. Psychological portrait of a terrorist// State, politics, society: challenges and strategic development priorities/ Proceedings of the XV International Scientific and Practical Conference. - Yekaterinburg: Ural Institute of Management - branch of RANGIGS, 2020 - P. 396.

Achievements of PhD students of the department of religious studies

PhD students of the Department of Religious Studies Tatiana Lipina (admission 2019) and Kamilya Tleubayeva (admission 2022) were trained at the School of Analysts under the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan by competition and entered the pool of young analysts of Kazakhstan.

In general, the main research areas of the teaching staff of the department are:

1. State-confessional relations and dialogue of religions. (Aimukhambetov T.T., Zhakiyanov T.Zh., Alimkulova S.B., Balzhan K.)

2. Religious and religious education (Smagulov M.N., Alimkulova S.Yu.)

3. History of religions in Kazakhstan (Imankul N.S., Shapoval Yu.V., Malgaraeva Z.B., Aimukhambetov T.T., Kaliev K.K.)

4. Islamic theology. (Kaiyrbekov N.E., Smagulov M.N., Tyshkhan K.)

5. Issues of radicalization and deradicalization in the religious sphere (Tyshkhan K., Shapoval Yu.V., Kaiyrbekov N.E.)

The teachers of the department are members of the editorial board of the following journals:

1. Smagulov M.N., to the editorial board of the journal Vestnik L.N. Gumilyov. History series. philosophy. religious studies. (Kazakhstan).

2. Aimukhambetov T.T. to the editorial board of the journal "Modern education in school, college and university" (Kazakhstan).