The Department of Religious Studies was established by separation from the Department of Philosophy by the decision of the Academic Council on 26 December 2012. The teaching staff of the Department consists of 13 people. There are 3 Doctors of Sciences (Shapoval Yulia Vasilyevna, Kabylova Aina Sagatbekovna, Imankul Nurtas Nasiruly), 3 PhDs (Smagulov Murat Nurmukhambetovich, Kayrbekov Nurlan Efvratovich, Kaliyev Kaskyrbek Kikbaevich), 3 candidates (Tyshkhan Kenshilik, Malgaraeva Zaure Borankulovna, Zhakiyanov Talgat Jardemkulovich) and 4 masters (Timur Aimukhambetov, Saltanat Alimkulova, Balzhan Kalemshariv, Tomash Gulbarshyn).
Acting Head of the Department since February 2023 is Tyshkhan Kenshilik, PhD, acting associate professor.
The teachers of the department are actively involved in national and international research programs and projects, both in religious studies and interdisciplinary areas.
Shapoval Yulia Vasilievna
2022 - up to now: The International project of L.N. Gumilyov ENU and UNICEF-Kazakhstan "Creation and support of the National center of resource groups on education psychosocial support and mental health of children and their families
2021-present: Mass Political Repressions in Kazakhstan in the 20-50s of the XX Century and Rehabilitation Processes: Creating a Uniform Database, working group on rehabilitation of victims of political repressions - representatives of traditional clergy, PCF project, Institute of History and Ethnology named after Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology.
2020: Research project 'Exploring Kazakhstan's approach and experience of rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees', supported by Search for Common Ground International (EU). Preparation and presentation of an analytical report.
2021: Analysis of short-, medium- and long-term challenges to a successful and sustainable programme of rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees. Preparation of a policy brief for Search for Common Ground (EU).
Tyskhan Kensilik
2020-2023: A Republican Project on Deradicalization
Zaure Borankulovna Malgaraeva
2020: Analysis of the current state and prospects of development of religious education in the Republic of Kazakhstan
2022: Tengriism in Kazakhstan
2021: Christianity in Kazakhstan
Smagulov Murat Nurmukhambetovich
2022-2024: Spiritual and cultural values of Islamic education in modern secular society: the case of Central Asia
Talgat Zhardemkulovich Zhakiyanov
2019-2020: Assessment of the state policy in the sphere of religion by the population of Kazakhstan
2019-2020: On the religious situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan
2019-2020: Sociological research services in the sphere of interethnic harmony
2019-2020: On the situation and problems in the Muslim Ummah, including the activities of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan
Also, teachers of the department are published in journals associated with the databases Scopus, Webofscience and RSCI.
In the base Webofscience have available articles 5 teachers: Smagulov M.N., Aimukhambetov T.T., Shapoval Y.V., Tyshkhan K. and Malgaraeva Z.B.
In the Scopus database have available articles 7 teachers: Smagulov M.N., Aimukhambetov T.T., Shapoval Y.V., Tyshkhan K., Malgaraeva Z.B., Kayrbekov N.E., Kabylova A.S.
There are 8 teachers in the RSCI database: Shapoval Y.V., Kabylova A.S., Malgaraeva Z.B., Tyshkhan K., Smagulov M.N., Kayrbekov N.E., Aimukhambetov T.T., Kalemshariv B.
Training of undergraduate students is conducted since 2002, Master courses since 2007 and PhD courses since 2019.
To date, the Department trains 63 undergraduate students, 22 master's students and 8 PhD students.
Graduates of the department work in various spheres of activities, most of them are in demand in the following organizations: the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, LLP "Center for the Study of Religion Akimat of Astana, NAO " Center Nazarbayev to develop interfaith and inter-civilization dialogue", PE " Center for Expert Studies, PF" Law "and urban and regional administrations, as well as many graduates teach in high schools.
Students and master students studying at the department participate in the research work of the department, publishing articles in Kazakhstani and foreign scientific journals, participating with the published reports at national and international scientific conferences, seminars, etc.
In addition, students of religious studies have repeatedly been winners of the Republican Olympiad on religious studies and theology. In particular, in 2022 the department held Olympiad on the basis of own university, the team of department took the 2nd place, and our students Shaizada Akerke (the diploma of 3rd degree) and Myrzamurat Aruzhan (the diploma of 2nd degree) took prizes.
Also in 2019, Nauryz Gainizhamal, a student of the Religious Studies Department, won 1st place in the V International Youth Legal Competition on "Human Rights and Transnational Threats to Security". The competition was held at the Kazakh University of Humanities and Law named after M.S. Narikbayev. In 2021 she took 1st place in the V Asian Student Forum Association of Asian Universities "Kyrgyzstan - Asia - 2021.
In 2011, the students of the department opened Pyramid Club of Religion Researchers. It is known for its active activities, which contributed to some popularization of the specialty at the university, city level, as well as activation of students' activities within the selected educational programme.