INTEGRATION OF CULTURES: THE TURKISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE OF KAZNARU

On December 2, 2025, the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNAIU) hosted an important event aimed at strengthening academic and cultural exchange. The university organized a ceremonial meeting for students studying the Turkish language with distinguished guests from the Republic of Turkey: the Consul General of Turkey in Almaty, Mrs. Tuğba Alan Özdenfedakar, and the Education Attaché, Mr. Ayhan Korkmaz.

The event, symbolically titled “Silk Road Connections: A Celebration of Turkish Culture,” became a powerful catalyst for enhancing international cooperation and knowledge exchange. It strengthened relations between Kazakhstan and Turkey and deepened mutual understanding in the realms of culture, traditions, and the rich national heritage of the two brotherly nations.

The festive program began with an engaging culinary master class held at the Scientific-Educational Innovation Center of Food Technologies and Quality. The practical session, led by Doctor of Technical Sciences Bibipatima Yerenova, brought together students and lecturers from Turkey and Kazakhstan. Working side by side, participants explored the rich culinary traditions of Turkish cuisine, learned traditional recipes and preparation techniques, and appreciated the deep cultural significance behind various dishes—a vivid example of active cultural exchange.

The cultural evening continued in Lecture Hall 1 of the Institute for Collaboration with Wageningen University. The audience was welcomed by Consul General Mrs. Tuğba Alan Özdenfedakar and Education Attaché Mr. Ayhan Korkmaz, who expressed sincere gratitude to the guests, students, and faculty for their active participation and contribution to the development of bilateral ties. From KazNAIU's side, Vice-Rector for International Relations Rafis Fanisovich Abazov delivered a greeting speech, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives for the internationalization of higher education and the expansion of cooperation with Turkish universities.

The cultural program also featured creative performances, including musical numbers and poetry readings in Turkish and Kazakh, which added a special emotional and festive atmosphere to the event. The evening’s central component included discussions on Turkish customs and traditions, as well as the importance of continuous cultural exchange in the modern world. Participants shared their thoughts on how educational and cultural projects of this kind promote tolerance and strengthen friendship among young people.

The event was organized by the International Office and the Institute of Green and Sustainable Development of KazNAIU as part of the university’s strategy to actively develop international academic cooperation. The successful implementation of “Silk Road Connections” reaffirmed the university’s status not only as a center of agricultural science, but also as a platform for intercultural dialogue that contributes to training highly qualified specialists integrated into the global educational space and committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.