International Conference «French Cultural and Humanitarian Heritage in the Work of Central Asian Researchers» at the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute

The international Kazakh-French scientific conference «French Cultural and Humanitarian Heritage in the Work of Central Asian Researchers», organized under the patronage of the Embassy of France in Kazakhstan and the University Agency of Francophone (AUF), which provided grant support for inviting foreign francophone participants, was held on March 1st and 2nd, 2018 at the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute.

Specialists in the field of humanitarian disciplines from Kazakhstan, France, Tajikistan and Russia took part in the conference, presenting the reports to the listeners, dedicated to the actual problems of our time.

The conference started with a speech by the vice-rector for scientific work and international cooperation of Abai KazNPU, doctor of philosophical sciences, professor Aktolkyn Kulsarieva, who noted that the International Conference «French Cultural and Humanitarian Heritage in the Work of Researchers of Central Asia» is organized as part of the celebration of two significant dates. Firstly, this year is the jubilee for Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University: during the entire 2018, significant scientific and cultural events will be devoted to the celebration of the 90th anniversary of our university, which is the oldest in Kazakhstan. In this connection, the fact that the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute hosts a conference aimed at summarizing and analyzing the prospects for scientific cooperation between Kazakhstan and France in the field of humanitarian disciplines is symbolic in this connection. Secondly, a significant event was the celebration of the «Francophone Spring», which will continue throughout March. «Francophone Spring» unites a number of events dedicated to the Francophonie throughout the world. In this regard, the holding of an international Kazakh-French scientific conference is a landmark event that confirms the strengthening of cooperation between our countries. Vice-rector Aktolkyn Kulsarieva also shared her personal scientific experience in studying French philosophy, as well as with considerations about the influence of French humanitarian thought in general on the development of science in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The honorary guest of the conference, the expert on the history of Central Asia, the honorary professor and chevalier of the French Order «Academic palm branch», the laureate of the «For Peace» award of the Republic of Kazakhstan Albert Fischler (France) delivered an introductory report on the history of mutual influence of the Kazakh and French humanities during the centuries-old history of relations between our countries. Noting that many years of work and friendship bind him with Kazakhstan, with particular warmth about the Kazakh people and its hospitality, in his speech Professor Fischler mentioned such names of scientists and cultural figures of both countries as André Malraux, Olzhas Suleimenov, Guillaume de Rubruk, Fernand Anzhenya, Catherine Poujol, Olivier Ferrando and others.

Dr. Olivier Ferrando (France), Doctor of Political Science and Associate Research Fellow at the Institute for Political Studies, presented the report «Challenges of Cultural Diversity in Creating Educational Programs in Kazakhstan and Central Asia».

Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Sokiboy Sultonov (Tajikistan) acquainted listeners with the state of studying the philosophy of Islam in Tajikistan and France, especially with the situation that has developed around the study of the works of the French expert on Islamic philosophy Henri Corbin.

Doctor of History, Associate Professor, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Laura Erekesheva presented the report «Ethics and morals in Durkheim sociology and the concept of dialogue: social and individual dimensions».

Doctor of Philology, professor, dean of the Faculty of Philology of the University named after Suleiman Demirel Azamat Akbarov acquainted those present with an analysis of the metaphorical conceptualization of the concept of «heart» in modern languages.

The organizer of the conference «French Cultural and Humanitarian Heritage in the Work of Central Asian Researchers», the author of the conference project Laura Turarbekova made a presentation «The Problem of Time in the Francophonie» by Alexander Sokurov» .

Doctoral candidate of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specialty «Anthropology», writer, journalist Nestor Pilyavsky conducted an anthropological analysis of the concept of «Ainalaiyn» in the Kyrgyz culture.

Reports of other participants, including doctoral students and undergraduates of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute, Institute of History and Law KazNPU them. Abay and Suleiman Demirel, were devoted to the urgent problems of translation (Akbota Abiur), the history of Kazakhstan (Igor Krupko), the problem of religious radicalization (Katira Karymsakova), the activities of the journal Tamir (Ayman Kodar, Anna Ivanova) and the gender policy trend in the context of feminist theory Simone de Beauvoir (Meruert Mukanova),

Each report was accompanied by a lively discussion between the participants of the conference. Participants noted the special format of the international conference, which is inherent in scientific events organized in the universities of France.

The international conference «French cultural and humanitarian heritage in the work of scientists from Central Asia» ended with a poetic evening, in which poems of young poets of Kazakhstan and Russia were heard in Kazakh, Russian and French.

Discussion of the «Five Social Initiatives of the President»