On May 13, 2026, the Fourth Scientific Seminar titled «Migration Trends in Central Asia: External and Internal Factors of Influence» was held at Nazarbayev University.

The organizers were the Public Opinion Research Institute, the School of Sciences and Humanities, and the Graduate School of Public Policy of Nazarbayev University.

The First joint scientific seminar, «Labor Migration: Problems, Solutions, and Prospects» was held on January 22, 2016. Within the framework of this seminar, the results of a sociological survey of labor migrants conducted by the Public Opinion Research Institute on behalf of Nazarbayev University were presented.

On November 22, 2019, the Second Scientific Seminar was held at Nazarbayev University, organized by the School of Sciences and Humanities, the Nazarbayev University Library, and the Public Opinion Research Institute. The keynote speaker in the panel discussion was migration specialist António Mendonça, with a presentation titled «Migrants from Central Asia in Western Europe: Numbers, Mobility, Profiles, Identity»

On December 4, 2020, the Third Scientific Seminar titled «Illegal Migration from Kazakhstan to South Korea» was held at the site of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations (KCIR). The seminar was organized by the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations (KCIR), the Public Opinion Research Institute, and the School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University.

More information is available on the website of the Public Opinion Research Institute:

https://opinions.kz/en/events/scientific-seminars-on-migration

Moderators: Kares Shenk (Nazarbayev University), Botagoz Rakisheva (Public Opinion Research Institute).

Speakers at the seminar included:

Kares Shenk, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, Nazarbayev University, with the presentation «Difficulties of Researching Migration in Kazakhstan»,

Ayaulym Sagynbayeva, Head of the Center for Analysis and Forecasting of Demographic Processes, Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Founder of the Association of Demographers of Kazakhstan, with the presentation «Assessment of Current Migration Trends in Kazakhstan and Central Asian Countries»,

Leila Delovarova, Acting Professor, Department of International Relations and World Economy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with the presentation «New Migration Trends and Directions in Central Asia»,

Nurkhan Zhaliyev, Managing Director of the Department of Analysis and Strategic Development, Otandastar Foundation, with the presentation «Compatriots Abroad as a Strategic Resource for Kazakhstan’s Development: From Symbolic Ties to Pragmatic Engagement Mechanisms»,

Kalmakas Yessimova, Master of Anthropology and Ethnology, Public Opinion Research Institute, Astana IT University, with the presentation «Key Trends of Chinese Migration in Kazakhstan»,

Vladimir Kozlov, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, Nazarbayev University, with the presentation «Key Factors Affecting Fertility Intentions of Russian Migrants in Central Asia».

Online commentator: Dr. Larisa Kangaspuro, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki.

Seminar program in Kazakh

Seminar program in Russian

Scientific seminars on migration in partnership with the School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University

On December 4, 2020, the Third Annual Scientific Workshop: “Illegal Migration from Kazakhstan to South Korea” was held at the site of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations (KCIR).. The organizers of this seminar: the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations (KCIR), the Public Opinion Research Institute, the School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University.

Seminar was moderated by: Nailya Almukhamedova, Master of Economics, KCIR.  

A welcoming speech was made by Caress Schenk, professor at the School of Sciences and Humanities at Nazarbayev University (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan). Botagoz Rakisheva, candidate of sociological sciences, made a presentation of the Report “Illegal migration of Kazakhstanis to South Korea”, prepared under the auspices of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations (KCIR). The report includes the results of a study of the process of illegal migration from Kazakhstan to South Korea. The author, based on extensive official statistics, the results of sociological research, interviews with illegal labor migrants, marriage migrants and observations, reveals the peculiarities of the formation of labor youth migration, adaptation and integration of migrants in South Korean society. Comments were made by: Herman Kim, Professor, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Director of the Institute for Asian Studies, al-Farabi KazNU (Almaty, Kazakhstan) online, Kim Sangcheol, professor at the Institute of Central Asian Studies, Hankuk University (Seoul, South Korea) online, Caress Schenk, professor at the School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University (Nur -Sultan, Kazakhstan), Svetlana Kozhirova, Professor, Doctor of Political Sciences, Head of the Center for Asian and Chinese Studies of the International Scientific Complex “Astana” (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan) online, Aigul Sadvokassova, Deputy Director of the Institute of Ethnopolitical Research, Doctor of Sociological Sciences ( Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan), Nurkhan Zhaliyev, Director of the Information and Analytical Department of the Otandastar Foundation.

On November 22, 2019, Nazarbayev University hosted the Second Annual Scientific Seminar organized by the School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University, Nazarbayev University Library and Public Opinion Research Institute. The main speaker in the panel discussion was Migration Specialist António Mendonça with the topic “Migrants from Central Asia in Western Europe: Number, Mobility, Profiles, Identity”. Other speakers were: Botagoz Rakisheva (Public Opinion Research Institute), Caress Schenk (Nazarbayev University) and Darina Sadvokassova (Nazarbayev University). In the second part of the event, an employee of the City University of Dublin, Abel Polese, a scientist, development specialist, amateur musician, author of fifteen books and more than 100 peer-reviewed chapters and articles, spoke. Abel Polese presented his new book “The SCOPUS Diaries and the (il)logics of Academic Survival”.

On January 22, 2016 The School of Sciences and Humanities of Nazarbayev University and the Public Opinion Research Institute held a scientific seminar “Labor migration: problems, solutions, prospects”. As part of the scientific seminar, the results of a sociological survey of labor migrants, conducted by the Public Opinion Research Institute at the request of Nazarbayev University, were presented. Speaker: professor Caress Schenk

Moderators: Caress Schenk (Nazarbayev University), Botagoz Rakisheva (Public Opinion Research Institute).

Speakers:

Deyan Keserovich, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kazakhstan. Topic: “Trends in migration processes”

Irina Chernykh, Chief Researcher of the KazISS under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Topic: “Labor migration in Central Asia: features, risks, prospects”

Batzhan Akmoldina, Head of the Department of Social and Demographic Research, Institute for Economic Research. Topic: “Results of the survey of internal migrants on social adaptation (for the cities of Astana and Almaty)”.

Serik Mauletov, CEO of TAXBACK CENTRAL ASIA LLC. Topic: “Taxes in the system of labor migration”.

Caress Schenk, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University. Topic: “Presentation of the results of a sociological survey of labor migrants”.

Svetlana Kozhirova, Professor of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Topic: “Features of modern Chinese migration in Kazakhstan”.

Ainur Mazhitova, Deputy Director of the Public Opinion Research Institute. Topic: “Turkish migration in Kazakhstan”.

Kairatbek Jamangulov, expert of the Institute for Public Policy of the Nur Otan Party. Topic: “Social profile of migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan”.

Damira Akhatova, Researcher at the Center for the Study of Interethnic and Interfaith Relations in Central Asia of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Topic: “Social and cultural adaptation of labor migrants in Kazakhstan”.

Shavkat Ismailov, chairman of the Kyrgyz ethnocultural association, member of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, head of the project “Promotion of the rights and interests of migrants and their families through increasing their potential and interaction with local governments and government agencies”. Topic: “About the work of the “Center for Support and Training of Labor Migrants in Astana”.