On November 26, 2025, Botagoz Rakisheva, Director of the “Public Opinion” Research Institute, and Aruzhan Komirtai, Junior Researcher and a master’s student at the Department of Sociology of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, met with Professor Edward Schatz—Director of the Center for European and Eurasian Studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto; Principal Investigator of the project “One Belt, One Road” in Global Perspective; Director of the Eurasia Initiative; and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.
On November 24, 2025, within the framework of the project of NJSC “Otandastar Foundation,” Botagoz Rakisheva, Director of the “Public Opinion” Research Institute, and Aruzhan Komirtai, Junior Researcher and a master’s student of the Department of Sociology at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, held a working meeting with Almaz Sadyrov, Consul and Head of the Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Toronto, at the premises of the Consulate of Kazakhstan in Toronto.
We express our sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Canada and the Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Toronto for their support and assistance in implementing the study of the Kazakh diaspora in Canada.
On November 23, 2025, Botagoz Rakisheva participated in a conference in the United States and held a working meeting with experts from the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University (Washington, D.C., USA).
On March 18, 2025, an expert meeting on the topic “Image of the Future of Kazakhstan: Challenges and Opportunities” and the presentation of the monograph by Yerkin Tukumov “The Future of Kazakhstan: “Narrow Corridor” of Opportunities” took place at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The expert meeting was held in the format of an open discussion with the participation of leading kazakh scientists, analysts, representatives of the public and the media.
Botagoz Rakisheva, Director of the Research Institute “Public Opinion” took part in the expert meeting.
More details:
https://kisi.kz/ru/obraz-budushhego-kazahstana-i-stoyashhie-pered-stranoj-vyzovy-i-vozmozhnosti-obsudili-eksperty-na-ploshhadke-kisi/
https://kisi.kz/kszi-alanynda-sarapshylar-kazakstannyn-bolashak-kelbetin-zhane-el-aldynda-turgan-mindetter-men-mumkindikterdi-talkylady/
On March 14, 2025, Astana hosted an international round table "Spring in China".
The organizers were Astana International University, China Media Corporation, the Embassy of China in Kazakhstan, the Branch Campus of Beijing Language and Culture University in Kazakhstan (BLCU Kazakhstan) and the Research Institute of the New Land-Sea Transport Corridor Asia-Europe.
Main topics of discussion:
- Development of transport infrastructure and modernization of the Middle Corridor
- Implementation of LegalTech and digitalization of the legal system
- Joint educational and scientific projects
- Innovations and technological cooperation between Kazakhstan and China
Analyst and methodologist of the Public Opinion Research Institute Kalamkas Yesimova in her report focused on the need to show flexibility and adaptability in the field of cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
More details:
https://www.aiu.kz/ru/news/844
https://dknews.kz/ru/shelkovyy-put/354941-kitaysko-kazahstanskie-otnosheniya-perspektivy
https://content-static.cctvnews.cctv.com/snow-book/index.html?item_id=17351681946320829463&toc_style_id=feeds_default&share_to=wechat&track_id=6f0d56ff-1810-4fa5-a285-8e61f30afade
On February 26, 2025, a high-level meeting was held in Astana to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the anniversary of Kazakhstan's accession to the organization.
The Panel Discussion was organized by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, the Presidential Center of the Administrative Office of the President of Kazakhstan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. The event brought together approximately 70 participants, including representatives from the UN, diplomatic corps, government agencies, academia, and members of the Taldau Mektebi – Senate Analytics School.
Botagoz Rakisheva delivered a presentation titled «The UN in Focus: Insights from the World Values Survey – A Cross-Country Sociological Study».
More details on the United Nations website:
On February 21, 2025, Botagoz Rakisheva, Acting Associate Professor at the National School of Public Policy of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Director of the Public Opinion Research Institute, participated in the Round Table on «Practice-Oriented Learning: Features and Ways of Improvement». The event was organized by the National School of Public Policy (NSHGP) of the Academy of Public Administration (APA).
The Round Table brought together practitioners who delivered lectures during the first half of the 2024–2025 academic year. Based on their assessments, discussions focused on enhancing the Academy's activities and improving the educational process. During the event, NSHGP APA faculty members received certificates of appreciation in recognition of their contributions.
We express our gratitude to the leadership of the Academy of Public Administration and the National School of Public Policy for the opportunity to teach the course «Research Methods and Design» to the Academy’s master's students.
More details:
https://www.facebook.com/academyofpublicadministration?locale=ru_RU
From January 7 to 11, 2025, Kalamkas Yessimova, Chief Researcher at the Public Opinion Research Institute, took part in the joint conference of the European Society of Central Asian Studies (ESCAS) and the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference focused on the theme «Geopolitics, Migrations, and Identity».
The Public Opinion Research Institute organized a panel titled: Central Asian Diasporas: Values, Identity, Status
Chair: António Eduardo Mendonça (Portugal)
Presentations:
1. The «Others» Are Quite Different: Results of Opinion Polls Among Representatives of Smaller Ethnic Groups in Almaty – Beate Eschment, Researcher, Centre ZoiS, Berlin (Germany)
2. Central Asian Migrants in South Korea – Sangcheol Kim, Institute of Central Asian Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul (Republic of Korea)
3. The Factors of Labor Migration to South Korea: The Case of Kazakhstan – Youngmin Chu, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (South Korea)
4. The Situation of the «New» Kazakh Diaspora in Germany – Kalamkas Yessimova, Chief Researcher, Public Opinion Research Institute, Astana (Kazakhstan)
5. Kazakh Diaspora in Western European Countries: Identity and Values – Botagoz Rakisheva, Director, Public Opinion Research Institute, National Representative of WAPOR in Kazakhstan; Gulden Ashkenova, Deputy Director, Public Opinion Research Institute, Astana (Kazakhstan)
The international conference gathered over 300 participants from around the world.
We extend our gratitude to our colleagues—António Eduardo Mendonça, the main organizer of the Lisbon conference; Beate Eschment, Sangcheol Kim, and Youngmin Chu—for their support and collaboration in shaping the panel. Thank you to all participants who contributed to the discussion!
More details: http://www.escas.org/conferences/conference_2025_lisboa/