CESaHR - MNU

About CESaHR

Center for Empirical Social and Humanities Research (CESaHR)

CESaHR (Center for Empirical Social and Humanities Research) is a research center within the School of Liberal Arts (SLA) at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU). The Center coordinates the School’s research activities, supports the development of research competencies among faculty and students, organizes public academic events, and provides support to early-career researchers throughout all stages of their research journey.

Mission and Areas of Activity

Developing research competencies among faculty

Promoting contemporary approaches to academic supervision, mentoring, and supporting early-career researchers.

Fostering open academic dialogue

Organizing Research Talks seminars on current issues in linguistics, education, psychology, and working conditions.

Methodological support

Delivering a Writing Center series covering the key stages of conducting research and preparing a thesis or dissertation.

International and interdisciplinary communication

Organizing conferences that bring together scholars from diverse academic disciplines.

Supporting early-career researchers

Providing guidance on master’s research projects and supporting recipients of the Maqsut Narikbayev Scholarship internal grants.

Key Research Areas

Translation Studies

Applied Linguistics

Counselling Psychology

Cross-Cutting Research Themes

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Transformation

Multilingualism

Language Identity

Quality of Education

Psychological Well-being

Practical Relevance of Research to the Context of Kazakhstan

Anar Ibrayeva

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, Provost (Rector) Chairman of the Academic and Research Council, Candidate of Philological Sciences

Research Interests

Sociolinguistics

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)

Language Policy and Language Planning

English Language Teaching Methodology

Professional Development of Teachers

Description of Research Interests

Research in the areas of institutional development in higher education, multilingual
education, and language policy, the application of CLIL in the educational process,
the enhancement of English language teaching, and the professional development of teachers.

Top 5 Publications

From Cyrillic to Latin: the Western Media’s Portrayal of the Alphabet Reform in Kazakhstan

Central Asian Affairs, 2025

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Double-diploma education in Kazakhstan as a tool of academic mobility of faculty and students

Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 2017

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The necessity of English for specific purposes at the law universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan

International Review of Management and Marketing, 2016

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Pedagogical conditions of formation of students research culture (linguistic aspect)

Life Science Journal, 2014

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Development of double-diploma education in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Problems and perspectives

World Applied Sciences Journal, 2014

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Dr. Gulfiya Kuchumova

Associate Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD

Research Interests

Higher education

Research capacity development

Teacher education

Graduate employability and employment

Gender and education

Discourse analysis

Corpus linguistics

Top 6 Publications

Kuchumova, G. (under review).
Legitimizing the Research Turn: How Kazakhstani Universities Construct Research and Organizational Identity.

Kuchumova, G., Sarsenbayeva, A., & Mukhamejanova, D. (2026).
Research methods courses in Kazakhstan’s teacher education: between policy aspirations and practice.

European Journal of Teacher Education, 1–23.

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Kuchumova, G. (2026).
Teaching and learning research methodology in the context of doctoral education reforms in Kazakhstan.

Journal of Further and Higher Education, 50(6), 1112–1130.

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Kuchumova, G., & Mukhamejanova, D. (2025).
Challenges in developing research-based teacher education in Kazakhstan.

Education Sciences, 15(10), 1339.

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Kuchumova, G., Kuzhabekova, A., Almukhambetova, A., & Nurpeissova, A. (2024).
Women’s science technology, engineering, and mathematics persistence after university graduation: Insights from Kazakhstan.

Journal of Career Development, 51(3), 408–428.

DOI →

Kuchumova, G., Bilyalov, D., & Jonbekova, D. (2023).
Faculty engagement in university-industry research partnerships: Findings from a developing country.

Studies in Higher Education, 48(9), 1455–1467.

DOI →

Assem Seitkhadyrova

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education

Research Interests

Translation Studies and Translator Education

Higher Education Pedagogy, Policy and Governance

Educational Research

Lifelong Learning

Intercultural Communication

Top 5 Publications

Akhmetzhanova, D., & Seitkhadyrova, A. (forthcoming). AI and the transformation of university work processes: Faculty perspectives from a Kazakhstani university.

In T. Charles (Ed.), English language teaching and AI in Central Asia: Policies, practices and prospects. Emerald Publishing, 2026.

Durrani, N., CohenMiller, A., Kataeva, Z., Bekzhanova, Z., Seitkhadyrova, A., & Badanova, A. (2022). The fearful khan and the delightful beauties: The construction of gender in secondary school textbooks in Kazakhstan.

International Journal of Educational Development, 88, Article 102508, 2022.

DOI →

Bayekeyeva, A., Seitkhadyrova, A., & Koigeldiyeva, A. (2023). Product-based research in translation studies: Approaches and methodologies.

In Current problems of science and education in the context of global changes: Proceedings of the X International Scientific and Practical Conference (Vol. 1, pp. 291–295). Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, Polilingva, 2023.

ISBN 978-601-270-603-1; ISBN 978-601-270-605-5

Seitkhadyrova, A. (2019, September 2). Undergraduate students’ development of lifelong learning skills in teacher training institutions in the context of Kazakhstan [Paper presentation].

ECER 2019 Emerging Researchers’ Conference, ERG SES C 13: Research in Higher Education, Hamburg, Germany, 2019.

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Seitkhadyrova, A. S. (2022). The role of bilingualism in translation and interpretation.

In Actual problems of literary and translation studies: Issues of literary process, comparative literature, stylistics and linguistics: Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference (pp. 9–11). Bukhara State University, 2022.

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Evgenia Malenova

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD in Linguistics, Associate Professor

Research Interests

Translation and Interpreting

Audiovisual Translation

Media Accessibility

Intercultural Communication

Description of Research Interests

Research in the field of Audiovisual Translation and Media Accessibility: the communicative-functional approach to Audiovisual Translation, the communicative situation of Audiovisual Translation, translation strategies and tactics, the specificity of multimodal text, and the history of Audiovisual Translation.

Top 5 Publications

Malenova, E. D. (2026). Strategies and Tactics of Audiovisual Translation.

Kazan, OOO Buk. 242 p. ISBN 978-5-00254-334-2. (in Russian)

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Malenova, E. D. (2026). Artificial intelligence in the work of the subtitler: users’ experience.

Communication Studies (Russia), Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 165–174. (in Russian)

DOI: 10.24147/2413-6182.2026.13(1).165-174

Malenova, E. D. (2023). Audiovisual Translation as the Object of Research in the Field of Modern Translation Studies.

Vestnik of Moscow State Linguistic University. Humanities, 6(874), 101–107. (in Russian)

DOI: 10.52070/2542-2197_2023_6_874_101

Malenova, E. D. (2019). Defining Audiovisual Translation.

Nizhny Novgorod Linguistics University Bulletin, No. 48, pp. 64–74. (in Russian)

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Malenova, E. D. (2017). Theory and Practice of Audiovisual Translation: Russian and International Approaches.

Communication Studies, No. 2 (12), pp. 32–46. (in Russian)

DOI: 10.24147/2413-6182.2017.2.32-46

Anar Baizhanova

Senior Lecturer, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, Master of arts in philology

Research Interests

Cognitive metaphors

Comparative linguistics

Methodology of foreign language teaching

Top 3 Publications

Cognitive metaphor models in the novels “Three Comrades” by Erich Maria Remarque and “The Painted Veil” by William Somerset Maugham

Science and World, Volgograd, Russia · 2023

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Comparison of teaching English in Kazakhstan and the Netherlands on the basis of comparing differences between word order in students’ mother tongue

International Young Scholars’ Conference (SDU, Almaty) · 2021

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Introducing Idioms in Foreign Language Classes for Students of Translation Studies Departments at Kazakhstani Higher Education Institutions

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences · 2015

DOI →

Article →

Aizhan Aikenova

Senior Lecturer, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, MSc in Educational leadership: Higher education

Research Interests

Higher education and university transformation

English language teaching (ELT) and applied linguistics

Artificial intelligence in education and teacher agency

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Legal English

Linguistic justice and the decolonisation of language education

Description of Research Interests

My research interests focus on the transformation of higher education in Kazakhstan, English language teaching, and the development of professionally oriented language education. My current work examines the integration of artificial intelligence into ELT, pedagogical innovation, teacher agency, and ethical issues associated with emerging technologies. Another strand of my research addresses English for Specific Purposes, including Legal English, professional terminology development, and curriculum design. I also explore linguistic justice and the decolonisation of English language education in Kazakhstan. Methodologically, my work primarily draws on qualitative approaches and the analysis of teacher and student experiences.

Research Interests

Translation Studies

Industry-Specific Terminology and Multilingual Thesauri

Multimodality

Digital and Corpus Linguistics

Applied Linguistics and Translation Technologies

Description of Research Interests

The research examines how linguistic and conceptual knowledge is represented, translated, and systematized in multilingual digital environments. A central focus is terminology theory, concept-system modelling, and the development of controlled Kazakh-Russian-English thesauri for specialized communication. Within translation studies, the research explores translation technologies and strategies, corpus-based methods, multimodal text analysis, and the pedagogically informed use of computer-assisted translation (CAT), machine translation (MT), and machine translation post-editing (MTPE). The digital linguistics strand encompasses parallel corpora, metadata, ontologies, and machine-readable terminological databases. A further interdisciplinary direction investigates language recognition and deep-learning methods designed to enhance readability and accessibility.

Top 5 Publications

Controlled Multilingual Thesauri for Kazakh Industry-Specific Terms

Social Inclusion · 2021 · 9(1), 35–44

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Kazakh Anthroponyms Derived from Metal and Mineral Terms

Turkic Languages · 2021 · 25(1), 26–40

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Developing an Online Kazakh-English-Russian Thesaurus of Industry-Specific Terminology

International Journal of Society, Culture & Language · 2022 · 10(1), 84–98

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A Corpus-Based Analysis: Kazakh-Russian Grammatical Transformations in Akhmet Baitursynuly’s Translations

Forum for Linguistic Studies · 2025 · 7(1), 753–766

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Sign Language Recognition Based on Deep Learning via MediaPipe for People with Speech and Hearing Impairments

Procedia Computer Science · 2026 · Vol. 275, 359–368

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Alina Kamalova

Assistant Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD

Research Interests

Language Policy

Language Ideologies

Discourse Analysis

Identity

Linguistic Landscape

Description of Research Interests

Her research focuses on sociolinguistics and language policy in Kazakhstan and post-Soviet Eurasia, including de-Russification, postcoloniality and language ideologies, as well as the impact of geopolitical crises on language practices.

Another key area of research is critical discourse analysis, with a focus on identity and power in media and digital discourse. Her work also explores linguistic landscapes and social semiotics, including writing systems, urban signage, the use of English, globalisation, and elitism.

Top 5 Publications

Kamalova, A. (2025). Resemiotising globalisation and elitism: English-written neon signs in Kazakhstani coffee shops and on social media.

International Journal of the Sociology of Language · 2025 · 2025(294), 69–97

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Kamalova, A. (2025). Speak Kazakh: Language Ideologies in Kazakhstan’s Social Media in Times of Russian-Ukrainian War.

Journal of Sociolinguistics · 2025 · 29(3), 182–193

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Kamalova, A. (2026). Reimagining sovereignty: contemporary resemiotisation of Kazakh opposition leaders online in the shadow of Russian expansionism.

Central Asian Survey · 2026 · 1–28

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Kamalova, A. (2025). It’s Your Fault: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Narratives Surrounding Gender-Based Violence in a Russian Talk Show.

Language, Culture and Society · 2025 · 6(2), 190–222

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Kamalova, A. (2024). You Are a Murderer: Critical Discourse Analysis of Conversations Around Abortions in the Russian Talk Show.

Discourse & Society · 2024 · 35(2), 194–222

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Akmaral Karabay

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD in Education (Nazarbayev University)

Research Interests

Higher Education and Internationalisation

Policy Enactment in Higher Education

Language Policy and EMI

Applied Linguistics

Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

Description of Research Interests

Current research interests focus on examining the enactment and dynamics of English Medium Instruction (EMI) policy in higher education institutions across Eurasia through multi-level and multi-actor perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on higher education internationalisation, post-Soviet academic transformations, and gender dynamics.

Top 5 Publications

The Evolution of English Medium Instruction Research in Higher Education: A Bibliometric Study

Education Sciences · 2024

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Lessons Learned from the Experiences of Domestic Violence Service Providers in Times of Crisis: Insights from a Central Asian Country

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2024

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Intimate Partner Violence and the Culture of Shame in Kazakhstan: Voices of Survivors and Violence Against Women Professionals

Violence Against Women · 2025

DOI: 10778012251384563

Problematizing English-medium education (EME) in Eurasia

Cambridge Handbook of Multilingual Education · 2025 · Cambridge, UK

“Kazakhs should speak Kazakh”: Language Policy Realization in Urban Kazakh Families

NUGSE Research in Education · 2018

Dina Kucherbayeva

Assistant Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Research Interests

Language Contact

Language Shift

Language Policy

Language Ideology

Multilingualism

Research Interests Overview

Dina Kucherbayeva is interested in language processes in multilingual societies, language maintenance and change, language choice, and language use, with a particular focus on Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

Top 3 Publications

Language revitalization: challenges for Kazakh in higher education

Journal of Eurasian Studies · 2023 · Vol. 14, Issue 2 · pp. 166–178

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From policy to practice: pragmatic acceptance of translanguaging among secondary school teachers in Kazakhstan

Journal of Pedagogy and Teaching Methods · 2026 · Vol. 75, Issue 2 · pp. 197–210

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Study of hate speech in Kazakhstan: Perceptions of high-profile interethnic conflicts on social media. Possible solutions

Critical discourse analysis of hate speech · MCJ Medianet · 2021 · pp. 42–66

Laura Ibrayeva

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD

Research Interests

Creativity in Education

Wellbeing and Mental Health of University Students

Wellbeing of Young Children

Research Interests Overview

Laura Ibrayeva’s research interests span education, psychology, and applied linguistics. A major strand of her research focuses on creativity in education, including teachers’ beliefs and practices, creative learning environments, and the contextual factors that support or constrain creativity. Another key area is mental health and well-being in educational settings, particularly the well-being of university students, their experiences of psychological distress, coping strategies, and support systems. More recently, her research has focused on young children’s well-being and early childhood education and care (ECEC), with particular attention to children’s perspectives and experiences of happiness and well-being. Her methodological interests include qualitative and mixed-methods research, systematic literature reviews, and bibliometric analysis.

Top 5 Publications

“Meeting Students’ Needs Matters”: Kazakhstani Teachers’ Beliefs about Developing a Creative Environment

Thinking Skills and Creativity · 2025

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“Thinking outside the Yurt”: Kazakhstani upper secondary school teachers’ beliefs about the nature of creativity and creative students

Thinking Skills and Creativity · 2022 · Vol. 46 · 101176

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What Makes Young Children Happy? Exploring Well-Being Through Children’s Perspectives in Early Childhood Education

Early Childhood Education Journal · 2026 · pp. 1–18

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Who feels good at university? Exploring profiles of mental health in higher education students using a person-centered approach

The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher · 2025 · Vol. 34 · pp. 93–107

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How do university students navigate distress? An examination of determinants, coping strategies, and support systems through the lens of Self-Determination Theory

Qualitative Health Research · 2025 · pp. 1–18

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Mukhamejanova Dinara

Associate Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD

Research Interests

Language Policy and Planning

Higher Education Governance

Internationalisation in Higher Education

Research Capacity Building

University–Industry Partnerships

Research Interests Overview

Dinara Ramazanovna’s research interests focus on language policy and planning, higher education governance, and internationalisation in higher education. Her work pays particular attention to research capacity building, academic career trajectories, and transformations in research and teaching roles within higher education institutions. Her research also explores migration and education, university–industry partnerships, and the impact of education policy on academic environments.

Top 5 Publications

Diaspora engagement and return migration for educational purposes in Estonia and Kazakhstan

International Journal of Comparative Education and Development · 2023 · Vol. 25, Issue 2 · pp. 123–135

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Faculty perspectives on the changing research and teaching career tracks of academics at private universities in Kazakhstan

Studies in Higher Education · 2024 · Vol. 50, Issue 12 · pp. 2700–2715

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Enhancing Students’ Employability through University–Industry Partnerships in Kazakhstan

Higher Education Policy · 2024 · pp. 1–19

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Research-based teacher education in Kazakhstan: student perspectives on educational research methods courses

Journal of Education for Teaching · 2025 · Vol. 51, Issue 3 · pp. 581–595

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From Cyrillic to Latin: the Western Media’s Portrayal of the Alphabet Reform in Kazakhstan

Central Asian Affairs · 2025 · Vol. 12, Issues 3–4 · pp. 372–394

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Karlygash Kenzhigozhina

Teaching Professor, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, PhD

Research Interests

Sociolinguistics

Sociophonetics

Phonetics and Phonology

Forensic Speech Science

Spoken Language

Research Interests Overview

Her research interests encompass sociolinguistics, sociophonetics, phonetics and phonology, forensic speech science, and the study of spoken language. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between language and society, variation in speech behaviour, the social and phonetic features of spoken language, as well as the analysis of linguistic and speech characteristics in different communicative contexts. Within the field of forensic speech science, she examines features of speech material that enable the identification and interpretation of linguistic characteristics of utterances. Another area of her research focuses on spoken language and its phonetic, prosodic, and communicative features.

Top 5 Publications

Phonetic features of spoken English and Kazakh languages (theoretical and experimental research)

XLinguae · 2020 · Vol. 13, Issue 2 · pp. 166–175

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Verification of communicative types in the judicial public space of media discourse in the USA, Kazakhstan and Russia as a psycholinguistic marker of fact-checking

Amazonia Investiga · 2023 · Vol. 12, Issue 61 · pp. 131–144

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Речевой портрет горожанина (на основе аудиоматериалов г. Нур-Султан, Казахстан)

Studia Philologica Universitatis Velikotarnovensis · 2020

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Rhetoric and prosody of judicial discourse in mass media

Eurasian Journal of Philology: Science and Education · 2022 · Vol. 187, Issue 3

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Phonetic peculiarities of the defense speech of a lawyer

Bulletin of Toraighyrov University. Philology Series · 2022 · Issue 4 · pp. 178–190

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Aliya Sarsenbayeva

Senior Lecturer, Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, MA in Foreign Philology, MSc. in Higher Education Leadership, PhD Candidate in Education

Research Interests

Educational Leadership

Quality Assurance

Academic Integrity

Research Capacity

International Education

Graduate Capital and Employability

Research Interests Overview

Her research interests encompass educational leadership, quality assurance, academic integrity, and research capacity development. Particular attention is given to international education, graduate capital and employability, as well as the development of university–industry partnerships. Her research also explores improving the quality of teacher education, developing research skills, and examining institutional change within higher education systems.

Top 5 Publications

Enhancing Students’ Employability through University–Industry Partnerships in Kazakhstan

Higher Education Policy · 2024 · Vol. 39, No. 2 · pp. 390–408

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Research methods courses in Kazakhstan’s teacher education: Between policy aspirations and practice

European Journal of Teacher Education · 2026 · pp. 1–23

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Research-oriented teacher education in Kazakhstan: Policy documents and literature analysis

Bulletin of Abai KAZNPU. Series of Pedagogical Sciences · 2024 · Vol. 83, No. 3 · pp. 5–14

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Mitigating Challenges in Designing and Running Research Methods (RM) Courses

Central Asia Higher Education Conference · 2020 · KIMEP University

Academic writing skills as a plagiarism prevention tool

Bulletin of Shokan Ualikhanov Kokshetau University. Philological Series · 2019 · No. 1 · pp. 486–490

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Yelena Yemelyanova

Senior Teacher; Translation Studies/Applied Linguistics, Member of the Research and Ethics Committee, Master of Pedagogy and Psychology; Master of Social Sciences in Higher Education Leadership; PhD Candidate in Higher Education

Research Interests

Higher Education Governance and Quality Assurance

Faculty Research Performance and Academic Performativity

Researcher Identity

Academic Management and Policy

Mixed-Methods Research

Description of Research Interests

Yelena Yemelyanova’s research focuses on higher education governance, quality assurance, faculty research performance, and the institutional conditions shaping academic work. She is particularly interested in how ability, motivation, organisational opportunity, KPIs, rankings, and cultures of performativity influence faculty research behaviour and outcomes. Her doctoral study, Understanding Faculty Research Performance through the AMO–Performativity Lens in Universities of Kazakhstan, integrates questions of research productivity, motivation, and institutional pressure in Kazakhstani universities. Her methodological interests include survey design, qualitative interviewing, mixed-methods research, CFA/SEM, and data analysis using modern tools for data processing and analysis.

Top 5 Publications

Beyond WEIRD Societies: Global Social Identifications Across 45 Countries and Their Socio-Cultural and Economic Predictors

Political Psychology · 2026 · 47(3), e70134

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From Identity to Caring: A 44-Country Examination of the Role of Global Social Identifications in Concern for Global Issues

Political Psychology · 2026

ORCID →

Facilitating Inclusive Teaching and Learning Spaces through Digital Education Technology

Educational and Social Dimensions of Digital Transformation in Organizations · 2018 · pp. 218–232 · IGI Global

ORCID →

The Necessity of English for Specific Purposes at the Law Universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan

International Review of Management and Marketing · 2016 · 6(S3), 9–16

DOI / Link →

Programme of Multilingual Education Development in Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Journal of Social Science Research · 2014 · 3(2), 207–213

ORCID →

Oleg Khukhlaev

Teaching Professor, Counselling Psychology, PhD

Research Interests

Multicultural Counselling

Intercultural Communication

Psychology of Intergroup Relations

Psychology of Radicalisation

Psychological Support for Migrants

Research Interests Overview

Current research focuses primarily on the psychology of migration and the provision of psychological support in the context of cultural diversity. The research scope is broad, ranging from examining the characteristics of migrants’ adaptation and factors affecting their psychological well-being to developing new approaches to psychological support for migrants and evaluating their effectiveness. Particular attention is also given to intercultural communication, intergroup relations, and the development of professional competencies for specialists working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Top 5 Publications

Educational Inclusion of Children in Migration

Springer · 2024 · In: Inclusive Education in the Russian Federation

DOI →

Interpersonal Mindfulness, Intergroup Anxiety, and Intercultural Communication Effectiveness Among International Students Studying in Russia

Frontiers in Psychology · 2022 · Vol. 13 · Personality and Social Psychology

Academic Achievement of Students in Schools with High Numbers of Migrant Children

Psychological Science and Education · 2022 · Vol. 27, No. 5 · pp. 46–56

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Intercultural Competence and Effectiveness of Intercultural Communication

Experimental Psychology · 2022 · Vol. 15, No. 1 · pp. 88–102

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Values and Religious Identity of Russian Students from Different Religions

Springer · 2018 · Changing Values and Identities in the Post-Communist World

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Murat Zhanataevich

Lecturer, Counselling Psychology, PhD in Psychology

Research Interests

Operational Psychology

Social Psychology

Theoretical Psychology

Psychology of Terrorism

Profiling

Communicative Psychology

Psychology of Influence

Description of Research Interests

The main areas of research include profiling, modular professional development for psychologists, fostering innovative professional practice through the implementation of person-centred technologies, and the application of effective psychological technologies in practice. Particular attention is also given to the development of communication skills among psychological specialists.

Top Publications

All publications have appeared in restricted scientific journals of the special services and law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Adil Samekin

Associate Professor, Counselling Psychology, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Research Interests

Social perception

Intergroup relations

Migration psychology

Psychology of climate change

Climate anxiety

Description of Research Interests

The research focuses on the study of the socio-psychological mechanisms underlying the perception of migrants and various social groups, the characteristics of intergroup relations, and the factors influencing the formation of attitudes and social representations. A separate line of research focuses on the psychological aspects of climate change, including the perception of climate-related threats, climate anxiety, and psychological factors underlying adaptation to a changing environment.

Top 5 Publications

‘Free to be me?’: Gender role norms constrain career interests less for lesbian, gay and bisexual people than for heterosexual people

European Journal of Social Psychology · 2026 · Advance online publication · Q2, Scopus

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What shapes the social perception of immigrant groups in Kazakhstan? The role of ethnic- and language-based identities and underlying threat and benefit perceptions

International Journal of Intercultural Relations · 2025 · Vol. 109 · Article 102274 · Q1, Scopus

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Cultural religiosity moderates the relationship between being in love and subjective well-being

International Journal of Intercultural Relations · 2025 · Vol. 108 · Article 102227 · Q1, Scopus

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Love, culture, and well-being: How values moderate the link between relationship status and well-being across 57 countries

International Journal of Intercultural Relations · 2025 · Vol. 108 · Article 102232 · Q1, Scopus

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Examining the connection between position-based power and social status across 70 cultures

British Journal of Social Psychology · 2025 · Vol. 64(2) · e12871 · Q1, Scopus

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Assel Issakhanova

Associate Professor, Counselling Psychology, PhD in pedagogy and psychology

Research Interests

Health Psychology

Art Therapy

Psychological Support in Educational Institutions

Personality Psychology

Description of Research Interests

Research focuses on structural barriers to university counselling and the use of ChatGPT as a preferred alternative for seeking psychological support. Particular attention is given to the experiences of Generation Z students in Kazakhstan through a convergent mixed-methods study.

Top 5 Publications

Frontiers in Education

Frontiers in Education · 2026

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Frontiers in Education

Frontiers in Education · 2026

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The Journal of Psychology and Sociology

The Journal of Psychology and Sociology · 2026

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International Journal of Educational Reform

International Journal of Educational Reform · 2023

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Bulletin of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Series “Psychology”

Bulletin of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University. Series “Psychology” · 2025

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Aizhan Izakova

Associate Professor, Counselling Psychology, Doctor of Psychological Sciences (RF), Candidate of Psychological Sciences (RK), Associate Professor

Research Interests

Personal Growth and Professional Self-Determination

Talent Management in Education

Mental Health and Prevention of Deviant Behaviour

Supervision and Inclusive Support

Self-Management Psychology and Managerial Competencies

Description of Research Interests

Research focuses on scientifically grounded developmental systems aimed at unlocking human potential, including the methodology of the Talent Management programme, assessment of personal managerial competencies, automated mental health diagnostics for students in inclusive education, and the prevention of professional deformation among educators and deviant behaviour among adolescents.

Top 5 Publications

“Upgrade yourself for 10 days” programme as a modernisation stage of the consciousness of Kazakh adolescents

Scientific Herald of Uzhhorod University. Series “Physics” · 2024

DOI / Link →

Teacher coping competence as a systemic resource for preventing victimisation of learners with special educational needs in an inclusive environment

Journal of Advanced Pharmacy Education & Research (JAPER) · 2026 · Accepted for publication in Vol. 16

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Conditions of psychological and pedagogical support in inclusive education

Materials of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Kusainov Readings”, Astana · 2024

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Methods of assessing the level of managerial competencies

Bulletin of the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of Education (RSCI) · 2020

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Determinants of professional deformation of psychologists working in conditions of inclusion

European Journal of Psychological Assessment · 2026 · In press

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Research Activities (2025-2026)

Expert Materials, Public Talks and Guest Lectures

Number of expert materials and media interviews, public talks at external venues, guest lectures, and roundtable discussions at external educational institutions:
10 events, against a target of 4.

D. Mukhamedzhanova and G. Kuchumova

Open lecture “How Academic Careers Work in Kazakhstan: Career Tracks and the Role of KPIs” – 21 April 2026, MNU Public Library, Astana.

E. R. Nurtayev

Talk on “Life. Restart” on Zhibek Zholy Radio – 24 January 2026.

A. Rodionov

Public lecture “The Chances of Becoming a Homeowner” – 29 January 2026, SPACES Business Centre, Samal 11, Astana.

V. Saiko

Guest lecture at Astana International University on “Behind the Scenes of a Translator’s Work: From Preparation to Professional Etiquette” – 6 November 2025.

V. Saiko

Online guest lecture at Saratov State Law Academy on “Career Prospects for Professionals in the Translation Industry” – 22 December 2025.

V. Saiko

Interview on “Translation Educator: AI Is Changing Kazakhstan’s Labour Market but Not Eliminating the Profession.”

A. Samekin

Public lecture “Social Stereotypes in Everyday Life: How Can We Explain Other People’s Behaviour and Our Own Actions?” – 15 January 2026, SPACES Business Centre, Samal 11, Astana.

A. Tuleubekov

Interview with the Zhibek Zholy Zhanalyktary information channel on “A Unicameral Parliament: Why Is It Needed and How Does It Work Around the World?” – 9 September 2025.

A. Tuleubekov

Public lecture “On Human Freedom, or How Ready Are We to Be Ourselves?” – 9 April 2026, SPACES Business Centre, Samal 11, Astana.

A. Kamalova

Open lecture-workshop “AI in Language Education” – online, 13 May 2026.

Faculty Professional Development

As part of the development of modern approaches to academic supervision, mentoring, and research competencies among early-career researchers, a professional development seminar for supervisors of master’s and doctoral dissertations was held at the School of Liberal Arts, Maqsut Narikbayev University.

27.02.2026

Supervising Graduate Research: Practical Strategies for Effective Supervision

The seminar focused on practical strategies for effective academic supervision and the support of graduate research projects.

Academic Events for a Broad Audience

Number of academic events held:
20, against a target of 20.

Research Talks – 5 seminars

1st semester of the 2025-2026 academic year – 3 seminars

Phonetic Reduction in Regional Variants of Kazakh

25 September 2025 – Nazerke Doskelді

Changing the Approach to Peer Review of Teaching at Maqsut Narikbayev University

30 October 2025 – Assiya Alibekova and Henk Frenken

Keeping You Cool: Technostress Management in Service Jobs

4 December 2025 – Nazym Seitova

2nd semester of the 2025-2026 academic year – 2 seminars

Specific Features of the Well-Being of Mothers Participating in the ‘House of Mom’ Programme (Republic of Kazakhstan)

13 March 2026 – Moldir Berzhanova

Use of L1 in Foreign Language Teaching

2 April 2026 – Anar Baizhanova

Writing Center – 15 seminars

1st semester of the 2025-2026 academic year – 8 seminars

Academic Research: From an Idea to Success. Challenges Faced by Novice Researchers and Early-Career Scholars in Conducting Socio-Psychological Research

12 September 2025 – A. Samekin

The Art of APA 7 Citation: Structure, Clarity, and Academic Integrity

19 September 2025 – A. Shaikheslyamova

Dissertation Structure: From Topic to Conclusion

26 September 2025 – M. Berzhanova

Where Does Research Begin? Introduction, Research Questions, and the Research Problem

2 October 2025 – E. Nurtayev

Literature Review, Critical Analysis, and Synthesis

9 October 2025 – A. Pazylbek

Making the Complex Simple: Research Methodology – Methods, Design, and Tools

15 October 2025 – L. Shora

Research Conclusions: The Culmination and a Guide to What Comes Next

24 October 2025 – Zh. Ashikbayeva

Defending Your Dissertation: The Final Act of Your Academic Journey

30 October 2025 – A. Mukanova

2nd semester of the 2025-2026 academic year – 7 seminars

Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Research

30 January 2026 – A. Aikenova

Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks in Research

6 February 2026 – A. Aikenova

Zotero (Open-Source Reference Management Tool)

12 February 2026 – A. Pazylbek

Zotero (Reference Management Tool for Academic Research)

19 February 2026 – A. Pazylbek

Research Methodology (Qualitative Research Design, Quantitative Research Design)

27 February 2026 – M. Sergazina

Research Methodology (Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods)

6 March 2026 – L. Shora

Mixed Methods Research

10 March 2026 – M. Sergazina

Annual Report 2025-2026

Research Report 2025-2026

About CESaHR

Center for Empirical Social and Humanities Research (CESaHR)

Developing research competencies among faculty

Fostering open academic dialogue

Methodological support

International and interdisciplinary communication

Supporting early-career researchers

Key Research Areas

Cross-Cutting Research Themes

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Top 6 Publications

Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Top 3 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications and Conference Presentations

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 3 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Research Interests Overview

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Interests

Description of Research Interests

Top 5 Publications

Research Activities (2025-2026)

Expert Materials, Public Talks and Guest Lectures

D. Mukhamedzhanova and G. Kuchumova

E. R. Nurtayev

A. Rodionov

V. Saiko

V. Saiko

V. Saiko

A. Samekin

A. Tuleubekov

A. Tuleubekov

A. Kamalova

Faculty Professional Development

Supervising Graduate Research: Practical Strategies for Effective Supervision