At our university, within the framework of the informal Summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in the city of Turkistan, a capsule-laying ceremony for the Yassawi Research Institute took place.
At the National Kurultai sessions and several strategic meetings, the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, provided specific instructions on the comprehensive study of the legacy of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi, the wide promotion of his spiritual teachings among young people, and the transformation of Turkistan into a spiritual and scientific center of the Turkic world.
In line with these objectives, the Yassawi Research Institute is being established as an international academic and research center dedicated to the study of Turkic civilization, Sufi teachings, and the historical and cultural continuity of Turkic peoples.
The ceremony was attended by Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aibek Sydykov; Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States Binali Yıldırım; Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye Yusuf Tekin; Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır; Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat; Ömer İleri, Head of the Information and Communication Technologies Department of the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti); Leyla Şahin Usta, Deputy Chair of the AK Parti Parliamentary Group; AK Parti deputies Abdulkadir Emin Önön and Mehmet Ali Cevheri from Şanlıurfa; Sivas MP Ahmet Özyürek from the MHP; President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Abdullah Eren; President of the Turkish Defence Industries Agency Haluk Görgün; and Director General of Anadolu Agency Serdar Karagöz.
Opening the event, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Muhittin Şimşek stated:
“Dear guests, today we have gathered for an important and blessed occasion. We believe that the Yassawi Research Institute, whose foundation is being laid, will produce distinguished scholars who will study Yassawi’s legacy and serve the Turkic world. I hope that in the future, our graduates will represent themselves as scholars trained here and contribute to all fields of Turkology around the world.”
It should be noted that the newly established Yassawi Research Institute building will consist of six floors and cover a total area of more than 13,000 square meters. The facility will include the Faculty of Theology, a Linguistics Center, the Turkology Research Institute, the Yassawi Research Institute, modern applied laboratories, a manuscript museum and exhibition center, as well as dedicated exhibition spaces for rare Turkic manuscripts.
In addition, the building will feature a 420-seat international conference hall, study and training rooms, classrooms, faculty offices, administrative units, a cafeteria, and recreational areas. The complex is planned to serve as a modern educational and research center for approximately 1,500–2,000 students.
The construction of the Yassawi Research Institute is being implemented with the support of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
President of TİKA Abdullah Eren stated: “The land we are standing on is sacred, associated with Khoja Akhmed Yassawi. Yassawi emphasized the importance of not remaining indifferent to human suffering and of supporting those in need as a path to spiritual maturity and virtue. This is also the core mission of TİKA. We are pleased to be here today at the site of an institute being built with TİKA’s support.”
Vice Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aibek Sydykov also stated:
“Today, in the holy city of Turkistan, within the framework of the Turkic States Summit, we are witnessing a historic moment of great significance for the entire Turkic world. The laying of the foundation capsule symbolizes the brotherly nations’ shared commitment to the future and responsibility toward younger generations. Turkistan is a sacred place for our people, and the legacy of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi is a shared spiritual treasure of the Turkic world. Our main task today is not only to honor this great heritage but also to systematically study and pass it on to future generations.”
In the new research complex, the spiritual and philosophical legacy of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi, as well as the history, literature, culture, religion, and civilization of the Turkic world, will be comprehensively studied. International research projects will be implemented, alongside archaeographic and textual studies, as well as efforts to collect, digitize, and introduce rare manuscripts and historical sources into academic circulation.
In addition, international conferences, symposiums, academic internships, and seminars involving both local and international scholars will be organized. Special emphasis will be placed on training young researchers and doctoral students, as well as developing interdisciplinary studies in Turkology, theology, linguistics, and the humanities.
Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States Binali Yıldırım stated: “Turkistan is a land where many states have been founded and flourished throughout history. The Organization of Turkic States was established to revive and pass on our shared culture and language to future generations. Today, we are gathered in this important place—the heart of the Turkic world.
Students of Yassawi University studying at this institute will not only be learners, but also future leaders of the Turkic world—scholars and diplomats. The strength of a nation is measured not only by its economy but also by its human capital and the generations it raises. In these turbulent times, we must protect our culture and historical heritage.”
At the end of the ceremony, the distinguished guests placed the symbolic foundation capsule, entrusting messages of goodwill and spiritual heritage to future generations. Thus, the ceremony became a memorable and meaningful event honoring the shared values of the Turkic world and promoting the legacy of Khoja Akhmed Yassawi.
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