A solemn opening ceremony of the V International Conference of Young Turkologists, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Congress of Turkology, was held at our University.
In 1926, the First Baku Congress of Turkology, also known as the First All-Union Congress of Turkologists, was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The gathering brought together prominent Kazakh intellectuals, including Akhmet Baitursynuly, Boris Akanayev and Magzhan Zhumabayev, as well as Turkology scholars from Türkiye, the United States, Germany and the Soviet Union. The congress became an important historical milestone in defining the linguistic, literary, historical, ethnographic and cultural unity of the Turkic peoples.
Continuing this historical tradition, the international conference was jointly organized by our University, Ordu University, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation.
Young Turkologists, researchers and students from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Uzbekistan and Russia are participating in the academic gathering.
The principal objectives of the conference are to strengthen international academic ties, exchange scholarly experience, promote cooperation among young researchers, and examine current issues in Turkology. The conference is expected to become an important academic platform for gaining a deeper understanding of the shared scholarly and cultural heritage of the Turkic world and opening new avenues for research.
The event began with a video address by Hüseyin Karaman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
“The fact that today’s significant conference coincides with the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Congress of Turkology and pays tribute to the legacy of that historic congress further enhances the historical importance and substance of this academic gathering.
One of the key areas determining the future development of the Turkic world is Turkology, the academic study of the Turkic peoples. As this field continues to expand through archival materials and various scholarly sources, it contributes to the development of numerous disciplines, including language, literature, science, art, sociology, law and religious studies. To build such unity and ensure coordinated action in every sphere, the Turkic world must unite around shared principles and become a cohesive force based on complete mutual understanding and agreement. In this regard, we place great hope in our esteemed young people, who will contribute to the future development of Turkology. Your heartfelt dedication, sincere efforts and steadfast commitment will be the first steps towards achieving outstanding results,” he said.
In her video address, Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, stated:
“The holding of the V International Conference of Young Turkologists in the sacred city of Turkistan, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Congress of Turkology, is a significant and instructive event for all of us. The celebration of the centenary of this landmark congress at the highest level is receiving particular attention from the leaders of the Turkic states. This historic anniversary is not only an opportunity to pay tribute to the past but also to elevate academic and cultural cooperation among the Turkic peoples to a new level. Our principal objective is to continue the tradition of scholarly cooperation that began in Baku a century ago, give fresh impetus to the development of Turkology, and promote our shared cultural heritage throughout the world,” she said.
Taking the floor, Rector of Ordu University Orhan Baş said:
“The millennia-long history of the Turkic peoples has created a rich cultural heritage extending across vast continents and immense geographical regions. Among the common foundations of this cultural heritage are unity of language and religion. Moreover, the Turkic countries and peoples share a common way of life, history, memories, joys and sorrows. All of these are important values that unite us.
From the Orkhon inscriptions and the legacy of Korkyt Ata to the works of Mahmud al-Kashgari and Alisher Navoi, we possess a rich cultural heritage and spiritual treasury. Our duty is to study this heritage together on the basis of contemporary academic knowledge and research, reinterpret its values, and introduce them into scholarly circulation. We must involve our young Turkologist colleagues extensively in this work and, through their active participation, direct the accumulated knowledge and experience towards the future,” he said.
Rector Zhanar Temirbekova stated:
“For centuries, Turkistan has been one of the major centres where Turkic culture, scholarship and traditions flourished. Closely associated with the sacred legacy of the great thinker Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, this city has occupied a special place in the collective memory of the Turkic world from the past to the present. Bringing together young researchers in Turkology in such a historic city is extremely important for passing the academic and cultural values inherited from the past on to future generations.
One of the principal missions of Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University is to strengthen a shared understanding of science and education throughout the Turkic world, establish strong ties among students from different countries, and contribute to the development of highly qualified scholars.
I hope that the Conference of Young Turkologists will pave the way for productive academic discussions, new academic partnerships and valuable research in Turkology. I wish you all every success!” she said.
Peyami Battal, Representative of the Rector, also conveyed his best wishes:
“Turkology is not merely an academic discipline that studies our past. It is a strategic field of scholarship that enables us to shape our common future through the in-depth study of Turkic languages, history, literature and culture. Preserving our rich spiritual heritage, extending from the Orkhon inscriptions to the legacy of Korkyt Ata, studying it through contemporary methods, and passing it on to future generations are responsibilities shared by us all.
I believe that this conference will provide our young researchers with an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience, become acquainted with diverse scholarly perspectives, and establish new academic connections. Scholarship thrives in an environment where diverse opinions converge, new questions arise, and original ideas emerge. We expect you not merely to receive the heritage passed down from the past but also to enrich it with fresh perspectives and new content, thereby expanding the horizons of research,” the Rector’s Representative said.
Following the solemn opening ceremony, the conference continued with sectional sessions. During the conference, young Turkologists will present research papers on current issues in Turkology, covering topics ranging from Old Turkic to modern written Turkic languages, from ancient Turkic literature to the literature of the contemporary Turkic world, from ancient Turkic history to the modern history of the Turkic world, as well as from the folklore, art and culture of the ancient Turkic peoples to those of the contemporary Turkic world.
The conference will continue until 24 October.
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