Defense of the dissertation of Тұрсынбаева Баян Жалғасбекқызы for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the specialty «6D050100 - Әлеуметтану»
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Тұрсынбаева Баян Жалғасбекқызы on the topic «Ecological consciousness of Kazakhstani students as a factor of social activity» by specialty «6D050100 – Әлеуметтану».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Sociology education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is kazakh
Official reviewers:
Абдрашева Банугуль Жолдыбековна - Candidate of Science, Associate Professor
Ақмади Мөлдір Арманқызы - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:
Ашимханова Дана Эзирхановна - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), deputy director
Дуйсенова София Малкайдаровна - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Сарсенова Асель Бериковна - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor (Associate Professor)
Scientific advisors:
Baigabylov Nurlan Oralbayevich – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Specialty: "6D050100 – Sociology" (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan).
Petrov Alexander Viktorovich – Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Economic Sociology, Saint Petersburg State University (Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation).
The defense will take place on December 23, 2025, at 03:00 PM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D031 – Social sciences» in the specialty «6D050100 – Әлеуметтану» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held online.
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8114174324?pwd=dVhvaFdrUm9hRll6eTBsclhybUtvZz09 Идентификатор конференции: 811 4174 324Код доступа: DC9hpA
Address: город Астана, улица К.Сатпаева, 2, учебно-административный корпус № 1 ЕНУ им. Л.Н. Гумилева, аудитория 302.
Abstract (English): ABSTRACT on the dissertation work Tursynbayeva Bayan Zhalgasbekkyzy on the topic «Ecological consciousness of Kazakhstani students as a factor of social activity», submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the specialty «6D050100 - Sociology» Relevance of the dissertation research. A feature of the development of society at the present stage is the increased interest in environmental issues. These issues are global in nature and affect all spheres of human life. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average temperature of the planet is rising every year, and its consequences are manifested in various regions of the world in the form of climate disasters, declining agricultural productivity and the migration crisis. In the context of environmental degradation, depletion of natural resources, climate change and increased anthropogenic pressure on the environment, the issue of environmental awareness formation has priority at the international and national levels. Kazakhstan, rich in natural resources, is facing the consequences of industrialization and is particularly acutely affected by air and water pollution, as well as man-made environmental disasters. In these conditions, it is of particular importance to study the ecological consciousness of youth as an important social group that determines the future course of society's development. Students, as the most active and mobile social group capable of accepting new ideas, play a crucial role in the formation and dissemination of environmental values and principles. It is among students that a future professional and civic identity is formed, which in turn may include elements of social activity aimed at protecting environmentally oriented habits and the environment. In the conditions of Kazakhstan, the relevance of the formation of the ecological consciousness of students is determined by a number of objective factors. First of all, in recent years, special attention has been paid at the state level to issues of sustainable development and environmental safety. For example, the Concept of the development of ecological culture "Clean Kazakhstan" for 2024-2029, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated October 31, 2024 No. 910. Kazakhstan has adopted international commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which pay special attention to environmental issues and youth participation in sustainable development processes. Secondly, the youth of Kazakhstan, especially the student community, shows an increased interest in environmental issues. This is reflected in participation in voluntary actions, environmental rallies, the movement for sorting garbage, greening urban spaces and other initiatives. But at the same time, there is a certain contradiction - despite the declarative interest in ecology, the practice of real ecological divination remains limited. This suggests the need for an in-depth analysis of the mechanism of formation of environmental awareness and the factors contributing to its transformation into real social activity. Thirdly, in the context of globalization and digitalization, the role of information and media in shaping the worldview of young people, including environmental principles, is increasing. The virtual space is becoming a platform for the dissemination of both reliable and false information about environmental threats, which in turn affects the level of environmental concern among young people and their modeling habits. Therefore, it is important to study how young people perceive and interpret environmental information, what are the sources of their knowledge, and how this affects specific actions. It is also important to take into account the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of Kazakh society, as they directly affect the nature of environmental awareness. Kazakhstan is distinguished by its ethnocultural diversity, differences in the level of development between regions, urbanization processes and uneven access to environmental knowledge and information. In these circumstances, students face many challenges and dilemmas related to the choice between traditional principles and a new habit model aimed at sustainable development. At the same time, issues of youth environmental awareness play an important role in the context of civil society formation. Young people can become active participants in environmental initiatives, participate in public control, and promote ideas of sustainable development through social networks and projects. However, this requires that young people have a well-formed ecological worldview, a sense of personal responsibility, and civic competencies. According to the results of an empirical study conducted within the framework of the international research project of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation "FES Youth Studies", environmental pollution and climate change are of great concern to 50.8% of Kazakhstani youth and, to a certain extent, 30.9%. Nevertheless, the majority of young people are not socially active (Volunteering or working for NGOs - 7.9%, refusing to buy any products for political or environmental reasons - 5.5%, not volunteering at all in various social projects - 70%). This indicates a significant gap between environmental principles and their implementation through concrete actions. The international context also demonstrates similar trends. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Programme, young people are seen as "the main driving force of change" in the fight against the climate crisis, but the degree of their participation directly depends on environmental awareness and social conditions. Research by the European Environment Agency notes that in order to form environmental awareness, it is necessary to introduce environmental education into the practice of education and upbringing - this principle is relevant in Kazakhstan. Scientific research conducted in Kazakhstan shows the fragmentation and limitations of environmental education programs, as well as insufficient attention in higher education institutions to the development of students' environmental culture. And foreign researchers emphasize that sustainable environmental growth is formed not only through knowledge, but also through participation in social experience and collective activities. Thus, the study of the ecological consciousness of students as a factor of social activity is of high scientific and practical importance. This will unlock the potential of youth as an active participant in socio-environmental processes, as well as identify priority areas of state, educational and public policy aimed at supporting sustainable development. The relevance of the research topic is due to the fact that, despite the obvious social and political potential of the environmental movement among young people, this area has not yet been sufficiently considered in modern Kazakh sociology. Taking into account the above, it becomes obvious the relevance of conducting a comprehensive sociological study, which makes it possible to determine not only the level and nature of youth environmental awareness, but also the mechanisms of its formation, to identify ways to transform environmental approaches into specific forms of social activity. Such research can not only contribute to the development of theory and practice, but also contribute to the formation of a fundamental civil custom in the context of modern environmental challenges. The object of the dissertation research – the influence of the ecological consciousness of the student youth of Kazakhstan on social activity. The subject of the dissertation research – the role of the ecological consciousness of students in the formation of social activity and factors in this process. The purpose of the dissertation research – to determine the content, structure and factors of the formation of ecological consciousness of the student youth of Kazakhstan, its role in the formation and implementation of social activity. The main objectives of the dissertation research are: - The study of the sociological foundations of ecological consciousness. - Identification of social factors influencing the formation of environmental awareness. - Analysis of methodological features of the study of environmental problems in Kazakhstan. - Sociological formulation of the concept of social activity. - Consideration of structural and resource factors influencing social activity. - The study of the links between environmental awareness and social activity. - Differentiation of the relationship between the environmental values of youth and the experience of social activity. - Study of students' attitudes towards environmental issues. - Differentiation of students' views on issues of public responsibility and environmental management. The hypothesis of the dissertation research: 1. Kazakhstani students were informed about the problems of environmental protection and were concerned about environmental problems in the country and the world. Nevertheless, their social activity in the environmental sphere is low when they switch to real activity. This can be attributed to the low level of general social activity among students. 2. Kazakhstani students believe that the impact of the socio-economic situation on the quality of life is greater than the environmental one. This vision shows that students tend to adopt rational habits rather than altruistic ones. 3. Kazakhstani students mostly assign the task of solving environmental problems to government agencies and environmental organizations, rather than paying due attention to the importance of civic responsibility to the environment. 4. Environmental organizations and movements in Kazakhstan are not very popular, therefore, this is also one of the factors of low environmental activity of young people. 5. Students have a low level of awareness about environmental protection measures in their region of residence. This is reflected in the low level of their participation in these events. 6. Despite the fact that Kazakhstani students get acquainted with information about environmental problems and the state of the environment on social networks, they do not share it on their pages. This indicates that their ecological awareness is still at a low level or the ecological culture in the country is still not developed to the proper level. 7. Environmental destruction is a consequence of spiritual and cultural the ideological crisis. The values of the consumer society do not meet the current requirements of the development of society, i.e. the formation of environmental awareness among students is determined not only by the state of improvement of the current environmental situation, but also by the conditions for the formation of a common worldview. 8. Kazakhstan is actively shaping environmental awareness among students, but environmental values are unstable. 9. The social activity of students in the field of environmental protection develops in conjunction with their environmental awareness. 10. The social activity of students in the field of ecology depends on the availability of institutional support, educational programs and positive role models. 11. Students who have access to environmental knowledge and participate in collective environmental initiatives demonstrate a high level of individual responsibility and willingness to participate in social practice. Theoretical and methodological basis of the dissertation research: - The concept of social ecology of the Chicago school (E.Burgess, R. Park). Residents of the city adapt their lives to certain "natural structures" of the city, perceive them as a given life. As a result of this adaptation, "natural zones" are formed where residents interact with their environment - nature, the organization of space, the administrative, political and socio-cultural infrastructure of the urban area. - The concept of "environmental communication " (N.Luhmann). The society is an open system. Environmental problems are factors that disrupt the balance of this system. However, there are factors that maintain balance in society and neutralize the influence of destructive external factors. The most important of these factors is social consciousness, and its constituent element is environmental consciousness. - The concept of a "Risk Society" (W. Beck). Social and environmental development are inextricably linked. In modern society, reproduction of products always carries "environmental risks". Social conditions contribute to the perception and understanding of objective environmental threats that can ensure or limit the growth of environmental awareness. Ecological consciousness consists of prerequisites of an ecological and social nature. - The idea of "Ecological consciousness is a post-materialistic value" (R. Inglehard). The basis for the development of post-materialistic values is material well-being. The relevance of the topic of environmental protection is due to the intensive formation of post-materialistic values in society that satisfy its basic material needs. Mass activity and the development of ecological awareness for the active solution of environmental problems are possible only on the basis of sustainable material well-being. - The idea of harmonious interaction between society and nature (A.N.Kochergin). Such interaction is possible only as a result of the spread of ecological awareness. Thus, a noosphere is formed, and the biosphere remains in good condition. The research methodology is based on the principles of complex, systemic, interdisciplinary communication and empirical verification. The method of sociological analysis involves the combination of quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative methods of data collection and processing (expert interview). Thus, the theoretical and methodological basis of the research allows us to consider the ecological consciousness of students as a multifaceted phenomenon consisting of cognitive, emotional and unusual components, and creates conditions for the discovery of mechanisms for its transformation into specific types of social activity. The dissertation research includes the following types of work: 1. Development of questionnaire tools and a guide for expert interviews. 2. Conducting a field stage to collect information for sociological research. 3. Verification of the correctness of the questionnaire up to 30%. 4. Data processing in the program using the SPSS 25 statistical package, the release of basic linear sections and tables. A sample collection of dissertation research. Survey: the selection volume is 1050 respondents. A selective set of dissertation studies by universities, colleges, and regions has been provided. The permissible statistical sampling error is ± 3.5. Geography of the dissertation research: universities, colleges located in Petropavlovsk, Semey, Atyrau, Turkestan and the cities of republican significance Astana (Nur-Sultan), Almaty, Shymkent. An online questionnaire was used as a research tool. The survey was conducted in Kazakh and Russian. The questionnaire consists of 26 basic and 8 socio-demographic questions (see appendix A). Expert interview: the selection volume is 10 experts related to ecology. The target group consists of industry leaders, specialists, managers and employees of local administrations and other structures, non-governmental organizations in the regions in accordance with the geography of the survey study. Scientific novelty of the dissertation work: 1. Conducting a comprehensive study in Kazakh sociological science, considering the ecological consciousness of students as a factor of social activity. This research was carried out taking into account socio-cultural, educational and institutional conditions. 2. The structural components of the ecological consciousness of the student youth (cognitive, emotional and unusual) are determined, the interrelation of the level of their civic participation in environmental activity is determined. 3. The mechanisms of social activity of environmental principles under the influence of educational programs, digital media and youth initiatives have been identified. 4. A sociological methodology has been developed to measure environmental awareness and social activity, which has been tested among Kazakhstani students. The theoretical value of the dissertation research: - Expanding the conceptual framework of the sociological approach to environmental awareness through a comprehensive analysis of environmental knowledge and experience of young people. - The development of scientific concepts of the connection between environmental awareness and social activity, that is, it will allow young people to look at the environmental experience from a new perspective as a subject of transformation. - Interdisciplinary refinement of theoretical methods for the study of student civic engagement in the environmental field. - Substantiation of the role of education, digital media and youth associations in shaping an ecological miracle based on responsibility, which will be part of civic identity. Practical value of the dissertation research: - Development and improvement of educational programs and courses on environmental education and sustainable development in Kazakhstani universities; - Formation of youth policy and environmental initiatives aimed at increasing the level of civic participation of students; - In the activities of non-governmental organizations and environmental movements implementing youth environmental projects and voluntary programs; - Conducts strategic planning and monitoring of programs for the development of a sustainable lifestyle among students at the regional and national levels; - Environmental education for young people is determined by the possibilities of using its results in the development of media platforms and digital tools. The data and conclusions obtained in the course of the study can be used as the basis for scientific research in the field of youth sociology, environmental sociology, social psychology and pedagogy, and can also be used in the practice of decision-making by government agencies, educational institutions and civil society institutions. The main scientific conclusions submitted for protection: 1. The ecological consciousness of the student youth of Kazakhstan is a multicomponent system consisting of knowledge, positions, motivation and experience, and an important factor contributing to the formation of civic and social activity. 2. There is a direct correlation between the level of environmental awareness of students and their initiatives aimed at protecting and preserving the environment, and their willingness to participate in volunteer activities. 3. Environmental awareness and social activity of students are formed under the influence of macrosocial (government policy, educational standards) and microsocial (media, family and its values, friends) factors. 4. For the effective development of environmental awareness among young people, it is necessary to introduce environmental awareness into the educational process, create conditions for students to participate in specific environmental projects and expand the possibilities of youth self-government. These findings point to the importance of developing youth environmental awareness as a factor contributing to active participation in social initiatives and solving urgent environmental problems. Research base. The dissertation was carried out at the Department of Sociology of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Approbation of research results. The main scientific results and conclusions of the dissertation have been presented in ten publications in domestic and international academic outlets, as well as in proceedings of international theoretical and practical conferences. These include three articles published in journals approved by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, six papers in international conference proceedings, and one articles indexed in the Scopus database. 1. National Policy and the Media in the Formation of Environmental Awareness among Students of Kazakhstan. Media Watch 11 (3) 428-438, 2020. DOI: 10.15655/mw/2020/v11i3/202929 2. Экoлoгиялық caнaны қaлыптacтыpудың әлeумeттанулық acпeктiлepi. Л.Н.Гумилев атындағы ЕҰУ ХАБАРШЫСЫ, Педагогика. Психология. Әлеуметтану сериясы, №4 (125)/2018. – 114-121 б. 3. «Чикаго мектебі» өкілдерінің əлеуметтік-экологиялық теориялары. Абай атындағы ҚазҰПУ ХАБАРШЫСЫ, «Әлеуметтану және саяси ғылымдар» сериясы, №4(64), – Алматы, 2018.– 113-121 б. 4. Экологиялық сананы зерттеудің заманауи теориялық тәсілдеріне шолу. Абай атындағы ҚазҰПУ ХАБАРШЫСЫ, «Әлеуметтану және саяси ғылымдар» сериясы, №2(70), – Алматы, 2020.– 191-199 б. 5. The role of the family in the process of forming the ecological consciousness of kazakhstan's youth. «Семья как фактор физического и социального здоровья населения» (V Гилязитдиновские чтения)V Халықаралық ғылыми-тәжірибелік конференция, Уфа, Башқортсан Республикасы, 17-18 мамыр 2018ж. 6. Қaзipгi cтудeнт жacтapдың экoлoгиялық caнacын қaлыптacтыpудың aлғышapттapы. «GLOBAL SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS 2018: CENTRAL ASIA» (ІІ том) атты ІІІ Халықаралық ғылыми-тәжірибелік конференция жинағы, Астана, 2018 ж. 7. Мechanism of influence of environmental consciousness of young people on the development of its social activities. Инновационные подходы в современной науке Сборник статей по материалам XXXV международной научно-практической конференции № 23(35), декабрь 2018 г. 8. Жастар арасындағы экологиялық сананы қалыптастырудың жолдары. SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: MODERN TIME, т. 3, вып. 3, Zenodo, 24 декабрь 2023 г., https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10429164 9. Экологиядағы тәжірибелік сұрақтарды шешуде экологиялық сананың рөлі. SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: MODERN TIME, т. 3, вып. 3, Zenodo, 23 декабрь 2023 г., https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10428239 10. Балалардың экологиялық мәдениетін қалыптастырудағы отбасының рөлі. SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: MODERN TIME, т. 3, вып. 3, Zenodo, 23 декабрь 2023 г., https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10428254 Structure of the dissertation. The structure of the dissertation corresponds to its objectives and research tasks and includes: normative references, from the definitions, an introduction, three chapters (each comprising three subsections), a conclusion, a list of references, and appendices.
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