ENU Silver University: it's never too late to study

About 1,500 students of the ENU’s Silver University obtain new knowledge and skills in 53 training courses. Since 2021, The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University has been implementing course programs for the creative and professional development of older people within the framework of the Silver University on the basis of the Institute of Continuing Education (hereinafter ICE). 

At the stage of the creation of the Silver University, more than 2,000 applications were submitted, of which:

in the 2021-2022 academic year, 300 people completed 8 courses.;

in the 2022-2023 academic year – 295 people in 10 courses;

in the 2023-2024 academic year – 507 people in 23 courses;

In the first half of 2025, there were 372 students in 12 courses.

Thus, during their time at the Silver University, 1,474 students have completed and continue to study in 53 courses aimed at preserving people’s social and intellectual activity.

Classes are held in various areas, including: foreign language for communication and travel; digital technologies; fundamentals of legal literacy; financial literacy; age psychology; history, cultural studies and art studies; personal development and others.

The Linguistic Course for Travel and Tourism in English is in high demand, which was attended by more than 200 people, 48 of them in the reporting period. Every year, 4 teachers of the Faculty of Philology conduct classes in four groups according to the level of knowledge: beginner and advanced, as well as with the organization of training in Kazakh and Russian. This academic year, teachers Farida Ospanova, Aizhan Baltynova, Gulnaz Musabayeva, Oksana Zagorulya introduced students to regular phrases and sentences when meeting strangers, being at a train station, store, restaurant, hotel, paperwork when crossing the border, provided the necessary vocabulary for making decisions in emergency situations, etc. Madeni Asatova, a student, notes: "We, pensioners, were provided with good conditions for classes, which were conducted strictly according to schedule, step by step we became more confident and could talk about ourselves, hobbies, travels, even if we don’t speak English perfectly, but we got excited."

Upon completion of the course “Linguistic Courses for Travel and Tourism”, students strive to consolidate their theoretical knowledge with practical communication skills with a native speaker. For the second year, graduates of the course have been communicating with a native speaker. This year, Mamyr Altaibek, a 2nd-year graduate student, became a volunteer at the Speaking club. Listener Sholpan Kazkenova was elected as head of the Speaking Club group. Each meeting with a native speaker contributed to better pronunciation and the development of oral perception skills.

Knowing a foreign language gives a traveler many advantages, because in the process of communication, you can resolve any difficult situation and feel confident and comfortable communicating with English-speaking tourists.

This year, for the first time, an Arabic Language Course was conducted jointly with the Faculty of Journalism and Social Sciences. Lecturer Balzhan Kalemshariv introduced the audience to the basics of Arabic grammar, reading and writing letters, pronunciation rules, as well as useful phrases that can be useful when traveling through Arab countries. Special attention was paid to mastering the basic knowledge necessary to read the Holy Quran in the original. The course participants shared their impressions. Gulnar Tulebayeva: "We are very grateful to the teacher Balzhan Kalemshariv. Personally, I knew absolutely nothing about the Arabic language, but thanks to Balzhan, I gained knowledge that, of course, I have to hone on my own. She opened the door to the Arab world for us.”

Dana Uatayeva: "We thank ENU’s leadership for the opportunity for the older generation to continue their studies, learn new things and learn throughout their lives. I would like to wish the continuation of the Arabic language course!"

A total of 25 people took the Arabic language course.

During the course “Public Speaking”, lecturer Raushan Imanzhussip shared with the Silver University students information on historical and cultural ties, the peculiarities of the development of public speaking skills. The audience learned about the types of oratorical initiation (arnau), oratorical reflection (tolgau), and the structure of oratorical folk sayings.

During the training, 10 students learned how to express their thoughts correctly, hold the audience's attention, influence their emotions, and convey information so that it is remembered and understood.

During the course of the practical Kazakh language course, 24 students got acquainted with the history, basic rules, laws and methods of learning the Kazakh language, and also learned how to apply elements of oral folk art (folklore) in speech, consolidating theoretical knowledge in practice. Feedback from participant Bagzhamal Kaliyeva:

"We have successfully completed the practical course "Kazakh for Everyone". Many thanks to lecturer Raushan Imanzhusip. We sincerely thank the specialists of the Institute of Continuing Education for their organization, support and motivation. The courses were very informative and useful!"

The course "Culture and Civilization in Globalization Processes" for older students of the Silver University was devoted to key issues related to globalization, post-globalization and their impact on the development of culture and civilization. Lecturer Raushan Imanzhussip, author of the Language and Culture project, spoke about modern and promising globalization processes, introduced the economic and financial aspects of global interaction, as well as cultural factors that determine the development of civilizations. Special attention was paid to the preservation of national values and cultural identity in the context of increasing global interdependence.

10 students actively participated in the discussions, asked questions and shared their own thoughts, which turned the course into a real dialogue of generations and cultural worldviews.

Conducting such courses not only broadens the horizons of the participants, but also contributes to the formation of critical thinking, strengthening intercultural understanding and supporting the educational activity of older people.

The course “Media Literacy” for the Silver University students has become very popular, which has contributed to the development of critical thinking and media competencies.

During the course, 36 participants studied:

methods of information reliability analysis and assessment;

features of various media platforms, their goals and target audience;

principles of effective consumption of media content in Kazakh and Russian languages.

Special attention was paid to practical skills in working with media materials and countering disinformation.

Feedback from listeners confirms the relevance of the topic.

Kenzhekul Alimova expressed gratitude to lecturer Amangeldy Shurentayev:

“He taught us how to choose, analyze and communicate information in Kazakh. Now we know and know how to present Kazakh-language material beautifully and competently.”

Bibizhamal Sultanova noted:

“I ask you to continue the course! This is a very necessary and relevant direction.”

It was interesting to take a course in Social Networks at the Silver University. Classes in Kazakh were conducted by lecturer Gulmira Ashirbekova, who introduced 24 students to the specifics of working in social networks, shared her knowledge on content development and planning. Special attention was paid to the issues of personal brand formation, the psychological impact of social networks and ethics of behavior in the online space.

The students of the course took the acquired knowledge with interest. Here is how Kenzhekul Alimova commented on the course:

"I am surprised and passionate about the course "Social networks". Lecturer Gulmira Ashirbekova knows how to calmly, simply and easily explain the topic of classes. We made a lot of discoveries, and I realized how wide the universe is and how much we still have to learn. Thanks to the lecturers for their hard work and knowledge, which they share with us. I am grateful to the specialists of the Institute of Continuing Education for organizing such courses."

The course has become a vivid example of successful intergenerational interaction, the professionalism of the teachers and the desire for continuous development.

Modern technologies and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing the familiar reality. Their effective use requires not only technical skills, but also adaptability, critical thinking, and an understanding of the ethical aspects of the digital environment. In the near future, the ability to learn and implement AI technologies will become an important element of a successful professional and personal life. 36 Silver University students took the course "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Literacy: Tools of a New Era" with interest.

During the training, Lazzat Kusepova, Senior Lecturer of the Artificial Intelligence Technology Department, introduced the students to a wide range of knowledge and skills necessary for confident and informed participation in the digital society.

Gulum Omarova, a student, noted:

"The course has become an important step in the formation of digital culture and the development of AI competencies among the older generation. I liked the course. We want something else just as interesting and informative!"

Akylbubi Balbayeva also shared her impression.:

"We thank ENU’s leadership for organizing the training at the Silver University. The courses are conducted on the most popular topics. I would like to continue the Artificial Intelligence course, if there is such an opportunity."

In 2024, the Silver Club was established at the Silver University, which hosts briefings on various topics, events in collaboration with public organizations, and longevity centers. One of these events was the exhibition of the famous collector Kairbek Ramazanov, who devoted 55 years of his life to collecting more than 24,000 different badges, orders and medals. In 2025, a personal exhibition was held by Vladimir Pelch, a student of the Silver University, who is interested in studying the flora and fauna of the Paleozoic period in the territory of the Akmola (Tselinograd) region. The items he collected were presented at the exhibition as part of ENU Family Day and aroused much of visitors’ interest. In 2024, following the results of the Speech Technique course, the students joined the Speech Genre Club of The L.N. Gumilyov Museum.

The club operates on an ongoing basis, virtual communication is conducted daily, where everyone expresses their opinion and information is exchanged. The head of the club is Symbat Akhmetova.

The life of the Silver University is constantly evolving, new courses are appearing.  A special feature of the Silver University is that students with practical and life experience offer their author’s programs on topics in demand by the older generation.

In order to improve the work of the Silver University, work is underway jointly with the university faculties. The training is provided free of charge. At the end of the course, students have the opportunity to download a certificate from the Smart ENU platform.

The ENU Institute of Continuing Education is constantly searching for new ways and methods to attract older people to the Silver University 50+. The popularization of the Silver University is carried out in the media, social networks, and the participation of listeners in television programs. The students themselves bring their friends and family, involving them in the ranks of the Silver University. During the training process, students continue to hone their skills and improve their knowledge at various events and meetings, excursions conducted throughout the calendar year.