Research Trip to Mongolia: Studying the Cultural Heritage of the Kazakh Diaspora

From July 24 to 29, 2026, a research mission to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, was organized as part of the research project “Studying the Social Role of Folk Art in Shaping Contemporary National Identity: Transformation and Reconstruction of Spiritual Culture.”

The expedition was attended by the project leader, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Tengesh Serikbayevna Kalenova; the project’s chief research fellow, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Gauhar Satybaldykyzy Abdrakhmanova; and the project’s leading research fellow, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Gulden Kanatovna Aikynbayeva.

The main objective of the research mission was to study the contemporary socio-cultural situation of the Kazakh diaspora in Mongolia, traditional culture and folk art, as well as practices for preserving national craft heritage and transmitting it to younger generations using ethnographic research methods.

During the mission, a number of meetings were held with residents of Ulaanbaatar and Nalaikh District, and interviews were conducted on folk art, traditional culture, national values, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The ethnographic research resulted in the collection of valuable materials on the cultural traditions of the Kazakh diaspora in Mongolia, its heritage in the field of folk crafts, practices of preserving national values within family and community settings, and the ways in which historical and cultural heritage is transmitted from one generation to another.

As part of the expedition, with the support of the charitable organization “Oyuuny Orchin,” the research team visited the private yurt museum of Ibrakhim Ata and Saule Tukibaykyzy, established with the aim of promoting and preserving national art. At the museum, the researchers examined traditional decorative and applied art objects and collected information about their history, production techniques, practical uses in everyday life, and cultural and historical significance.

Saule Tukibaykyzy is a craftswoman who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of traditional Kazakh crafts and their transmission to younger generations. The handicrafts displayed in the yurt museum represent important ethnographic sources reflecting the lifestyle, aesthetic values, worldview, and traditional culture of the Kazakh people.

During the expedition, the project participants conducted interviews with Ibrakhim Ata and Saule Tukibaykyzy, gathering valuable information about the acquisition and transmission of national craft skills, approaches to preserving traditional art, family values, and cultural continuity. Particular attention was paid to the history of the craft objects, their production techniques, their practical use in everyday life, and their place in the contemporary cultural environment.

As part of the research mission, the project participants visited the National Library of Mongolia – Монгол Улсын Үндэсний номын сан. During the visit, they examined scholarly, historical, and educational materials held in the library’s collections and conducted research into sources relevant to the project.

The National Library of Mongolia is one of the country’s major institutions of national importance and a significant research center. The library plays an important role in preserving Mongolia’s written and cultural heritage, collecting and systematizing historical and scholarly materials, and providing researchers with the necessary information resources.

As part of the library visit, a working meeting was held with Batbayar Nyamdorj, a specialist in international relations. During the meeting, the project participants presented the main objectives and research areas of the project and exchanged views on issues related to the study of the historical and cultural heritage of the Kazakh diaspora in Mongolia. The meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss prospects for developing academic and cultural cooperation and possibilities for the effective use of archival and library sources in research.

The expedition program also included a visit to the National Museum of Chinggis Khaan. The participants explored historical and cultural exhibits dedicated to the formation and development of the civilization of the Great Steppe, the history of the Mongol Empire, and the era of Chinggis Khaan.

Overall, the research mission employed ethnographic methods to examine the contemporary socio-cultural situation of the Kazakh community in Mongolia, its way of life, practices of preserving and revitalizing traditions, educational processes, cultural and educational activities, and various ethnocultural initiatives.

The findings of the study provide a scholarly basis for identifying the social role of folk art in the formation and preservation of ethnocultural identity, examining the transformation and continuity of traditional culture in contemporary society, and systematically analyzing the experience of preserving the cultural heritage of the Kazakh diaspora abroad.