A Meeting Held on «Choice: Profession and Opportunities, Career or Family»

On October 15, 2026, the Department of Practical Kazakh Language hosted an informative and educational session titled «Choice: Profession and Opportunities, Career or Family».

Literary critic, scholar, translator, and PhD holder Zhanbota Karipbai was invited as a guest speaker. The event was attended by the Head of the Department of Practical Kazakh Language, Candidate of Philological Sciences, Professor Kuandyk Kulmanov, Candidates of Philological Sciences and Associate Professors Gulbaira Otelbai and Altynai Ashenova, as well as first-year students from the Russian department of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, majoring in Translation Studies, Chinese Language, Tourism, and Architecture.

Kuandyk Sandibekuly opened the event and introduced the guest. Aligning with the theme of the session, the meeting began with an overview of Zhanbota Tasbolatuly’s educational and professional path. Having graduated from a Russian-medium school and earned a degree in economics taught in Russian, he worked in business and economics. At the age of 38, he enrolled in his dream program—a Master's degree in Kazakh Literature. He later completed a PhD in the same field. Today, he is an experienced literature lecturer, a renowned scholar fluent in both Kazakh and Russian, and a professional translator who is currently expanding his skills in English.

Ramina Kabdolla, a student from group Arch-14, delivered a presentation titled «Choice» providing an overview of key concepts such as profession, opportunities, career, and personal abilities. Following her presentation, the floor was given to the guest speaker. Zhanbota Tasbolatuly discussed the importance of making the right career choice, emphasizing the pivotal role of family support. He shared profound insights on relying on one's genuine desires when making decisions, as well as cultivating personal creative potential and talents. The speaker noted that despite completing his education in Russian, he has mastered his native language and actively works in translation. He also highlighted the timeless value of reading, stressing how books help build clear, eloquent, and grammatically correct speech in one’s native tongue.

During the event, students Azhar Manas (Chinese Language/CL-14), Dilnaz Myrzabek (Chinese Language/CL-14), and Charos Karimova (Translation Studies/TS-12) addressed questions to the guest, and the conversation continued in a dialogue format, covering the following topics::

How old were you when you decided to pursue your second field of study?

What factors prompted or influenced your selection of this profession?

Did you practice in the discipline of your primary degree?

Did you experience any apprehension regarding your transition into a new career field?

What challenges currently exist in authoring scholarly publications in the Kazakh language?

How did your family react to your professional transition?

In certain families, women holding higher education degrees restrict their activity strictly to household management. What is your position on this issue?

Do you offer guidance to your children concerning their professional trajectories?

Do you possess other artistic abilities, creative talents, or personal pursuits?

What guidance would you offer to young individuals who are considering a career change?

In responding to these inquiries, PhD Zhanbota Karipbai reflected on key milestones from his life story. He stressed to the audience that a choice made deliberately or guided by genuine passion – one that yields personal and intellectual development – is neither late nor misguided, and will ultimately align an individual with their true calling.