Myrzatai Zholdasbekov, Head of the Department of Turkic Studies of the International Relations Faculty of L.N. Gumilyev Eurasian National University.
Year and place of birth: 27 May in 1937, Talas region of Zhambyl oblast.
Academic degree, academic title, special title: Doctor of Philology (1993), Honorary Professor of I. Zhansugurov Zhetisu State University (1994); Honorary Professor of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (1995) Member of the High Schools International Academy of Science (Moscow, Russia, 2000); Member of Sh. Aitmatov International Academy (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 2000); Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1993 )
Awards of the Republic of Kazakhstan and terms of awarding: «Friendship of Peoples» (1986), «Kurmet» (1996), «Parasat» (2005), 3rd degree «Barys» (2011), І degree «Barys» (2017); Holder of State Prize in the field of Literature and Arts (2020), Holder of «Кultegin» Prize (2004), Holder of the First President’s Prize in Culture (2017); Golden Medal of «Assembly of People of Kazakhstan» (2015); «Аstana» Medal (1996); «10th Anniversary of the Republic of Kazakhstan» (2000); «10th Anniversary of the Consitution of the Repuvlic of Kazakhstan» (2005); «10th Anniversary of the Parlament of the Republic of Kazakhstan» (2006); «20th Anniversary of Independence of Kazakhstan» (2011); «20th Anniversary of Maslihat House of Parliament of RK (2014) and other medals and orders; «Honored Worker of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan» (2007); «Honorary Freedom of Zambyl Region» (2003 ж.); «Honorary Freedom of Almaty» (2016); «Honorary Freedom of Nur-Sultan» (2019), etc.
1. Work experience: 61 years
2. Work experience in the field of science: 51 years
3. Work experience in this working place: 21 years
4. Characteristics that indicate a specific special merit of the awardee:
Famous turkologist, statesman, diplomat Myrzatai Zholdasbekov graduated from the Faculty of Philology of S. M. Kirov Kazakh State University in 1960. M. Zholdasbekov was a lecturer, senior lecturer, Associate Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Philology of S. M. Kirov KazSU (1960-1977).); M. Zholdasbekov was a teacher, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Philology of S. M. Kirov Kazgu (1960-1977).); Held positions: Rector of Taldykorgan Pedagogical Institute (1977-1987.); Minister of Education of the Kazakh SSR, First Deputy Minister (1987-1988); Head of the Ideology Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan (1988-1990).); Deputy Prime Minister of the Kazakh SSR; Advisor to the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1991-1993); Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Iran (1993-1997); Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1997-2000).); Rector of L. N. Gumilyov ENU (2000-2004); Director of the Research Center for Humanitarian Studies “Eurasia” (2004-2006.); Director of the Presidential Cultural Center (2006-2011.). Since 2010, he has been the head of the Department of Turkic Studies.
M. Zholdasbekov made a great contribution to the formation of the original traditions of L. N. Gumilyov ENU and the transformation of the newly founded university into a fundamental educational institution. M. Zholdasbekov, who held high positions and took part in the foundation of a sovereign country, is a well-known scientist who made a significant contribution to the development of Turkic Studies.
Research area: history of written literature of the Turkic peoples, Turkic manuscripts, Turkic folklore, poetry of zhyrau and Kazakh aitys traditions. He is the author of many monographs and scientific and educational books, scientific articles in this field. Among them are “Pieces of ancient literature” (1967), “Kultegin” (1968), “Asyl Arnar” (1986, 1990), “Zhuz zhyl zhyrlagan zhurek” (1992), “The Complete Atlas of Orkhon Written Manuscripts (2005. Co-auth. K. Sartkozhauly), “Atlas of the Western Turkic Kaganate” (2013), “Selected works” in 7 volumes (2012); “Literature of the Great Steppe” (2019), “Book of Korkyt Ata” (2019), etc. There are valuable studies that scientifically and theoretically differentiate the achievements of Turkic civilization and literature of the Great Steppe. The resaerch works of the scientist, widely known in worldwide Turkic studies and have been translated into several foreign languages.
An experienced scientist and lecturer actively participates in the training of future Turkologists, gives lectures on the courses “Written literature of the Turkic peoples”, “Problems of studying Turkic written records”. Under the supervision of M. Zholdasbekov, 3 doctoral students successfully defended their dissertations in the specialty 6D021200 – Turkology, received a PhD degree, and 3 doctoral students are supervised.
M. Zholdasbekov is the Chairman of the Dissertation Council of the L. N. Gumilyov ENU of the Ministry of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the specialty “6D021200 – Turkology” in personnel training “8D023 – Languages and Literature" (2015-2018 head of the project management group in the field of Personnel Training “Humanities (Turkology)” of the RMC of the UMO of the Ministry of education and science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (since 2017).
M. Zholdasbekov is active in society, a member of state commissions aimed at the effective implementation of several important state programs in the country, regularly publishes articles and gives interviews in the mass media on topical issues of public life. M. Zholdasbekov is an experienced organizer, greatly respected by his colleagues and students.