An international event titled “Alla Ilchun – the Kazakh Woman on the Dior Runway and the Global Power of Multilingual Communication” was held at the International Engineering and Technological University (METU). Organized by the Department of International Cooperation together with the newly established student international community WING — “From METU to the World — One Community. Many Languages. Infinite Horizons,” the event celebrated the legacy of legendary Kazakh model Alla Ilchun, muse of Christian Dior, and became a vivid example of cultural diplomacy and multilingual dialogue.

Given the French roots of Dior’s fashion heritage, the organizers invited representatives of French diplomacy, education, and cultural institutions. Among the honored guests were:

 — Monsieur François Monéger, Executive Director of Alliance Française d`Almaty, Coordinator of the AF network in Central Asia, Representative of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France;

— Madame Agnès Bousset, Director of the French side of the Sorbonne-Kazakhstan Institute; Attaché for International Relations of the Embassy of France in Kazakhstan;
— Gulnara Doskhozhayevna Aitzhanova, Associate Professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Academician of MAIN; an outstanding Francophone educator;
— Almash Smailovna Seydikenova, Associate Professor at the University of Poitiers (France), who joined the event via Zoom from France.. Their participation emphasized the international importance of the event and the relevance of French–Kazakh cultural cooperation.

The event was opened by METU Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations, Assel Abdildaeva, who highlighted the significance of Alla Ilchun’s story and the role of multilingualism in the modern world. Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Karlygash Shokhaeva, officially announced the creation of METU’s new international student community WING, which already unites students from 15 countries and became the main organizer and ideological driver of the event. The WING motto — “One Community. Many Languages. Infinite Horizons.” — reflects METU’s mission as a globally oriented university. WING students developed the full concept of the event, hosted the program in several languages, prepared a quiz, creative performances, and an international pledge, demonstrating their strong intercultural and linguistic competencies.

The event was conducted in Kazakh, Russian, English, French, and Arabic, with additional elements in Chinese and Korean spoken by METU students. This multilingual format clearly showcased the linguistic diversity of the university. Honored guests highly praised the professionalism and language proficiency of the students: François Monéger commended their confidence and expressed readiness to support the development of French language initiatives at METU, while Madame Bousset emphasized the outstanding foreign language skills of METU students and offered assistance in establishing a partnership with ECAM Lyon. Almash Seydikenova noted that such initiatives shape a new multilingual generation.

The event demonstrated that METU students are already creating their own international cultural space, connecting countries, languages, and ideas. The new WING community is becoming the university’s key international hallmark, strengthening METU’s global profile and developing students’ international competencies. METU confirms its status as a university where global initiatives are born, and WING stands as its leading international wing.