In celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Engineering and Technological University hosted an educational lecture-meeting entitled “Independence as the Foundation of the Eternal Nation.” The guest speaker was Shamek Bayanuly Tileubaev, Deputy Director General for Research at the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Candidate of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor. The event took place on 11 December and attracted strong interest among students. During the lecture, the speaker provided a comprehensive analysis of the complex and pivotal historical stages of Kazakhstan’s path to independence, with particular attention to the formation and revival of national consciousness under colonial rule. Special emphasis was placed on the historical significance of the Alash Movement in the early twentieth century. Drawing on concrete historical evidence, the lecturer examined the prerequisites for the establishment of the Alash Party, the content of its political programme, the ideas of national statehood, and the efforts to establish the Alash Autonomy.

The lecture also offered an in-depth discussion of the lives and socio-political activities of prominent Alash intellectuals, including Alikhan Bokeikhanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, Mirzhakyp Dulatov, and Mustafa Shokay. Their role in uniting the nation, guiding Kazakh society toward a civilisational path of development, and promoting education and science as key instruments of national renewal was highlighted as highly relevant for contemporary independent Kazakhstan. The lecturer demonstrated the continuity between the Alash leaders’ views on the press, education, language policy, and the construction of a rule-of-law state and today’s state ideology. Furthermore, it was emphasised that independence is not limited to political sovereignty alone, but also encompasses the preservation of historical memory, the promotion of national values, and the strengthening of civic responsibility. In this context, issues of patriotic education, fostering love for the homeland through historical knowledge, and encouraging a responsible attitude toward the country’s future were widely discussed.

Shamek Bayanuly Tileubaev called on students to perceive the Alash legacy not merely as a memory of the past, but as a spiritual guide shaping contemporary public consciousness. The lecture-meeting was conducted in an interactive format and developed into a meaningful discussion with active student participation. The event made a significant contribution to deepening historical awareness among young people, promoting a scholarly understanding of the values of independence, and strengthening comprehension of the ideological foundations of national statehood.

This lecture-meeting became one of the most important academic and educational events held in celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and occupied a special place in the university’s educational and civic activities. Such meaningful encounters undoubtedly foster students’ interest in the country’s history and contribute to the revival of national identity.