Essay Competition Held as Part of the “Quarter of History” Concludes

As part of the Quarter of History creative initiative, 80 third-year students from the Kazakh-language group wrote essays titled “My Religious Life” for the courses Sociology of Religion and Religion and Its Legal Regulation in Contemporary Kazakhstan.

After evaluating the content and originality of the students’ work, the jury selected the 19 best essays. The authors of the shortlisted entries then continued to compete in the final round.

The finalists were offered five topics:

1.     Genealogy as the Foundation of a Nation.

2.     Music and Religion.

3.     Art and Religion: A Person of Many Talents.

4.     Science and Religion.

5.     Tradition and Religion.

Following a week of preparation, “Tradition and Religion” was selected by drawing lots as the topic of the final round. The 19 finalists wrote essays on this topic, demonstrating their critical thinking skills and creative approaches.

The final entries were evaluated by a jury chaired by Zhambyl Yelemesuly Kuzembayev, Professor at the Department of Kazakh and Russian Philology and History at Astana International University. Following the evaluation, the three best entries were selected.

The jury also recognised authors whose essays were distinguished by independent thinking and creative exploration.

Authors of the best essays:

1.     Sultan Ryskulbek

2.     Aiym Omirbek

3.     Aslan Yeleusiz

4.     Yenlik Nauryzbayeva

5.     Yerbolat Zhumamurad

Competition winners:

• 1st place – Myrzagali Simbayev
• 2nd place – Abduali Raiys
• 3rd place – Alina Bakytzhanova

The competition encouraged students to examine the relationship between religion and tradition from an academic perspective and contributed to the development of historical and cultural values.