by Nazgul Baigabatova and Aliya Kashaganova, Zhetysu University
For over a decade, Zhetysu University, named after I. Zhansugurov in Kazakhstan, has maintained a collaborative relationship with the world-leading University of Zurich in Switzerland. Throughout this period, they have engaged in joint research, conferences, and seminars, culminating in the conduct of a summer school in Taldykorgan in 2022. During these sessions, Swiss students received instruction in the Kazakh language and conducted field research in social and cultural anthropology. This collaboration also led to the creation of a shared research hub, the Eurasian Studies Center, hosted at Zhetysu University.
The partnership between these universities was invigorated by their participation in the international and multi-disciplinary project Central Asian Law: Legal Cultures and Business Environments in Central Asia. Funded by the European Commission within the Horizon framework, this endeavor injected fresh momentum into the growth of their bilateral collaboration, opening up novel avenues for cooperation. Within the scope of the CAL Project, our research secondment took place in March and April of 2023 at the Department of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies at the University of Zurich.
Throughout this project, we have improved our professional expertise in legal culture, governance, and the business environment in Central Asia. Our stay at the University of Zurich involved research-focused activities such as utilizing library resources and conducting writing work and the invaluable opportunity to interact with department members and visiting scholars who were present during sabbaticals or other projects. The extensive library holdings encompassing regional and diverse subject matters greatly enriched our research. Collaborative consultations with our counterparts in the department, namely Professor Dr. Peter Finke, Dr. Werner Hertzog, and Dr. Meltem Sancak played a pivotal role in refining our paper’s structure, outline, and composition. These interactions bolstered the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of our work.
Over two months, we were privileged to partake in seminars and a series of weekly colloquiums hosted by the department. One such event was the workshop titled “Ethnography, Economy, and Ecology of Pastoralism in Kazakhstan,” co-organized by Dr. Russell Zanca, a professor of anthropology at Northeastern Illinois University, who also holds a visiting professorship at the Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies at the University of Chicago. Additionally, we participated in Ph.D. public defenses and lectures within the department and at the University.
Being integral members of this venture, representing Zhetysu University named after I. Zhansugurov in Kazakhstan, has proven immensely advantageous for our professional advancement. Our two-month stay at the University of Zurich yielded valuable experiences, fortified our partnerships, and introduced novel perspectives and concepts within evolving paradigms. Additionally, we took advantage of weekends to delve into the history and culture of Switzerland, a country renowned for its beauty and prosperity.
