Serik Seidumanov was appointed to the position of Director of the RGP Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (IFPR) in January 2021 (https://www.inform.kz/ru/serik-seydumanov-naznachen-direktorom-instituta-filosofii-politologii-i-religiovedeniya_a3755179). Since June 2021, due to the transformation of the Institute’s status from RSE to RSE on PVC, he has been General Director of IFPR.

For four years, the largest state scientific research institute in the country was led by a well-known Kazakhstani scholar, sociologist, and public figure.

Among the key achievements in our Institute’s work under the leadership of Dr. Seidumanov, it is worth noting:

Development and scaling of scientific activity

Intensive growth and transformation of the Institute. The Institute’s budget has nearly tripled, which provided a major impetus for expanding research activities and strengthening scientific potential. Employee salaries have increased significantly, which became an important support for researchers and served as an additional incentive for attracting highly qualified personnel. Special attention was paid to attracting talented specialists: the total number of employees increased, thanks to the share of young scholars reaching 50%. The Institute became a platform for training a new wave of Kazakhstani researchers who gained access to grants, international internships, and favorable mortgage conditions.

Introduction of advanced technologies

Digital technologies have begun to be actively introduced into scientific research. A Center for Digital Social Sciences was established, focused on the use of Big Data, Data Mining, and artificial intelligence methods in the analysis of social processes.

An important milestone in IFPR’s activities was the implementation by the Institute, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, of a Megaproject involving the country’s leading universities, opening new prospects for Kazakhstani social scientists. For the first time in the history of social and humanitarian sciences in Kazakhstan, a comprehensive, large-scale study of the digital transformation of society and its impact on social, cultural, and political processes is being conducted.

A particular source of pride for the Institute was obtaining the first three foreign patents in the history of domestic humanitarian science. They secured our Institute’s innovative developments, demonstrating the high level of competitiveness of domestic social and humanitarian science.

Academic leadership

More than 300 scientific events were held, and hundreds of articles were published, 65 of which appeared in WOS and Scopus editions. 50 monographs and collected works were published. More than 150 analytical materials were submitted to government bodies, indicating the high scientific and practical significance of the Institute’s research.

Separately, it is worth noting the contribution to the development of scientific and educational integration. Today, more than 50% of the Institute’s employees are involved in teaching at the country’s leading universities, and 266 master’s and doctoral students have completed internships at the Institute. Thanks to this, a continuity of knowledge was established, creating a solid foundation for training scientific personnel.

Development of scientific communities

The Institute became the organizer of major scientific events, firmly establishing its role as a leading research center in Kazakhstan and the region. The VIII Congress of Sociologists of Kazakhstan, the Congress of Sociologists of Turkic-speaking Countries, and the IV Kazakhstani Philosophical Congress were successfully held. These large-scale events brought together leading scholars and experts, creating a unique platform for discussing the key challenges of modern society. They not only strengthened scientific ties between research centers in different countries but also became a catalyst for new theoretical and applied directions in the humanities.

The IFPR discussion club became a key intellectual center, earning a reputation as Kazakhstan’s leading expert platform. The most pressing and current issues of the country’s domestic and foreign policy are discussed there, with the participation of leading experts and representatives of government and public structures, creating a bridge between science and practical policy.

International cooperation

The Institute’s high level of scientific authority was confirmed on the international stage: in 2024, it headed one of the key sections of the XXV World Congress of Philosophy in Rome, which served as recognition of the Institute’s scholarly contribution to global humanities.

International cooperation reached a new level: agreements were signed with 50 leading foreign research centers, and participation in the “One Belt – One Road” initiative enabled Kazakhstani science to become integrated into the global research process.

A landmark event was the preparation and presentation of the collective monograph A Just Kazakhstan and the Chinese Dream: An Analysis of the Opportunities and Prospects of the Modern Development Strategy, held in Beijing with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the PRC. This project not only became a vivid example of international cooperation in the field of social and humanitarian research but also demonstrated the importance of scientific diplomacy in the development of strategic partnerships.

These achievements convincingly prove that the Institute is setting new standards in scientific and analytical work, strengthening Kazakhstan’s position on the global scientific map.

Science and society

Today, the Institute is not only advancing in the academic sphere but also actively engaging with a broad audience. A system of scientific and analytical blogging has been created, significantly strengthening the Institute’s presence in the media space. Over the past four years, more than six thousand expert commentaries and articles have been published in the mass media, aimed at conveying important scientific and analytical ideas.

Over 200 outreach meetings have been held with the population in Almaty and the regions, providing unique venues for dialogue between scholars and society. Thanks to these initiatives, the Institute is not only a leader in scientific and analytical discourse but also proves that science must be accessible, relevant, and in demand, playing a key role in shaping Kazakhstan’s information agenda and public opinion.

We are proud that under the leadership of Dr. Seidumanov, the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies has significantly strengthened its reputation as one of the key scientific centers of Kazakhstan in the field of social and humanitarian sciences, as well as an authoritative expert platform on significant issues of the development of Kazakhstani society. His strategic thinking, foresight, organizational talent, and dedication were focused on conducting grant-based research and targeted scientific programs with maximum practical returns.

We express our deep and sincere gratitude for all the years of productive work, for leadership, motivation, inspiration, support, humanity, and team spirit.

We wish new successes, scientific projects, and endeavors for the benefit of our beloved homeland, the Republic of Kazakhstan, and for the development of Kazakhstani science.

COLLECTIVE

at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies

of the Committee of Science

of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education

of the Republic of Kazakhstan