France expressed its interest in continuing the INALCO program on a long-term basis.

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to France Gulsara Arystankulova held a meeting with the Vice-President of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilisations (INALCO) Delphine Allès.

The parties also placed particular emphasis on the programme’s linguistic and academic dimensions. INALCO has a longstanding tradition of studying the history and civilisation of Kazakhstan. The programme also provided support for a lecturer to ensure continuity in the teaching of the Kazakh language.

G.Arystankulova stressed that, while gaining a deeper understanding of the politics and history of Kazakhstan and Central Asia is important, one of the Kazakh side’s key objectives is to develop the sustained and systematic teaching of Kazakh at INALCO as an academic language and to attract more students to study it.

“A deep understanding of Kazakhstan begins with knowledge of its language. We therefore want students not only to discover our country, but also to study Kazakh systematically and use it in their academic and professional work,” the Ambassador said.

INALCO and its partners expressed their interest in continuing the programme on a long-term basis and further developing academic and language internships in Kazakhstan.

The INALCO programme combines an academic and language internship in Kazakhstan with a Spring School on international relations. Twenty-five students applied to take part in the first Spring School, and 15 were selected. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, they studied the region’s geopolitics, economy, energy sector and social dynamics, and met with experts and diplomats.