After the collapse of the USSR, Central Asian countries sought new international partnerships, and Turkey, sharing historical and cultural ties with Turkic-speaking nations, took an active role in fostering cooperation. Since the early 1990s, Turkey has initiated cultural exchanges, provided educational grants, and developed ties at the level of Turkic summits. One of the key areas of cooperation has been education, with Turkey investing in the establishment of schools, universities, and academic exchange programs. The Kazakh Turkish High Schools (KTL) and Ahmet Yassawi University in Turkistan became prominent examples of this collaboration. Additionally, Turkey has played a crucial role in promoting cultural diplomacy through media, literature, and festivals. Despite some political and economic challenges, Turkey has maintained strong ties with Kazakhstan, leveraging soft power strategies. A SWOT analysis of this cooperation highlights strengths such as historical ties and financial support, weaknesses like imbalanced student mobility, opportunities for digital education and joint research, and threats including geopolitical risks and financial constraints.
Kazakhstan, Turkey, education, culture, cooperation, soft power, historical ties, student mobility, Turkic world, cultural diplomacy.