Autobiography

I, Ainura Durbelinovna Kurmanalieva, was born on August 12, 1976, in Kordai district, Zhambyl region, Republic of Kazakhstan. Nationality – Kazakh. Citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1993, I entered Al-Farabi Kazakh State National University and graduated in 1998 with a degree in Oriental Studies, qualifying as an Orientalist-Philologist, Teacher of Arabic Language and Literature, and Translator-Referent. I am fluent in Russian and Arabic, have IELTS 6.0 in English, and can read French using a dictionary. In 2009, I earned the Doctor of Philosophical Sciences degree (Protocol No. 9, December 25, 2009). In 2012, I was awarded the academic title of Professor (Protocol No. 1, January 13, 2012). I am the author and co-author of numerous scientific works and educational publications, including textbooks and monographs such as “Fundamentals of Religious Studies” (2006), “Culture and Civilization” (2006), “Religions in Kazakhstan” (2008), “New Religious Organizations in Kazakhstan” (2010), “Modern Non-traditional Movements and Cults” (2010), “Dictionary of Religious Studies” (3 volumes, 2017), “Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religious Studies” (2018), and “Religions in Kazakhstan” (Textbook, 2021), among many others. My professional career began in 1998 as a trainee researcher at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. From 1999 to 2002, I worked as a research associate at the “Al-Farabi” Research Center. From 2002 to 2011, I served as lecturer, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor at the Department of Religious Studies of the same university. Since 2011, I have been the Head of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Throughout my academic career, I have been recognized with multiple awards and honors, including: State Scholarship for Talented Young Scientists from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2004–2006, 2008–2010) Diploma “Best Young Scientist of Al-Farabi KazNU” (2006) Title “Best Lecturer of Al-Farabi KazNU” (2008, 2023) M. Auezov Award for Young Scientists in the Humanities (2010) Republican Grant “Best University Lecturer” (2010) Certificate of Appreciation from the Committee for Religious Affairs (2015) Honorary Diploma of Al-Farabi KazNU (2018) Letter of Appreciation from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.-J. Tokayev (2021) Medal “For Distinguished Labor” (Decree of the President of t