The article embarks upon a study of political Sufism in contemporary Kazakhstan and patterns of religious continuity through an examination of Islamic manifestations that stretch back centuries, juxtaposed with the current state religious policy. It examines the role of the Muftiate’s “official Islam” in shaping the life of religious communities, exploring the intricate interplay between religious identity, secularism, and public perception in the post-Soviet landscape. The author employed a multi-faceted research approach, integrating historical analysis, policy examination, and an ethnographic study of contemporary religious dynamics in the country. The historical analysis provides a foundation of the religious landscape, while policy analysis examines the state’s contemporary role in shaping religious practices. Ethnography, focusing on groups such as the Jahriyya, Naqshbandiyya, and the Suhba, involves respondents from diverse regions of Kazakhstan, offering firsthand insights into the experiences and perceptions of Sufi communities at the grassroots level, which enriches the study with a contextual perspective. Notably, fieldwork surveys, where the author engaged with respondents, provide valuable insights into the diverse experiences shaping the dynamics of political Sufism and religious continuity. They involved a diverse group of respondents, including religious leaders, community members, and secular intellectuals, from multiple regions of Kazakhstan at both urban and rural levels. The article is of scientific and practical significance as it enhances understanding of religious dynamics in the country, offering policymakers, scholars, and practitioners valuable perspectives for informed decision-making and policy development. The research’s limitations include its focus on specific Sufi groups within Kazakhstan, which may not represent the full spectrum of Islamic practices across the region. The recommendations emphasize the need for further analysis of how prioritizing doctrinal adherence over individual freedoms contributes to the erosion of authentic religious institutions and the politicization of Islam. It also recommends to investigate the roles of Sufi groups in filling spiritual and social vacuums, their potential for politicization, and how this interplay affects religious freedom and national identity in Kazakhstan. This is particularly significant given the state’s efforts to appropriate Islamic traditions for ideological purposes, which has led to a separation between Islamic doctrine and its lived expressions. Finally, it emphasizes the need for further comparative research on Sufi movements across Central Asia to better understand how different state policies impact religious communities.

The study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the Republic of Kazakhstan's healthcare sector over the period 2014-2021 using the non-parametric method of data envelope analysis. The analysis was carried out based on quantitative indicators of the medical statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study's results prove that efficiency tends to change over the medium term. Simultaneously, implementing digital technologies based on the computerisation and digitalisation of the healthcare sector in the short term is revealed to reduce overall efficiency, but that efficiency increases in the long term. The events of the COVID-19 pandemic did not reduce the overall efficiency of the healthcare sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Artificial intelligence is being actively introduced into academic research, increasing its efficiency and scale. However, its use raises questions of academic integrity, intellectual property protection and the use of an open resource. This is a very important aspect for PhD students who combine training with the creation of new knowledge. Modern scientific research uses various artificial intelligence tools, covering all stages of the scientific process. The aim of the study is to analyze the use of artificial intelligence technologies in research activities, identify key areas of their application, and review tools that help improve the efficiency of scientific research while taking into account ethical standards. Based on a literature review and content analysis, the main areas of AI application were identified: from hypothesis formulation to support for publication activity. This study offers practical recommendations for doctoral students, supervisors and heads of doctoral educational programs.

The past decade has witnessed the active institutionalisation of multilateral “5+1” formats between the Central Asian states and external partners. This trend has been reflected in the growing number of summits, ministerial meetings, and joint declarations, although these political developments have not always been followed by economic implementation of a comparable scale. This article examines the institutional mechanisms and instruments that facilitate the transition from political agreements to the implementation of economic projects within the “5+1” formats involving the United States, China, and the European Union between 2015–2025. Drawing on comparative institutional analysis, content analysis of official documents, and case studies, each format is assessed according to six qualitative criteria: regularity of interaction, permanent coordination bodies, specificity of roadmaps, financial provision, monitoring mechanisms, and project outcomes. Multilateral commitments are consistently distinguished from parallel bilateral agreements. The analysis demonstrates that all three formats demonstrate comparable institutional maturity in terms of high-level engagement and permanent coordination mechanisms. However, they differ substantially in the specificity of roadmaps, the alignment of financial instruments with the multilateral level, and the availability of monitoring arrangements. The European Union format has the most developed roadmap and monitoring architecture, whereas the US and Chinese formats reveal a persistent gap between announced funding volumes and their institutional linkage to multilateral rather than bilateral cooperation. The research’s novelty lies in developing a qualitative, non-aggregated comparative framework connecting institutional architecture with documented project outcomes. Its practical significance concerns its applicability to Central Asian ministries, regional coordination bodies, and development institutions.

The article considered trends in the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan. Based on the analysis, the key problems of the business were identified and recommendations were given to overcome them. The purpose of the study is to identify problems, substantiate and develop recommendations for the development of businesses Kazakhstan in a crisis. The scientific and practical significance of this article is the formation, based on the results of the study, of directions that contribute to the improvement of programs for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the country. The main research results in this article are the following provisions: the need to create effective tools for businesses in the real sector, especially in the regions of the country, taking into account current market trends was identified; the need to improve the quality of human resources is justified; measures are proposed to further strengthen the interaction between the state and entrepreneurship, in particular, an increase in financing for the development of export programs for businesses. The value of the conducted research is the generalization and analysis of the collected statistical information and, based on it, the identification of the main problems facing small and medium-sized enterprises in the new realities.The practical significance of the research article lies in the fact that the results and proposals can be used in the development and adjustment of programs for the development of entrepreneurship in the small and medium segment.