For Kazakhstan, migration policy - in terms of managing internal and international migration flows - has always been an important element of public service. Focusing on state interests, this policy is a complex socio-economic phenomenon that is directly and indirectly related to all aspects of social life. Thus, the migration process is a new impetus for development in the international arena and an important direction for the world economy. The purpose of this study was to determine the main principles and approaches to the development of migration policy of Kazakhstan. The study used the methods of analysis, differentiation, systematisation. As a result of the study, three main stages of migration policy development in the history of Kazakhstan were identified. The first stage (1991-2000) is characterised by the deterioration of the country's socio-economic situation due to the destruction of the Soviet Union and the change of the administrative system; the second stage (2001-2010) is characterised by economic growth, dynamic socio-political changes and reforms; the third stage (2011-2022) is characterised by special conditions of globalisation, which reveals the dominant influence of external social and socio-economic factors. Thus, the main principles and approaches to the development of migration policy in Kazakhstan ensure the state-wide priorities in the field of demographic, economic, social, political and cultural development and allow for the effective implementation of legislation, regulation and management of migration processes.

The article is devoted to the analysis of internal migration processes in Kazakhstan and the assessment of the impact of these processes on the territorial organization of the population. The role of geographical factors (natural conditions, climate, production location, social infrastructure, etc.) is essential in migration processes. Migration can significantly affect the territorial organization of the population and lead to shifts in the demographic structure, population distribution by region and socio-economic development of territories. The aim of the work is to identify and assess the impact of migration on the territorial organization of the population using a geographical approach. The peculiarity of our approach to the study of this topic lies in the comprehensive study of the processes of territorial movement of the population in their interrelation with economic, social, geographical and other factors that cause these movements. In this context, the processes of settlement and migration of the population in the context of the country's regions were studied. The current dynamics of migration processes in Kazakhstan leads to both positive changes in society and an increase in economic, social and environmental problems. Negative consequences are amplified if they are not managed or poorly regulated by the State. This is the relevance of the problem under consideration. The practical significance of the research lies in the fact that knowledge in the field of patterns of migration processes and their management, as well as the interaction of population migration with various aspects of social development can be in demand by those who make decisions in the field of forming a strategy for economic, demographic and migration policy. The information base of the study was made up of official statistical data of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, demographic statistics data, data and reports of the Agency for Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, foreign and domestic literary sources, regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The results of the study allow us to conclude that migration has a significant impact on the territorial organization of the population in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended to develop and implement state and regional programs aimed at managing migration processes and adapting migrants, as well as promoting the equitable development of various regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Our study focuses on the theoretical and methodological substantiation of integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping into local history and tourism-oriented educational activities as an effective tool for developing spatial thinking among school students. The relevance of the research is driven by the need to enhance spatial competencies amid the digitalization of education and the strengthening of students' local identity. We propose an original model, GeoEduMap, which integrates pedagogical, cognitive, and technological components, including tiered diagnostics, task typologies, cartographic layers, and routes of interaction. The methodology is based on systemic-activity, cultural-historical, and cartographic approaches. Special attention is given to content localization through the use of authentic local history materials. The results of the study expand the methodological horizons of both local history and geographic education by integrating digital tools into meaning-oriented spatial learning practices.

География народов — это не просто раздел социально-экономической географии, но и основная отрасль, учитывающая все демографические показатели народов мира. В данной статье рассматривается вопрос исследования распределения народов Казахстана на основе статистических методов. Основная цель исследования — выявить закономерности географического распределения народов и научно оценить, как социально-экономические факторы влияют на структуру расселения. Изучение географии народов с использованием статистических данных способствует повышению социально-экономического потенциала региона. В ходе исследования использовались материалы переписи населения Казахстана, официальные демографические данные Национального статистического бюро и статистические данные международных организаций. В процессе исследования применялись корреляционный и сравнительный методы анализа. Полученные результаты показали, что на территории Казахстана население распределено неравномерно, с высокой плотностью населения на юге и юго-востоке страны, в то время как на севере и в центральных регионах наблюдается тенденция к сокращению численности населения. Также были выявлены территориальные особенности этнического состава и внутренней миграции, а также доказано, что уровень урбанизации активно растет в крупных городах. На основе результатов исследования можно разработать научно обоснованные рекомендации по совершенствованию региональной политики, оптимизации механизмов регулирования миграции и планированию социальной инфраструктуры. Это, в свою очередь, является важной демографической структурой для оптимизации государственной политики.

The economic geography section of the 9th-grade geography curriculum in Kazakhstan - industrial distribution, population dynamics, transport, agriculture, regional development - is spatial in nature but taught through descriptive, textbook-based methods. Students learn where phenomena are located but not how to reason about them spatially. This study develops and tests a methodology for forming geospatial competence through structured inquiry tasks embedded across the full course. A pedagogical experiment was conducted at the Republican Specialized School-Boarding for Gifted Children named after K. Baiseitova, Almaty (2024–2025) with 37 students: experimental group (n = 18) worked through purpose-designed geospatial tasks using Google My Maps, the electronic atlas of Kazakhstan, QGIS, and open data from stat.gov.kz; control group (n = 19) followed standard instruction. Geospatial competence was assessed at three points across three stages: localization, spatial correlation, and territorial analysis. Post-test results showed significant between-group differences (t = 5.9, p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.94, 95% CI [1.16, 2.73]): experimental group reached 76% of maximum score vs. 45% for controls. The widest gap was at Stage 3, independent territorial analysis: 64% vs. 22%, suggesting that within the conditions of this experiment conventional instruction developed map reading but was associated with only limited development of spatial reasoning. Findings offer geography teachers a curriculum-aligned task system covering all five sections of the 9th-grade course, tested in one specialised school and requiring replication in mainstream settings.