Mollakanatuly Saipulla
Head of the Yasawi Research Center

Mollakanatuly Saipulla is Head of the Yasawi Research Center, completed Master’s degree in “Religious Studies” at the International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in 2008-2010, and obtained his PhD in “Turkology” at the L. Gumilyov Eurasian National University from 2018 to 2021.
From 2003 to 2006, he worked as a research fellow at the Yasawi Research Center of the International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. From 2008 to 2010, he worked as a senior research fellow at the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Azіret Sultan”. From 2022 to 2023, he was a Master’s degree lecturer at the Faculty of Theology of the International Kazakh-Turkish University named after Khoja Ahmed Yasawi. From 2021 to 2023, he worked as a senior research fellow at the Yasawi Research Institute. In 2023, he became a senior lecturer at the Department of History of Kazakhstan and World History at the Kh.Dosmukhamedov Atyrau University. From 2023 to 2025, he worked as a senior research fellow at the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnology of the Caspian Region named after Kh.B. Tabyldiev.
In 2025, he was appointed Head of the Yasawi Research Center based at the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Azіret Sultan”.
He is the author of numerous scientific works and popular science articles dedicated to the epigraphy in the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the Hikmets of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the issues of Yasawi studies, as well as topics related to spirituality and religious ethics.
The Yasawi Research Center was established by the direct order of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.K. Tokayev, at the National Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Azіret Sultan”. Our main goal is the comprehensive study of the rich heritage of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, exploring its philosophical, historical, cultural, and literary aspects, and integrating them with modern scientific fields. Even more, we aim to introduce Yasawi’s heritage into the global academic community.
The Center consists of the head of the center, a scientific secretary, 1 senior research fellow, 3 senior research fellows, 7 research fellows, 2 junior research fellows, 2 laboratory researchers, a librarian, a programmer, a translator, and an archivist. In total there are 21 staff members. Among them are well-known scholars in the field of Yasawi studies: Professor Ashirbek Muminov, Zikiriya Zhandarbek, Professor Mukhtar Koja, Tuyakbaev Omir, PhD in History, Associate Professor Gauhar Primkulova, PhD in Philology, Associate Professor Aliya Beldibekova, Iranian history researcher Ulukbek Junisbaev, research fellows Nurzhan Parpiyev, Kunsulu Asetova, Alibek Zhurkhabaev, Shyngys Junisbaev, Dinara Sazanova, Sultan Baiseit, Zhamila Kozhakhmet, archivist Asylzat Sarsenbai, laboratory researchers Raikhan Abdurakhmanova, Nurdaulet Mamyrali, programmer Daryn Darkhan, librarian Gulbanu Manasheva, and translator Gulnaz Sattarova.

Objectives and Tasks of the Center:

1. Comprehensive study of the teachings of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and development of scientifically grounded concepts.
2. In-depth study of the Hikmets of Yasawi from historical, literary, philosophical, and religious perspectives.
3. Determining the role of Yasawi’s teachings in the Turkic-Islamic civilization and analyzing its influence to contemporary world.
4. Preparing scientific descriptions of ancient manuscripts and rare books related to Yasawi’s heritage and making them objects of research.
5. Collection, systematization, and introduction into scientific circulation of archival materials related to Yasawi’s heritage.
6. Establishing cooperation with domestic and international scientific organizations, conducting joint research works and projects.
7. Publication of research results in the form of scientific articles, monographs, and collected proceedings.
8. Organizing scientific conferences, seminars, round tables, exhibitions, and regularly presenting of research findings.
9. Attracting young researchers, conducting educational and research-oriented courses for students and master’s degree students.

Main Directions of the Yasawi Research Center:

1. Systematization of Scientific Research – gathering, systematizing, and introducing original data related to Yasawi’s heritage into scientific circulation.
2. Attracting Young Scholars – supporting researchers interested in Yasawi studies, and organizing special courses and seminars.
3. Study of Historical and Cultural Connections – deep analysis of the impact of Yasawi tradition to the Turkic and Islamic worlds.
4. Strengthening International Cooperation – conducting joint researchs with foreign scholars and promoting Yasawi’s heritage on the global level.
5. Digitization and Application of Modern Technologies – converting Yasawi’s heritage into digital format, processing texts digitally, and disseminating them to the public through modern information technologies.