Professor Kalkaman Zhakyp of Baitursynuly University is well-known both in the region (and beyond) as a distinguished teacher and candidate of philosophical sciences. Few people know, however, that in his youth, Kalkaman Khasenovich dreamt of becoming a surgeon.
In 1966, he applied to the Karaganda Medical Institute but didn’t secure admission due to intense competition despite passing the exams. At the time, it felt like the end of the road for his aspirations. However, fate had other plans, leading him instead to the Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University.
Now let’s rewind to 50 years ago.
After his dream of becoming a surgeon fell through, Kalkaman Khasenovich served in the army. There, he set a new goal: to enroll in the Department of History of the Kostanay Pedagogical Institute.
“At that time, history graduates were in high demand,” recalls Kalkaman Khasenovich. “They held quite the positions in political structures. With that in mind, I spent my final year in the army immersed in books, studying them in Russian despite all my 11-years education in Kazakh. Overcoming the language barrier, I successfully passed the entrance exams.”
His experience was quite memorable. While studying to become a historian, he also mastered the art of operating a combine harvester during student work programs, helping his comrades harvest wheat in rural districts of Nauruzym, Leninski and now Uzunkolsk.
“Many students came from remote villages,” he says. “We lived in dormitories, and teachers often visited us, ensuring we had good living conditions. They’d play chess and checkers with us, have heartfelt conversations, and drink tea with us.”
Years later, Kalkaman Khasenovich himself began mentoring students, advocating for their needs before directorate and union organisation and supporting those struggling to adapt to life away from home.
Kalkaman Zhakyp is still a part Baitursynuly University. In 2024, both the university and professor Zhakyp celebrate significant milestones — the university’s 85th anniversary and his 50 years of dedicated service there.
