On November 17, 2023, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University's Scientific Library hosted an international conference titled “Comprehensive Strategy for the Development of Regions in Kazakhstan: Economic, Institutional, and Cultural Factors”. Organized by the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism of the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, this event marked the faculty's 75th anniversary and was part of the implementation of several grant research projects:

• AP14869863 “Development of a Methodology for Assessing the Impact of Income Inequality on the Level of Medical Services Utilization”;
• AP09259811 “Development of a Quantitative Methodology for Identifying Population Groups Willingness to Support the Implementation of Medicinal Insurance and Assessing the Financial Stability of this Insurance in Kazakhstan”;
• AP19679799 “Development of a Modified Methodology for Assessing Spatial Factors of Growth and Overcoming Regional Differences”

Moderator of the plenary session: Head of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Dr, Associate Professor R.V. Plokhikh.
Chairman and moderator of the panel session: Associate Professor of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, Dr, Associate Professor L.S. Spankulova.
Secretary and moderator of the panel session: Lecturer of the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, PhD Candidate Y. Nuruly.

The event was inaugurated by Zh.N. Aitzhanova, Board Member and Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation of KazNU, who congratulated the faculty on its anniversary and acknowledged the scientific contributions of Dr. Lazat S. Spankulova, Associate Professor in the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism, marking her 60th birthday and presenting her with a medal.

L.K. Yerkinbayeva, Board Member and Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs at KazNU, also welcomed the participants and highlighted the conference's significance for the academic community.

An important guest at the event was Jiliyili Abduwaili, Deputy Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who extended his congratulations to the faculty on its anniversary.

During the plenary session, several leading experts presented their insights, including L.S. Spankulova with a report on investments in health and attitudes towards institutional innovations, A.R. Kerimbayev with a review of new approaches to risk modeling, A.K. Kudebayeva discussing social assistance and the well-being of the population, A.T. Bayakhmetova analyzing regional disparities in Kazakhstan, T.B. Klimova presenting research on educational tourism in the context of sustainable development, and a joint report by Miroslav Mika and R.V. Plokhikh on the theory and practice of sustainable tourism development.

In the ceremonial part of the conference, a congratulatory speech was delivered by PhD D.T. Saparaliyev from the Scientific-Clinical Center of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology. He expressed warm congratulations to L.S. Spankulova and the Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences of KazNU on their anniversaries. Additionally, Daulet Toktasynovich conveyed congratulations from the Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, and Director of the same center, Seitzhan J. Joshibayev, addressed to Lazat Seitkaziyevna and the faculty, highlighting their contribution to the academic and scientific community. These words were also directed to the rector of KazNU, Zh.K. Tuymebayev, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and interaction between various fields of science and education.

The plenary session concluded with the presentation of monographs by L.S. Spankulova. The presented books, including individual works and collaborative research, were:

• “Economics vs Physics: Diffusion of Innovation, Knowledge Spillovers, and Regional Growth in Kazakhstan”;
• “Knowledge Spillovers and Economic Development: From Theory to Practice”;
• “Economic Behavior and Population Health” (co-authored).

These publications, addressing key issues of innovation, knowledge spillovers, and the impact of economic factors on health, were distributed to conference participants and guests, underscoring their significance in both academic and practical contexts.

The second part of the day featured panel sessions with young scientists, doctoral students, master's students, and undergraduates discussing works related to the conference themes. The sessions were moderated by Spankulova L.S. and Nuruly Yeldar, representing the Department of Recreational Geography and Tourism.

This international conference served as an important forum, bringing together leading scientists and experts. The event not only underscored the role of the scientific community in analyzing and developing strategies for the economic and cultural development of the regions of Kazakhstan but also demonstrated the invaluable importance of international academic cooperation in advancing research and knowledge.

The conference, serving as a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, contributed to a deeper understanding of the key issues facing modern society and the development of comprehensive approaches to solving them. In the context of globalization and international integration, such an event undoubtedly contributes to the formation of common strategies and paths of development, not only for Kazakhstan but for the global community as a whole.

Overall, the conference laid the foundation for future progress in research, establishing new standards for the interaction of science, education, and practical activities, and preparing the ground for further innovative developments and international research projects.