The 2nd International Symposium on Family and Values
The 2nd International Symposium on Family and Values, organized by the Faculty of Theology of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (KTMU), was held on 26–27 November 2025 under the theme “Family in the Turkic World.”
The opening ceremony took place on 26 November 2025 at the Kasym Tynystanov Conference Hall with strong participation. Opening speeches were delivered by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KTMU Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Сapak, the Rector of KTMU Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan, and the Acting Rector of KTMU Prof. Dr. Almaz Ibrayev. The Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Faculty of Theology, Prof. Dr. Huseyin Akyuz, provided information about the scope and objectives of the symposium.
Following the opening program, the symposium continued with a plenary session titled “Family in the Turkic World,” chaired by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erdem. Distinguished scholars presented papers focusing on family and values.
In his presentation titled “The Syndrome of Fragmented Families: Orphans with Living Parents,” Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erdem addressed the challenges faced by family structures in modern societies. Prof. Dr. Akmatali Alimbekov examined traditional family-centered gender roles in the works of Kyrgyz poets. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdumurad Tilavov analyzed family, education, and communication themes in the Epic of Alpamish. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tussipkhan Imammadi discussed the historical and contemporary aspects of bride price and mahr in Kazakh family law.
While the sessions on 26 November 2025 were held face-to-face, the sessions on 27 November 2025 were conducted simultaneously on online platforms. The symposium provided an important academic forum for discussing various dimensions of family structures in the Turkic world.
