Kazakh scholar balances motherhood and groundbreaking education research

Dr Gulzhanat Gafu, a researcher and educator at Nazarbayev University, grew up in the rural Markakol District of East Kazakhstan. Her journey from a gifted students’ boarding school in Ust-Kamenogorsk to earning advanced degrees abroad reflects both determination and opportunity.

After completing her education under Kazakhstan’s Bolashak scholarship programme in the UK, she now studies modern teaching methods. Yet her career comes with personal challenges—especially as a mother. Gafu’s academic path began at a specialised boarding school for talented students. Later, she pursued a master’s and PhD in the UK, supported by the Bolashak initiative. Today, she teaches and researches educational trends at Nazarbayev University.

Her work feels like both a privilege and a heavy responsibility. Motherhood has sharpened her awareness of the society her children will inherit. But balancing conferences with school events often leaves her torn.

In Kazakhstan, women frequently face pressure to succeed in multiple roles at once—professional, domestic, and maternal. Gafu admits she doesn’t believe in perfect equilibrium. Instead, she relies on her family for support and inspiration.

Despite the demands, she remains committed to her research. Her focus stays on shaping education while navigating the expectations placed on modern women. Gafu’s story highlights the realities of juggling career ambitions with family life in today’s Kazakhstan. Her research continues to influence educational practices, even as she grapples with personal trade-offs.

The scholar’s experience underscores a broader challenge: reconciling professional drive with societal roles. For now, her family and her work remain intertwined, each fuelling the other.