In any sphere of social life there are and will be, fortunately, people of special temperament, creative personalities, ascetics, enthusiasts, who, as if having come to their senses, after their departure are called prophets. These are those who, burning for the good of others, did not know how to feel sorry for themselves, who all their lives got up in the dark to work, who, in an era of change, had the courage to take on the work and risk of positively reforming the system, who, by fate, received the fate, despite the obstacles, relentlessly go forward and lead. Who gave this life more than he took. The word "Azamat" does not just mean citizen. This is a person who keenly feels and bears responsibility for his family, for his name, for his land, for his life’s work, to which he has devoted years of righteous labor. To be human is to know that when you lay a stone, you help build the world. Grateful colleagues of Kokshetau University named after Sh. Ualikhanov published in 2019 a meaningful book with the symbolic title “Nothing Passes Without a Traces,” dedicated to the memory of the former rector of the university Abai Akhmetgalievich Aitmukhambetov (1943-2018). Warm memories of the childhood, youth, and youth of the scientist-teacher himself warm the soul of everyone who reads about the long, sometimes thorny path to the heights of the scientific career of a professor, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences. It also captures surprisingly touching fragments and significant events in the lives of colleagues, bright, “happy moments of love” of a creative personality filled with light throughout the fruitful years lived together. It is noteworthy that during Gorbachev’s perestroika, the first democratic elections in the republic of a university rector took place in southern Kzyl-Orda on the initiative of the Ministry of Education of the republic. It is gratifying that it was our famous fellow countryman, the famous political figure of Kazakhstan Erkin Nurzhanovich Auelbekov, whose name for every enlightened Kazakh is a symbol of dignity, honor and devotion to the fatherland, who warmly supported the candidacy of Abai Aitmukhambetov. Of course, the day of July 22, 1987 remained in the memory of Abai Akhmetgalievich as a bright day of real success and true recognition, because the absolute majority of voters voted quite democratically and openly for him. And four years later, in August 1992, the staff of the Kokshetau Pedagogical Institute named after Shokan Ualikhanov, in the year of the university’s thirtieth anniversary, was presented with a new rector by the then minister Shaysultan Shayakhmetovich Shayakhmetov. This was Abay Aitmukhambetov, who by that time had established himself as an excellent organizer and respected by both colleagues and local authorities, a creative leader. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Kuandyk Dosmagambetovich Zholamanov, a wonderful person and prominent scientist dedicated to the work of life, was forced to leave the leadership of the Kokchetav Pedagogical Institute, with whom, by the way, the new rector had developed warm, friendly relations. Workdays began, a ton of hard work began, especially considering that at that time, according to Abai Akhmetgalievich himself, the Kokshetau Pedagogical Institute was an “average university with a weak material and technical base”: the building and other objects of the university infrastructure looked unpresentable, educational - laboratory facilities are far from perfect; necessary equipment and teaching aids remained in short supply. To overcome all this, remarkable business acumen, business intuition, and obvious leadership abilities were required. Of course, the material and technical re-equipment of a university is a profitable business, the main thing is the human factor. I was pleased with the high-quality personnel potential of the university: many teachers underwent scientific internships in the cities of the Union, successfully completed their postgraduate studies, and defended their academic degrees. The role of an outsider could not be tolerated; the university needed prompt reform, taking into account all available material and intellectual resources. It’s an irony of fate, but years later it is this very leader who will call this very higher educational institution an example of a classical university! He had every moral right to do this, since he headed the Kokshetau University named after Shokan Ualikhanov, Abai Akhmetgalievich Aitmukhambetov, for 15 years during the most difficult years. Needless to say, what an important strategic significance was the process of forming the largest university in the northern region of Kazakhstan - a multidisciplinary educational institution, whose graduates are now in demand in government organizations, large companies, and private firms not only in the city of Kokshetau and the Akmola region, but also in the neighboring republic neighboring countries. After the merger of three educational institutions: the Agricultural Institute named after Smagul Sadvakasov, the Kokchetav Pedagogical Institute named after Shokan Ualikhanov and a branch of the Karaganda Polytechnic Institute, rector Abay Aitmukhambetov persistently worked on organizing a modern educational center: under his personal supervision, the renovation of educational buildings was carried out, the restoration of abandoned student dormitories built in Soviet times and requiring total reconstruction. We had to show integrity and perseverance, knocking out office apartments for teachers. Let’s not forget what it was like for the townspeople and residents of the remote outback of a large region in the early difficult 90s: the electricity was cut off every now and then, the city of Kokshetau itself, alas, became famous for the notorious defrosting of the heating system throughout the republic, people were frightened by chronic delays in payment of wages, interruptions in water supply. The transition post-Soviet period, a troubled time, is remembered by the older generation, because the feverish introduction of market elements was not easy for society and the population. As for the university system, various difficulties inevitably arose in the teaching of socio-political disciplines, the ideological basis changed radically, it was not easy to draw up or completely update educational and work plans and programs, and to rebuild scientific consciousness. The transition to a new level of relations was underway through the titanic efforts of the entire university staff. A new generation of students, a young, unfamiliar tribe... and the teachers themselves also had to learn how to educate them in the current conditions. In the moral atmosphere of society, a fresh, free spirit of long-awaited ideological freedom was felt. But bare slogans and desperate calls will not go far: finances should be directed to the development of science, a social package to help the teacher, the priority should be strengthening scientific and industrial contacts, creating new teaching principles, and opening new specialties. The need to build up one’s own brand and expand the printing and publishing potential, which embodied the idea of serving the promotion of bold, sometimes daring scientific research, remained urgent. The key merit of Rector Aitmukhambetov, undoubtedly, is the creation of optimal conditions for the full-fledged, full-blooded, high-quality work of the teaching staff. In the spacious, solidly decorated, bright classrooms with huge windows of the Kokshetau University named after. Sh. Ualikhanov works and breathes easily and with inspiration. The university is completely computerized: through the server you can contact any educational or auxiliary unit in a matter of minutes. The pride of the university is its library of thousands, which is annually replenished with literature worth 10-15 million tenge. Under Rector Aitmukhambetov, business and friendly ties with teachers and scientists from major educational and scientific centers of Russia: Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tyumen are becoming commonplace. The most active advanced specialists from different faculties of the university have more than once received the high title of “Best University Teacher,” and this significant factor is one of the most reliable indicators of the professional competence of teachers. Teachers become laureates of the Presidential Scholarship “For Outstanding Contributions to Science.” Thus, the possession of a prestigious International Certificate of Compliance with the Quality Management System became a completely logical and natural, expected phenomenon for the university. For Abai Akhmetgalievich, the university that had become his home did not become a stranger even after his rector’s resignation. He continued to engage in scientific research in the field of space physics, with benefit and pleasure, interest and excitement, he read fascinating lectures to students, introducing young people to the field of high science. Sometimes we are surprised at how much one multifaceted personality can do for an entire university, to create a psychologically comfortable atmosphere and a friendly atmosphere in the “teacher-student” relationship. It has become the norm for each student to take exams by commission - this eliminates the possibility of arbitrariness and corruption on the part of teachers. A tolerant person, Abai Akhmetgalievich, took it upon himself to cancel the survey of students on the issues of assessing the performance of teachers. No matter how you look at it, you won’t get objective data here, and it’s not in the rules of a strict, demanding leader to engage in formalism. It was Rector Aitmukhambetov who laid the foundation for the development of the credit education system, which was in demand at that time; thanks to his efforts, the students and teaching staff actively implemented international scientific cooperation with leading universities in Western and Eastern Europe and America. The opportunity for gifted talented students to participate in international scientific conferences, practically useful internships for teachers in non-CIS countries, allowing for an in-depth study of the successes of the Western educational system, intensive strengthening of scientific foreign relations - the rector found and sought funds for all this, sparing no energy and personal time. Professor Aitmukhambetov was by no means characteristic of the manner of flaunting numerous awards and titles, which is typical for many leaders (and he has plenty of them). When asked what title or award he values, he answered very simply: “I am a teacher, a professor, the rest is not important!” Probably, such a principled position predetermined the scientist’s laconic answer to the question: “What can be considered a distinctive feature of the University named after Shokan Ualikhanov?” Abai Akhmetgalievich answered precisely and simply: “The spirit of decency is in everything.” There is a belief that there are geovibrations of the native land that are physically healing. The professor did not dare to forget about his roots and origins, and returning to the roots inspired and pleased every time - this is the village of Borovskoye, Mendykarinsky district, Kostanay region. The amanat of his father, Akhmetgali Aitmukhambetov, who made an invaluable contribution to the development of the virgin region, was fulfilled by the worthy son with honor - to serve the people to the point of self-denial, to be useful to people. And the title “Honorary Worker of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, presentation of the prestigious government order “Kurmet”, Certificate of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, award from distant Europe, from France itself “Laureat-medaille d'or spi” (for contribution to world science and education) – for a true guardian of education and science were just a mark on his resume. Only realizing the dreams of childhood and youth can bring happiness. Abai Akhmetgalievich knew how to be a happy person, having the right and duty to remain free and strong, knowing the secret of maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues whom he never considered subordinates, for years creating a strong team of like-minded people, trusting his colleagues, seeing each as an individual. The name of Abai Akhmetgalievich Aitmukhambetov is dear to all those whom he trusted, whom he knew how to value and guide in time on the thorny path of scientific research, who, according to their divinely destined fate, walked alongside, inspired by the vital energy and good deeds of a man of Good.
