International Summer School on Bilingualism, Multilingualism and Clinical Linguistics Opens at Ualikhanov University

Today, Ualikhanov University officially launched the International Professional Development Summer School titled “Bilingualism, Multilingualism and Clinical Linguistics: Contemporary Research Methods.”

The Summer School brings together faculty members, researchers, early-career scholars, and professionals interested in the fields of linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and clinical linguistics.The opening ceremony was led by Aigul Zhakupova, Vice-Rector for Research and Regional Engagement at Ualikhanov University. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of international scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and creating new opportunities for researchers working in linguistics and interdisciplinary fields.

Participants include not only researchers from Ualikhanov University, but also representatives of universities and research institutions from across Kazakhstan. Running from June 8 to June 13, 2026, the Summer School features a series of educational modules dedicated to heritage languages, experimental linguistics, and contemporary approaches to clinical linguistics.

The program has attracted internationally renowned scholars in the field of linguistics, including Maria Polinsky, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Maryland (USA) and one of the world's leading experts on bilingualism, multilingualism, and heritage languages;

Olga Dragoy, Doctor of Philology, Professor, neurolinguist, and Director of the Center for Language and Brain at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia), widely recognized for her work in neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and experimental language research; and Natalia Meir, PhD, Professor in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics at Bar-Ilan University (Israel), an internationally recognized researcher specializing in bilingualism, child language development, and clinical linguistics.

Throughout the Summer School, participants will explore contemporary research methods in heritage language studies, experimental linguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and clinical linguistics, while discussing current trends and challenges in global linguistic research.

Linguistic research is one of the rapidly developing academic areas at Ualikhanov University. University scholars are actively engaged in both fundamental and applied research projects focusing on language processes, bilingualism, multilingualism, and language development.

International academic initiatives such as this Summer School play an important role in strengthening scientific cooperation, expanding academic networks, and fostering new research partnerships that are relevant both nationally and internationally.

We wish all participants and speakers a productive week filled with insightful discussions, valuable professional connections, and inspiring new research ideas.