Innovative Approaches to Personal Self-Determination: International Mentorship Experience within the KAFU Young Scientists Forum

On April 9, 2026, as part of the XVI International Forum of Young Scientists of the Kazakhstan-American Free University, a scientific and practical seminar was held featuring an invited international speaker — Alexander Yan Babinets (Aurora, Colorado, USA).

Mr. Babinets, a social worker, leading trainer, and official representative of the international organization Co-Serve International, delivered a lecture titled:

“An Adventure on the Path to Discovering One’s True Self.”

During the seminar, актуальные issues of socio-psychological adaptation of individuals in the context of globalization were addressed. The main focus was placed on the development of the concept of authentic leadership. The speaker presented a self-analysis methodology aimed at identifying value orientations within the structure of personality, fostering socio-psychological resilience among young researchers, and integrating the principles of ethical leadership into professional practice.

The event became an important step in the implementation of KAFU’s internationalization strategy. The interactive format allowed forum participants — students, master’s students, and faculty — to discuss practical aspects of social work and contemporary educational trends in the United States.