ASSESSMENTS ON THE PERCEPTION OF THE TURKIC WORLD AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KYRGYZSTAN: THE CASE OF KTMU

Kyrgyzstan's historical, linguistic, ethnic, and cultural connections establish a strong link with the Turkic World. Consequently, the perceptions of university students studying in Kyrgyzstan, an integral part of the Turkic World, carry significant importance. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the viewpoints and perceptions of university students in Kyrgyzstan regarding the Turkic World. In this research, a questionnaire was developed to obtain quantitative data on the perception of KTMU (Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University) students about the Turkic World. The questionnaire, consisting of two main sections, addresses demographic information such as age, gender, and major in the first section. In the second section, a set of 17 statements constructed using a 5-point Likert scale are included to assess the students' perceptions. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed, with a Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of α = 0.84, making the collected data valuable for interpretation. The research findings indicate that university students at Kyrgyzstan Turkey Manas University generally hold positive perceptions of the Turkic World, and these perceptions do not significantly vary based on demographic factors such as gender and age. Keywords: Kyrgyzstan, Turkic World, Turkic World Perception, KTMU