The foundations of the Department of Kazakh Literature were laid in 1989. The department in different years was headed by: Ph.D., professor Merteshova Sholpan Kasymovna (1989-1996); Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Dikhan Kamzabekuly (1996-2000); Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Nurgali Rymgali Nurgaliuly (2000-2010); Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Alpysbaev Kunypiya Kozhakhmetuly (2010-2011); Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Dikhan Kamzabekuly (from May to September 2011); Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Erdembekov Bauyrzhan Amankeldyuly (2011-2012); Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Kaskabasov Seit Askarovich (02.04.2012-02.09.2019); Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Turysbek Rakhimzhan Sagymbekuly (09. 09.2019-4.10.2020). Since October 5, 2020, the department is headed by Ph.D., associate professor Kemenger Kayirbek Rizabekuly.
In 1999, a dissertation council was opened to defend the degree of candidate of philological sciences in the specialties 10.01.09 - folklore and 10.01.02 - Kazakh literature. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor S.A. Kaskabassov. During the period of leadership of the department, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Laureate of the State Prize, Honored Worker of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan Rymgali Nurgaliuly Nurgali, a scientific school was formed, a huge work was done to train qualified scientific writers. The academician initiated the opening, within the framework of the acting dissertation council, the council for defending the degree of Doctor of Philology in the specialty 10.01.07 - Comparative Literature. In 2000, due to the small number of teachers of the department "Russian and foreign literature", this department was merged with the department of Kazakh literature, and was called the department of "Kazakh and foreign literature". In 2003, both departments were again separated, and the department of Kazakh literature became independent. At that time, well-known republican literary scholars and poets-improvisers worked in the department.
In 2000, a well-known literary critic, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Alma Kyraubaeva worked, in 2006-2009, a folklorist, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Abylkasimov Bolatzhan Shaizadauly.
The Department of Kazakh Literature prepares specialists in the following specialties:
The staff of the department consists of 14 teachers, including 6 doctors of science, professors, 4 candidates of science (including 3 professors, 1 associate professors), 1 PhD, 1 master. Professors of the department R. Turysbek, J. Aimukhambet, A. Altai, S. Zhumagul, B. Korganbekov, A. Usen, K. Baytanasova, M. Orazbek, S. Aytuganova are well-known literary scholars in the country and abroad. Associate professors of the department G. Erzhanova, K. Kemenger, R. Abilhamitkyzy, senior teacher D. Kapula - are experienced teachers with many years of teaching experience. In the direction of literary criticism, PhD G. Sagynadin are young specialists who show great hopes for continuing the continuity of the tradition of their mentors.
Concurrently, such prominent literary critics as S. Kaskabasov - Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Laureate of the State Prize; D. Kamzabekuly - Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, Vice-Rector for Social and Cultural Development of the ENU named after L.N. Gumilyov., Who made a significant contribution to the development of domestic science and education, as well as 2 doctors of sciences, professors S. Negimov and K. Alpysbaev.
For undergraduates and doctoral students of the department, invited foreign professors Metin Ekizhi (EGE University, Turkey), Najie Yildiz (Gazi University, Turkey), Fikret Turkmen (EGE University, Turkey), Huang Zhongshian (Academy of Social Sciences, China) lectured and consulted.
The department holds international symposia, congresses and conferences dedicated to topical problems of literary criticism in cooperation with the International Turkic Academy, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (RF) and the Institute for the Study of the Turkic World of the EGE University.
In 2012-2015. 5 teachers of the department took advanced training courses at the national center "Orleu" of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan in foreign universities and centers.
In 2014, according to the results of accreditation and rating of an independent agency (IAAR), professor of the department J. Aimukhambet entered the "TOP-30" of the best teachers of universities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Professors of the department R. Turysbek, D. Kamzabekuly, S. Negimov, K. Alpysbaev, J. Aimukhambet, S. Zhumagul, A. Altay, K. Baitanasova, S. Aituganova - became the winners of the grant "The best teacher of the university".
Educational programs of the specialties of the department were among the best in the republic according to the rating of NCE RK "Atameken" in 2021-2022.