Perception of Turkey and Turks among Kyrgyz students studying at Kyrgyzstan-Türkiye Manas University

The revealing of Turkey's perception in different societies is crucial not only for combating stereotypes and preconceptions about Turkey within those countries but also for determining strategies and tactics for establishing political, economic, and socio-cultural relations with them. In the globalizing world, forming alliances in political, economic, or military matters can yield numerous benefits. Bonds such as race, religion, or language play significant roles in the strategies of intergovernmental cooperation, providing substantial advantages. Despite the necessity of taking numerous steps and covering considerable distances, it is imperative to emphasize that the bonds fostering unity within the Turkic world are incomparably robust compared to those with other countries. This study investigates the perception of Turkey among Kyrgyz students enrolled at Kyrgyz -Turkish Manas University. The study employed a survey comprising 44 questions, administered to a sample of 315 students. The sample selection process was conducted randomly, with consideration given to the distribution of students across different faculties. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software to test the formulated hypotheses. Based on the results of the 44 statements included in our survey, it can be concluded that Kyrgyz students hold a positive perception towards Turkey and Turkish culture. The students exhibit favorable attitudes towards Turkish culture, view Turkey as a strong country, and express a desire to pursue education in Turkey. These findings indicate that the perception of Turkey among students at Kyrgyz -Turkish Manas University is generally positive.