The life of university students is not limited to academic activities only - they have a lot of opportunities for active and useful leisure activities.

Students Philharmonic was founded in 2003 on the initiative of the Rector of S. Toraighyrov Pavlodar State University Erlan Aryn.

Owing to the initiative of the University management, PSU students (including those from large and/or low-income families, as well as orphan students) have the opportunity to learn the universal and national values. In recent years, the University has become a cultural center of the city and region. PSU hosts regional and national festivals and competitions, such as “Student Spring”, “Miss PSU”, “Yertis Zhuldyzdary”, and “Zhas Tolkyn”.

The Student Philharmonic includes student groups in various fields of art. This is where talented students of the University and College can find an activity that suits them most. During the academic year, these groups make performances, give anniversary and themed concerts for fellow students, residents of cities and villages of our region. Among these groups, there are "Shabyt" pop music studio, vocal and instrumental ensemble, student theater, “Ak Zhelen” folklore ensemble.

4 creative teams of the Student Philharmonic were awarded the title of National Groups in 2006. These are “Yertis Zhuldyzdary” vocal studio, “Jam” contemporary dance group, and “Ak Yerke” dance studio. In 2009, these groups successfully defended this title.

The main objectives of the Student Philharmonic are:

• organization, management and control of cultural and leisure activities of the University;

• organization of work of students' creative groups aimed at raising the overall standard of culture of students by means of introducing them to the achievements of world and national culture;

• forming the need for a healthy lifestyle, aesthetic education of gifted students;

• conducting mass cultural events among students and members of the teaching staff;

• organization of celebrations dedicated to important dates and holidays.

Formation of the need for a healthy lifestyle, aesthetic education of talented students

The Student Philharmonic carries out various activities working in close cooperation with the Department of Internal Policy, Organizations of Veterans of the region, Nur Otan National Democratic Party and its youth branch (Zhas Otan), Student Union, Students' Alliance of Kazakhstan, military units and schools, Center for a Healthy Lifestyle, Drug Rehabilitation Center, Samal rehabilitation center, Department of Languages, Department of Tourism, Physical Culture and Sports.

Holding Mass Cultural Events for Students and Teaching Staff Members

Mass cultural events are held in the following areas:

- artistic (organizing competitions and festivals in various art movements and genres, which are divided into international (“Shabyt”, “Zhas Kanat”, “Yertis Zhuldyzdary”), national (“Zhas Tolkyn”, “Dos Mukasan”, “Kelsenshi Maghan, An Bolyp”, “Felicita”, “Bakyt Kushaghynda”), regional (“Altyn Dauys”, “Yertis Tolkyny”), city (aytys for akyns, “Ana Tilim – Ardaghym”, festival held by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan entitled “Living in One Family”), and University (“Super Star”, “Competition for Readers and Hosts”, “Til Sheberi”, “Student Spring”, “Mushayra”, “Days of National Cuisines”);

- career guidance (meetings with and concerts for school-leavers in urban and rural areas, residents of the region) ;

- mass entertainment (shows and programs for students and teaching staff members, KVN teams performances, etc);

- holding national, regional and city subject Olympiads; presentations and opening of lecture halls named after prominent people, and new academic buildings.

Organization of festive events commemorating important dates and holidays

According to the University work plan, the Student Philharmonic holds events dedicated to the public and national holidays (Day of the Republic, Constitution Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, People’s Unity Day, Nauryz Meyramy, New Year, International Women's Day, Teacher's Day, Seniors Day, and the Day of Memory of Political Repressions Victims).

Music discs are released every year. Among them, there are “Kereku-Bayan Auenderi”, 5 volumes of “Nostalgie” (songs of 70's and 80's), “Wartime Songs”, “Asia Duet Songs”, solo album by Ye. Aytbayev, “Songs by Sh. Kaldayakov”, “Songs by N. Tlendiyev”, “Songs by I. Zhakanov”. A compilation entitled “Golden Disk of S. Toraighyrov PSU” commemorating the 5th anniversary of the Student Philharmonic and 45th anniversary of the University includes 500 songs by Philharmonic soloists of different years.

The Student Philharmonic has a solid material base. It has everything from costumes of art groups to loudspeaker installations and lighting equipment for the concert hall.

Every year the Student Philharmonic prepares a work plan in accordance with the annual plan of the University, middle-term development program of PSU, taking into consideration the interests and needs of students and faculties.

The main areas of the Student Philharmonic activity:

- civil and legal (various activities held in cooperation with the Department of Internal Policy of the region, Organizations of Veterans of the region, city and University, Nur Otan National Democratic Party and its youth branch (Zhas Otan), Student Union, Students' Alliance of Kazakhstan, military units and schools);

- artistic (competitions and festivals in various artistic movements and genres);

- career guidance (meetings with and concerts for school-leavers in urban and rural areas, residents of the region);

- mass entertainment (shows and programs, KVN teams performances).

Besides, the Philharmonic is actively involved in the implementation of the “50 Specific Steps towards the 50th Anniversary of S. Toraighyrov Pavlodar State University” program (2006-2010). 3 specific areas are outlined - scientific and practical conferences and contests, themed and commemorative events, and away concerts. Participation of members of Philharmonic in such events also contributes to the formation of a high cultural level.

Right now, the work is underway to involve students in the implementation of innovative ideas of creative teams and Student Philharmonic. The work in the field of improvement of the quality of the organized events is carried out on a permanent basis. In order to engage students in the work of the Philharmonic, annual castings are held for those who want to participate in performance ensembles of the Philharmonic.

All students who want to have fun in their free time are invited to join the creative teams of the Student Philharmonic located at 64 Lomov Str., rooms 23 and 24.

Student Assembly of People of Kazakhstan

Student Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, a branch of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, was established on the initiative of the Akim of Pavlodar region on May 30, 2007.

Students of 35 nationalities study at the University.

PSU students attend 18 national and cultural associations of the city. They participate in mass cultural events of the city and region, i.e. national holidays, exhibitions of arts and crafts, festivals and competitions in mother tongue proficiency, knowledge of customs and ceremonies.

As of 2008-2011 academic years, students of 33 nationalities study at the University. Working in accordance with the work plan of Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, Student Assembly of PSU held a celebration of Nauryz Meyramy. They organized a yurt camp of 6 yurts for representative of 6 nationalities: German, Russian, Korean, Azerbaijan, Tatar-Bashkir and Kazakh. Participation in regional celebration ("Halo, Nachbarn!") held by the German center. The members of the Student Assembly gave concerts in Irtyshsk area with the "Elpida" Greek center, participated in the events dedicated to Kazakhstan People's Unity Day (May 1) at the central square of the city and in the ethnic festival called Birlik, which was organized by the School of National Revival.

Participation in scientific and practical conference “Formation of Kazakhstan Patriotism among the Youth” which was organized by the School of National Revival. The Deputy Chairman of the Student Assembly of the People Kazakhstan Julia Mekhmanova made a report entitled “Formation of Kazakhstan Patriotism by the Example of the Student Assembly of the People Kazakhstan of S. Toraighyrov PSU”.

The program of the away session of the Coordinating Council of Youth Associations of Junior Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan and Student Assembly of People of Kazakhstan of S. Toraighyrov Pavlodar State University at Bayantau resort hotel included a round table meeting entitled “Youth and Inter-ethnic Harmony”, festival and creative contest “Ring of Friendship”, trainings and sessions.

Within the State Program for Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan, PSU students took part in the events dedicated to the Day of Memory of Political Repressions Victims and also participated in the international festival entitled "Days of Greek Culture in Siberian Athens".

PSU has hosted the festival of national cuisines (German, Tatar - Bashkir, Armenian, Polish, Belarusian) for 4 years, as well as the festival of national-cultural centers dedicated to the 10th anniversary of our capital and 70th anniversary of the Pavlodar region.

According to the action plan of the Student Assembly for the 2010-2011 academic year, the following events were held: competition among the "Altyn Zhastar" members, where students of different nationalities studying at our University demonstrated the culture, customs and traditions of their people in a dramatized form; in December of 2010, the members of Student Assembly held an event called “Ethnic New Year”, where students of the Culturology speciality demonstrated how different nationalities celebrate New Year; on Nauryz Meyramy, the members of the Assembly organized a yurt camp of 6 yurts for representatives of 6 nationalities: German, Russian, Korean, Azerbaijan, Tatar-Bashkir and Kazakh; on May 1 (Kazakhstan People's Unity Day), the Student Philharmonic and Student Assembly prepared a festive concert, which featured Greek, Uzbek, Kazakh, Azerbaijani, Ukrainian, Bulgarian songs and dances of the peoples of the world; the International Festival of Student Youth “Yertis Zhuldyzdary”; scientific and practical conference entitled “Formation of Kazakhstan Patriotism among the Youth” within the State Program for Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the events dedicated to the Day of Memory of Political Repressions Victims and participation in the international festival entitled “Days of Greek Culture in Siberian Athens”.

University students are members of the youth ethnic and cultural associations, they take an active part in summer festivals held by creative teams of national cultural centers and youth organizations (e.g. “Living in One Family”).