Аннотация
The article considers the role of youth organizations as an agent ofsocialization, their appearance as a social institution. Authors analyzedexisting definitions of “youth groups”, they studied the existing youthassociations of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (students’ union“Sunkar”, students’ Senate, Supreme Student Council, Volunteer Movement“Komek”, Student bureau of the Bologna Process, Student ScientificSociety, Debate Clubs, the youth wing “ZhasOtan”). Today, the universityoperates 374 clubs and societies. There are patriotic clubs, clubs of professionaland scientific directions, amateur talent clubs, sports clubs, leadershipschools, social and educational clubs. During the period from 2010to 2014 the number of clubs and societies has increased to 2 times. Overthe past three academic years, the percentage of students involved in theactivities of clubs has increased by 2.2 times, and now constitute almost10 thousand of students, it is 65 % of the total amount of the students. Thisarticle examined the main directions and results of working of the “ZhasTur”student club which were organized in the department of recreationalgeography and tourism of al-Farabi Kazakh National University.