In this study we analyzed the role of a value structure in understanding today’s students. Analysis of the value orientations of the students is of current interest, as they are understood as a social and demographic group of youth characterized by the process of self-determination in life consciously defining their own life values. Students’ life values show things that are important to them, that are worthy to be taken care of, that benefit them, or may be their aim or ideal. The purpose of the article was to study and reveal the most important worldview and life values of today’s Kazakh youth in economic, political, social, and cultural contexts as well as to reveal theoretical and methodological approaches when studying value consciousness of the youth and conducting empirical measurements with subsequent analysis of the situation. Methods of the study were the following: sociological conceptualization, comparative approach, sociological survey. The questionnaire relates to the current problems of concern to the youth of Kazakhstan. A list of values, that the respondents had to choose, was submitted. The study represents a test directed to identifying the state of development of Kazakh society in view of similarities and differences of the values. From the perspective of important external changes occurring in the world, value structure within the country should be clearly understood. Preservation of independence depends on it. Today independence is a presence of identity. The identity is formed on the basis of similarity of values, cultivated by the country. The results of the sociological study comprise of the following: analysis of the scientific methodology of the values as a conceptual basis for further study; identification of difficulties occurring in the process of studying the issue of values; interpretation of the students’ evaluative judgement of students’ values; constants and transformation of civism and patriotism in value consciousness of the youth. Practical application is in evaluation of the status and future directions of implementation of the state youth policy in Kazakhstan.

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