The article analyzes the data from sociology survey conducted at the universities in Kazakhstan. The study of opinions and value orientations among university respondents regarding the issues of social responsibility reveals that the modern state of this practice in Kazakhstan. The conducted survey and analysis of university development programs reveal that social responsibility today is not as prioritized as, for instance, breakthrough scientific research development programs. However, although social work is not being delivered on articulate/well-defined objectives of implementing social functions, it is widely implemented by the universities in Kazakhstan. In most cases, it is derived from implementation of other functions, such as education, training, and research. The survey data has allowed understanding how academic community interprets the social work content and its main directions of implementation. The case of the al-Farabi Kazakh National University is used for examination of the most common forms of interaction with government, businesses and society for implementing the social function, including science and research projects that account for regional necessities, participation in development of legislative bills, creating professional and non-government associations, development of volunteering programs, introduction of additional forms of education, and etc. Also, the authors analyze facilitating and impeding reasons and factors of universities' socially oriented activities.
