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Dr. Hakima Ershidin (Uyghur: ھەكىمە ئەرشىدىن, Chinese: 艾克吗艾尔西丁) was born on November 28, 1951, in Chashliq village, Unsu County, within Aksu province of East Turkistan (also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region). She distinguished herself as the first female from the region to earn a PhD in Higher Education and passed away on September 18, 2023, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Dr. Ershidin was among the most esteemed Uyghur educators, writers, interpreters, professors, translators, and promoters of Uyghur culture. Her significant contributions were particularly notable during her tenure as the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education's Foreign Affairs Office in Xinjiang, where she played a crucial role in supporting newly graduated students, both undergraduates and graduates, in their efforts to study abroad primarily in Japan, Germany, Europe, and North America. She was instrumental in helping many students apply for major scholarships.

Early Life

After graduating with honors from #1 High School in Aksu, Dr. Ershidin began her career as a technician at a local radio station. In 1970, she was admitted to the English Department at Fudan University. She mastered Chinese during nighttime classes while pursuing her English studies by day. Recognized as an honored student, she was frequently invited to speak at various universities across Shanghai. After completing her degree in 1973, she was appointed as an English professor at Xinjiang University, where she primarily taught English to classes consisting of Han Chinese students.

Challenging Periods and Advocacy

In the summer of 1973, while resting at home, Dr. Ershidin survived a knife attack by an individual dressed as a burglar from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), which left her critically injured. The attacker was sentenced to only two years in prison by the Chinese government and was subsequently released.

Translations and Academic Pursuits

Post-recovery, Dr. Ershidin embarked on translating Xu Guozhang's English curriculum volumes 1 through 4 into Uyghur to benefit Uyghur students. She completed this project and delivered the final drafts to the Xinjiang People's Book Publishing Company in 1978. Although initially unpublished, in the early 2000s, these works were finally published in Uyghur under another author's name, raising questions about the originality of the material used.

While pregnant with her second son, Dr. Ershidin translated and published "Kashgaria," a book originally in Russian (translated by Kuropatkin, A), into the Uyghur language.

Further Education and International Influence

In 1985, she attended an advanced English Language program at London University. A year later, she was admitted to a post-doctoral program in higher education administration at the same institution. She completed her thesis in 1990—a comparative study of the educational experiences of Uyghur and Han Chinese populations from 1949 to 1990 in Xinjiang—and received her PhD degree.

From 1991 to 1998, Dr. Ershidin returned to Xinjiang and resumed her role as Deputy Director at the Ministry of Education's Foreign Affairs Office. During this period, she helped establish new student exchange programs with Japan and Germany, including full scholarships, and collaborated with a UK educational organization to create a one-year, full-time, fast-tracked English Teacher training program.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1999, Dr. Ershidin immigrated to Vancouver, BC, Canada, with her two sons. She continued her work in various industries, including at the Canada Immigration and Refugee Board, the Provincial Health Authority, Omni College, and other post-secondary institutions, until her death in 2023. Dr. Ershidin's enduring legacy as a scholar, advocate, and community leader continues to inspire those within and beyond the Uyghur community.