The idea of establishing a higher education institution in the city of Guryev (present-day Atyrau) emerged even before the outbreak of the Second World War. The growing demand for qualified teachers in the region's schools and educational institutions made the creation of a local institute of higher education an urgent necessity.

At that time, Guryev had no higher education institution other than the Pedagogical College, which had been established in 1929 to train primary school teachers. As the number of general education schools in the region increased year by year, the supply of highly qualified teaching professionals remained insufficient. Graduates from universities across Kazakhstan and neighbouring republics were unable to meet the region's growing educational needs.

To address this issue, on 13 October 1939, the Council of People's Commissars of the Kazakh SSR adopted Resolution No. 720, authorising the establishment of a two-year Teachers' Institute in Guryev. In accordance with this resolution and the academic programmes approved by the Council of People's Commissars and the People's Commissariat of Education of the Kazakh SSR, the Guryev Regional Executive Committee adopted Resolution No. 13 on 20 May 1940, officially establishing the institute. The resolution provided for the admission of 120 first-year students, and the institute officially commenced its educational activities on 1 September 1940.

Under the approved plan, the newly established institute was allocated the building of the city's Pedagogical College, while the college was relocated to the former V. I. Lenin Primary School building. The Regional Executive Committee was also responsible for providing accommodation for 120 students.

At the same time, the Council of People's Commissars of the Kazakh SSR was petitioned to include the construction of a new academic building and a 500-bed student residence in the 1941 development plan. In addition, the director of KazakhKitap, Alekseyev, was instructed to supply the institute's library with textbooks, teaching aids, and academic literature.

The Head of the Regional Department of Education, I. Serzhanov, was entrusted with overseeing all preparatory and organisational work for the institute's opening. His responsibilities included organising preparatory courses from 1 June 1940, ensuring the enrolment of the planned 120 students, recruiting academic staff, and equipping the institute with textbooks, teaching materials, and educational equipment. He was also instructed to appoint the institute's director and deputy director for academic and research affairs and submit their appointments for approval to the People's Commissariat of Education of the Kazakh SSR and the Committee for Higher Education under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR.

The first director of the Guryev State Teachers' Institute was Abdi Boshynuly Tursynbayev, who later became a distinguished historian, Professor, and Honoured Scientist of the Kazakh SSR.

The institute officially opened on 1 September 1940.

Address:
1 Moscow Street, Guryev (present-day Atyrau), Kazakhstan.

However, only one year after its establishment, the institute suspended its operations following the outbreak of the Second World War.