The round table "Human potential of the Arctic region: culture, science, education" was held at the initiative of Gubkin University

On 10 November 2020, the online round table was held to discuss the issues of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, the problems and growth points of human potential in the development of the Arctic region, training of personnel for the implementation of the Arctic projects. Gubkin University faculty members participated in the event.

The round table was organized at the initiative of the Scientific Council of the Professional Education Department of the Russian Academy of Education, headed by Mr. Vasily Zhurakovsky, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education, and Mr. Viktor Martynov, Rector of Gubkin University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education.

The event was aimed to contribute to a more systematic approach to the implementation of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic in the field of education and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of the North. 95 representatives from 17 constituent entities of the Russian Federation participated in the round table.

Opening the round table, Ms. Larisa Tsvetkova, acting Vice-President and Academician of the Russian Academy of Education, noted that the issues of the Arctic region are of special interest at the highest level of the country. It is evidence by a number of instructions issued by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin during the meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations, where attention is paid to the analysis of the practices of studying the languages of the peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East, the issues of targeted training of the indigenous peoples of these regions.

Gubkin University was represented by Dr. Sergey Grinyaev, Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Security of the Fuel and Energy Complex, and Dr. Pavel Kalashnikov, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Aided Design of Oil and Gas Industry Facilities, who delivered a presentation on the key role of education in the economic and social, scientific and technical development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

During the online meeting, the participants highlighted that the peculiarities of life and activities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation require special approaches in education, which should take into account the harsh natural and climatic conditions, environmental, globalization processes and phenomena, the national security, and the national interests. In addition, the participants discussed the need to develop northern models of psychological and pedagogical support for the professional development of students in Arctic universities, taking into account the needs of employers in specialists. Finally, the participants analyzed the features of the digital transformation of education, the possibility of establishing experimental sites at existing educational organizations to test promising areas in order to improve the quality of general and professional education based on pedagogical theories which take into account the cross-cultural characteristics of the peoples of the North, extreme natural and climatic conditions, high sensitivity of environmental systems of the Arctic to external influences. Targeted training was defined as an effective mechanism to meet the needs of employers for qualified and highly qualified specialists.

Based on the outcomes of the round table, it was decided to develop a resolution to be sent to the relevant ministries and agencies.