Northern (Arctic) Federal University “Institute of Oil and Gas”

Among NArFU’s historical landmarks is the year 2011 – the period of its formation. In May, the university was joined by Pomor State University, Peter the Great Forestry Engineering College in Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk Technical College.

Pomor State UniversityPeter the Great Forestry Engineering CollegeSeverodvinsk Technical College

The university is updating and improving their educational programs. In particular in 2010, when new institutes were being formed on the basis of existing institutions and faculties – Institute of Construction and Architecture (based on ASTU Faculty of Construction), Institute of Energy and Transport (based on the Faculty of Industrial Power Engineering and Faculty of Mechanics), Forestry Engineering Institute (based on the Forestry Faculty, Faculty of Natural Resources and Faculty of Mechanical Wood Technology), Institute of Theoretical and Applied Chemistry (based on the Faculty of Chemistry), Institute of Oil and Gas, Institute of Economics, and Institute of Information and Space Technologies.

In 2012, the Integral Safety Institute appeared at NArFU. In the beginning it will offer only full-time studies at the bachelor level. The 2012 students who are going to be matriculated into “Technospheric Security” special program can major in the following three fields: “Protection in Emergency Situations”, “Fire Safety” and “Industrial safety”.

The third step in developing the university was merger with the federal higher education institution of Sevmashvtuz (Sevmash Technical College) in 2012. Further merging with three vocational schools in Severodvinsk and one in Nenets Autonomous Okrug is underway. With Severodvinsk educational institutions in its structure, NArFU will have a technological cluster in Severodvinsk.

Sevmashtuz will serve the basis for new Institute of Shipbuilding and Arctic Marine Engineering – an institution to appear in the framework of cooperation agreement with United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) signed in the late 2011.

The federal educational institution is young but has managed to take huge steps towards becoming a center for exploration and development of the Arctic. This is, by the way, also noted by the respected guests who visit NArFU.

This is how Aleksei Kudrin, former Finance Minister and now Chairman of the Board of Regents at NArFU, commented on the progress of the university in the second meeting of the board: “I admit that I have seen a lot of universities and today I was positively impressed. The university is only two years old and has made a serious progress. The research at NArFU is up to date. Here life is bubbling, and compared with other universities NArFU is not an inch behind.”

Let’s turn to examples to provide proofs. What are the university’s recent achievements?

Innovative scientific research is one of the most important activities the university is focusing on. In 2011, the volume of the funding allocated for science development purposes was doubled, as compared to 2010.

NArFU has completed the primary stage in formation of its scientific innovational system that includes a number of centers and laboratories. Among them are the Center of Collective Use of Scientific Equipment “Arktika” and the Center for Space Monitoring of the Arctic. The 12 modern laboratories gathered under the roof of “Arktika” Center make it possible for different groups of scientists to perform interdisciplinary research in one common place.

The opening in September 2011 of the electronic reading room of Boris Yeltsin presidential library can also be called a landmark project. This is a small model of the scientific library of the future – the heart, soul and mind of the university. Its implementation is a serious indicator of innovation. The small-scale model will give rise to a future mega-project – the building of a university research library to become the leading, and most important, super-modern spiritual book store in the region.

The construction of the new scientific university library started in March 2012 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Designed to become Russia’s most modern library, it will become a catalyst in the development of not only the university, but also the whole region.

In 2011, a unique publishing and printing complex named after V. N. Bulatov was opened. It is equipped with the machinery you cannot find in other parts of North-West Russia. Unquestionably, the new publishing and printing complex will make sure that scientific papers of NArFU professors and teachers, as well as other important and necessary printed products, will be published quickly.

No less important were the complex expeditions to the Arctic – to the Novaya Zemlya, Franz Joseph Land, the Northern Sea Route and the White Sea. On one of those trips, on board the vessel “Professor Molchanov”, the great idea of a “Floating University” was born. The idea was supported by the Russian Geographical Society and the Northern Hydrometeorological Department. In April 2012, the project even won the presidential grant!

The “Floating University” project allows the combination of the educational process and research activities directly on board the ship. The first voyage of the “Floating University” is scheduled for June 2012.

The 300th anniversary of Mikhail Lomonosov’s and the 150th anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen’s birthday were marked by several Russian and international scientific forums and meetings that took place both at the university and in the region. In 2012, many forms of cooperation were tested – joint seminars and meetings of students and PhD students from Russia and Norway. Five cooperation agreements with leading, educational, scientific and business structures in Norway were signed: Northern Research Institute (Norut) in Tromsø, University of Nordland (Bodø), The High North Center for Business and Governance (Bodø), and NArFUs strategic business partner – oil company «Statoil». This trend promises to continue.

2012 was a year-long celebration of the signing of the Kirkenes Declaration and the establishment of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region. A lot of work has been done for the past two decades. The international activities of NArFU were acknowledged by the Ministry of Education in December 2011, when the Minister of Education Andrey Fursenko handed the award from the government to NArFU rector Elena Kudryashova. In the coming year, NArFU will be tasked with the development of its core policies, the strategy and program for developing its institutes, and the formation of a system for working with the regional authorities in the North-West federal districts.

The university has established close cooperation with the regional authorities in Arkhangelsk. Employees at NArFU are taking part in working groups within the Russian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Education – which all in some way are related to the Arctic – and have participated in the development of several federal programs. Among them are the “2020 Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Region”, “Strategic Goals for Economic Development in the North-West Federal District”, “NArFU Development Program”. Another project has recently been given a go ahead: “Arkhangelsk – the University City”. The provisions stated in these documents are of great importance for both NArFU and Arkhangelsk oblast and an important part of the federal development.

Among NArFU’s other projects are the Day of Arctic, which was celebrated for the first time on the 29th of February 2012. The day had a serious program of events, which were attended by Igor Orlov, the governor of Arkhangelsk oblast.

Faculties of Northern (Arctic) Federal University “Institute of Oil and Gas”:

• Faculty of Power Engineering, Oil and Gas
• Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and International Communication
• Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technologies
• Faculty of Information Technologies and Automated Systems
• Faculty of Economics, Management and Law
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Psychology, Pedagogy and Physical Education

Student Accommodation

Conditions:

• University residence halls consist of 13 buildings;
• Types of rooms:
• “Standard”;
• “Comfort”;
• “Family”;
• Each dormitory provides rest room and laundry. Some of them have a gym;

All dormitories are located in close proximity to public transport, shopping centers and NARFU campuses;

Dorm “Standard”

Student residence is composed of comfortable fully furnished double and triple rooms. Washroom and kitchen are shared among residents of the same floor / unit.

Dorm “Comfort”

The hostel facilities: a standard room (for 1 person) and a large room (for 2 persons), shared kitchen (for 5-10 persons) and bathroom (for 2 persons). Room and kitchen are furnished. Wi-Fi is available. “Comfort” rooms are by default booked for our short-term students and researchers.

Arkhangelsk City

Arkhangelsk is a city located in the north of the European part of Russia at the mouth of the Severnaya (North) Dvina River, about 30-35 km from its confluence with the White Sea. It is the capital of Arkhangelsk Oblast.

Arkhangelsk – Features

Arkhangelsk is the largest city in the north of European Russia, which includes Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Vologda oblasts, the Komi Republic, and the Karelia Republic. Since this city is located at the mouth and on both banks of the Northern Dvina River, it has a lot of bridges on its territory.

Arkhangelsk is depicted on the front side of the Russian banknote of 500 rubles – the monument to Peter I and the building of the Arkhangelsk Sea-River Station.

The coat of arms of Arkhangelsk was approved in 1780. Here is the description: “In the golden field of the shield you see the flying Archangel, who is armed with a fiery sword and shield and defeats the downed devil.” The historical coat of arms of Arkhangelsk, which had not been used in Soviet times, was restored on October 10, 1989.

The climate of Arkhangelsk is temperate, marine with long moderately cold winters and short cool summers. The average temperature in January is minus 12.7 degrees Celsius, in July – plus 16.3 degrees Celsius.

Arkhangelsk is characterized by frequent weather changes, high humidity and a large number of days with precipitation. With the invasion of cold air from Siberia, frosts of minus 30 degrees Celsius are possible in winter. At the same time, there are sometimes thaws. In summer, heat is possible up to plus 35 degrees Celsius.

The period of White Nights lasts from May 17 to July 26. During this period, in clear weather, natural light allows you to perform most types of work around the clock, including reading. Polar night and polar day are not observed in Arkhangelsk.

In Arkhangelsk there are enterprises of timber processing, fishing, microbiological, mechanical engineering, ship repair industries. The leading role in the local economy belongs to the lumber industry. These enterprises produce over 40% of the total volume of products manufactured in Arkhangelsk. Lumber, paper, cardboard, pulp, as well as fish still remain the basis of Arkhangelsk trade with other regions of Russia and countries.

This is one of the largest transport hubs in the north-west of Russia. Important railways and highways begin here, there are large sea and river ports, and two airports Arkhangelsk (Talagi) and Vaskovo. The flights to/from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Murmansk, Sochi, as well as some other destinations are available. The city is an important center for road transport. It is the end of the federal highway M8 “Kholmogory”. This is the only highway that connects the city with the center of Russia.