Analyzing trends in training highly qualified personnel in the interests of strategic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

The research urgency is caused by implementing the investment projects for the development of raw material base and transport infrastructure, solution of the long-term goals of socio-economic development, ensuring national security of the Russian Arctic which are provided by the Basic Principles of Russian Federation State Policy in the Arctic to 2035 and the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation up to 2020. One of the priorities is training of highly qualified personnel for work in the extreme natural and economic conditions of the Arctic, which will increase the efficiency of labor results and ensure comprehensive safety of the population. The purpose of the study is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of highly qualified personnel training in the interests of the development of the Russian Arctic in 2015-2018. The scientific novelty and theoretical significance of the article is due to the fact that the implementation of the so-called “Arctic” educational programs by Russian universities, including those belonging to the National Arctic Scientific and Educational Consortium, is monitored using sociological and analytical methods. Based on the results of the study and the existing experience, the authors propose the ways to improve the quality of training, including updating educational standards, using network forms of higher education, developing targeted training and innovative research infrastructure, and creating a world-class research and education center based on the universities in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The researchers make a conclusion about the possibility of using the study results when developing the measures of regional labor management policy, as well as the formation of expert and analytical opinion on the issues of highly qualified personnel training at the institutes of higher education in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The materials of the article have been repeatedly tested and can be used in the educational process at universities. A further scientific search may be associated with an attempt to compare the features of personnel training at the universities of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and the University of the Arctic.