Training of timber industry managers during the first five-year plans

The industrialization of the forestry sector in the Soviet Union from the late 1920s through the early 1940s created a pressing need for skilled workers and management personnel. In response to the expansion of higher education institutions with specialized industrial focuses, industrial academies were established. This article aims to explore the development of higher forestry education in the USSR during the early five-year plans, focusing on the operations of the Arkhangelsk Academy, which was active from 1931 to 1941. The Academy was intended to prepare top-tier personnel for the timber industry, who would be equipped with knowledge of advanced technologies, alignment with Soviet government policies, and the ability to mobilize workers for various tasks. Analysis shows that during its organizational phase, the Academy benefited from its relationship with the Arkhangelsk Forestry Institute, which provided valuable resources and personnel. However, this ultimately led to the Academy falling behind other forestry educational institutions in terms of educational and scientific activities. It was found that graduates of the Arkhangelsk Industrial Academy were sought after for senior roles within trusts and enterprises. Nonetheless, by the late 1930s, the Academy began to replicate the functions of forestry engineering institutes focused on training engineers and advanced training institutes designed for senior personnel preparation, resulting in its eventual closure.