Thematic network of University of Arctic on regional and local development on the basis of University college Finnmark

University of the Arctic – is a joint network of more than 120 universities, colleges and institutes working in the field of higher education and research in the Nordic countries:  Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, the Scandinavian countries of Europe. The overall objective - is steady and continuous development of the circumpolar region by creating favorable conditions for the northerners and northern peoples through education and the sharing of knowledge. University of the Arctic members share resources, facilities and expertise to create higher education programs that are relevant and accessible to students in these countries. University of the Arctic is developing an education that is relevant to the circumpolar region and is interdisciplinary in nature, uses the combined efforts of Member States to address the unique challenges. All members of the University recognize the vital role of indigenous peoples in northern education and strive to carry out their activities according to their vision. Much attention is paid to the University of the Arctic development and implementation of innovative projects, and this form of work as a thematic network is the main tool applied in this direction.

Thematic Network "Regional and Local Development", which led Professor Tor Gjertsen, established on the basis of Finnmark University College in 2006 and includes the universities of Canada, Norway, Finland and Russia. The strategic goal of the network - capacity building for sustainable development of northern communities in the economic, social, scientific and cultural spheres through the strengthening of theoretical knowledge and practical skills in management and management of regional resources. The basis for the creation of this international network, which includes partners from Canada, Scandinavia and Russia, has served many years of the professional experience at University College, dealing with issues of the local and the regional development in Northern Norway. Priority is given to cooperation in small municipalities and few settlements in the circumpolar region. The task of creating a strong sustainable circumpolar region by supporting the northerners and northern communities through joint educational, social, business projects here for the past five years, the mission of the network.

Types of the work:

• a)  Cooperation in the field of research and development;

• b)    joint seminars, workshops, schools and conferences;

• c)  the creation of the socio-economic partnerships that include representatives of

governments, the business community and social organizations;

• d) the creation of online platforms and databases on regional development and

innovation;

• e)    the academic mobility of students and teachers;

• f)    The establishment of joint courses and training programs.

Some of the topics discussed in the framework of the thematic networks:

• 1)    assessment of innovation and organizational capacity of the northern territories;

• 2)    human resources innovation and social institutions of the North;

• 3)    development model of municipal and local government;

• 4)    characteristics of tourism development of the northern territories;

• 5)    the local community and economic development in the future of cross-border cooperation;

• 6)    cross-border business and business strategy;

• 7)    the development of business in a multicultural environment;

• 8)    cooperation in the field of sports in the Barents region;

• 9)    The role of international cooperation in improving the living standards of remote areas;

• 10)    the development and the implementation of joint master's program "Management of regional and local development."

The soacil and economic partnership and practical seminars

Through a series of the internationalization of the applied research projects in the field of local and regional development through conducting practical oriented workshops and the creation of socio-economic partnerships in the remote northern community properties of thematic network is making a significant contribution to the process of accumulation of knowledge and skills, adapt to the new global community of dozens of residents villages, villages, communities, communes Yakutia, the Arkhangelsk Region and is now the Republic of Komi. 22-31 March 2011 Thematic Network held a number of meetings in Arkhangelsk, Syktyvkar, Ukhta and Izhme the upcoming workshops and summer business school in June 2011 in the framework of the joint project "The new partnership for social and economic development of the area Izhemskiy Komi."

The project began to take a more concrete form, overgrown with organizational details and competent people in December 2010. Copyrights belong to the Project of Interregional Public Movement of Komi-Izhemtsy "Izvatas" - an organization representing the interests of the most competent of the indigenous population. On their initiative, a partnership like that work successfully in northern Norway, and was founded in Izhme. It included representatives of local and regional authorities, the business community, cultural and social organizations, universities Ukhta and Syktyvkar, Komi Republican Academy of Public Administration and Management, a business incubator of the Republic of Komi. Athletic "dimension", which has always been important for Izhmy and in which there is something to be proud Izhemtsy represent Honored Master of Sports, repeated champion of the USSR, Europe, World and Olympic Raisa Smetanina and Honored Master of Sports, Olympic Champy-one, world and European champion and 12-time champion of the USSR Vasily Rochev. One

of the most important tasks Izhemskiy partnership is to develop a multi-level program of the development of the area, covering all spheres: economic, cultural, sports, social institutions, and education. But first is economy.

Farming and herding, which mainly lives Izhma are not in good shape today, but the potential for growth is huge. Norwegian partners it became clear after the first conducted in December by "mapping" of existing and potential new business projects in the area. There are also good opportunities for alternative employment, for example in the field of tourism. The rich culture and artistic traditions Izhemtsy its color has always attracted public attention. Colorful history of the region since its inception decent proof.

The problem of employment is one of the biggest problems in the Russian village as a whole. That's why the most attention is given to the project Izhemsky small businesses, specifically - the preparation, training of human resources in connection with the creation of new and development of existing small businesses in each and every village of the district. But it is important not just to business school, workshops and develop a program of development of the area, the overall picture that will neatly way "inscribed" every single business project, social or educational undertaking. It is important to organize an effective system of support and advice to school students during a critical to any business three years. This problem - the main Izhme created for socio-economic partnership.

Such a serious international cooperation project could not get the support of the Deputy Head of the Republic of Komi Alexey Chernov and the Ministry of Economic Development. From the Norwegian side of the thematic network and its director Professor Univer-sitetskogo Finnmark College Tour Gertsen enlisted the support of the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and the Ministry of Education, Norway. Also, all the preliminary meetings Izhme, carried dimyh for the potential students of the

summer school, media project ideas and curious, to inform you of upcoming events and progress of the project as a whole, there are always representatives of the Komi national television, print and online publications. Media interest confirms the interest of the public in the coming changes Izhme. Perhaps tempting to look for the journalists' presence Norwegian ": that the interests of Izhmu associated with one of the most prosperous countries in the world. A lot of interest, but more importantly, that such international "spice" helps Izhemtsy "open door", which previously had been closed to them.

Tour Gertsen said that "the experience we have gained in the development and implementation of regional workshops in nine small municipalities in Finnmark since joining in 2003 not only contributed to an order of magnitude more effective socio-economic development of these communities, but also served as the basis for creating new highly professional educational programs and courses that are now the Finnmark University College is able to offer the education market where competition is only growing. We have implemented this principle and in Yakutia. Now the turn of the Komi Republic. The scheme of such projects on the Norwegian honed northern municipalities, rural areas of Yakutia. Those professionals who are involved in the project Izhemsky know which terms are necessary for success. All of these components are slowly. But the main work has just begun. "

In Yakutia, innovation and entrepreneurship has been for three years, are the central themes of these summer schools, to organize the most active and reliable member of the thematic network Financial and Economic Institute at the North-Eastern Federal University. Director and mastermind of the institute is Natalia Okhlopkova. Under her wise leadership, in collaboration with the international thematic network of rural conducted many workshops, summer schools in remote communities of the Republic of Sakha, and close to Yakutsk. In addition to the contribution of Canadian, Finnish and Norwegian experts of international students of the course "Management of local and regional development" are actively involved in the planning and implementation of activities in the rural areas of Yakutia.

It is no wonder that with such a thorough approach Yakut result exceeded expectations of the school. About 50 new businesses were created in the two rural municipalities: Hatystyr with a population of only 780 people and Oktemtsy with a population of 3300 inhabitants. The vast majority of these business projects are successfully operating to this day, two or three years later! For people working with the likes of business undertakings is no secret that the number of "survivors" after three years of the projects is on different data no more than 10%.

"The results in Russia are comparable to those which we achieve at home, in Norway, in the case of small rural municipalities, and often, in fact, much, much better," - says the Tour Gertsen.не более 10 %.

This success is due the fact that entrepreneurs who have decided to build your new business, actively participate in the socio-economic partnership, jointly deciding how their business will "inscribed" in the overall economic picture of the village or area, what other businesses it will interact, on what kind of support from the municipality if, whether the republic, the villagers if he can count on. Thus, there is a kind of network infrastructure, a system in which the aspiring entrepreneur does not feel like a lone warrior on the "field of battle" with the tax returns, finding a commodity market, legal affairs, room rent and hire workers.

Perhaps the "secret ingredient" in the scheme, which at first glance is not something phenomenal, is the principle of the "bottom - up" - that is, from the people. Here it is, the very principle of democracy, for which many in Russia, "hunt", but not all catch it, and the more able to apply.

In mid-June, after the completion of the first phase of the project Izhemskiy - year business school and three workshops in Sizyabske, Diyure and, in fact, Izhme - two populations of small indigenous peoples of Yakutia, and Tyngyly Namcy waiting to his thematic network of international specialists and experts Financial economic Institute to launch a new series of workshops and schools with the same goal - to make life better in my native land. The experience of local and regional development in Yakutia, and now in the Republic of Komi will form the basis of the further projects in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. In August 2011 at Kholmogorsky area with the participation of the thematic network will run the second part of the other, previously developed for rural areas of the Arkhangelsk region of the project "Living Village".