Migration Attitudes of the Students Enrolled in Arctic-Focused Higher Education Programs

• Published in: Economic and social changes: facts, trends, forecast / Экономические и социальные перемены: факты, тенденции, прогноз
• Main Authors: Zaikov Konstantin S., Katorin Igor’ V., Tamitskii Aleksandr M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Vologda Research Center 2018
• Subjects: arctic region; migration factors; migration sentiments; migration intentions; student youth; Sociology (General); HM401-1281; Arctic; Yakutsk; Murmansk; Arkhangelsk
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15838/esc.2018.3.57.15; https://doaj.org/article/dc6b03c53fa642acaa41dbf513e89c97

The article presents the findings of a sociological survey conducted in the regions that are partially or completely included in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (hereinafter – the Russian Arctic). The goal of our research is to study migration attitudes of students and determine the factors affecting the readiness of future skilled personnel to leave the territory of the Russian Arctic. The survey was conducted among students enrolled in Arctic-focused higher education programs and trained for the needs of the economy and social sphere of the polar regions of Russia in the cities of Arkhangelsk, Murmansk, Krasnoyarsk and Yakutsk. The study pays considerable attention to information-related and educational factors associated with the subject matter of the Arctic (“Arctic-focused” education; assessment of the extent of Arctic-related specifics of educational programs; awareness of specifics of formation of the Russian Arctic, and others). According to the results of the survey, migration attitudes of students are identified as quite strong. We have confirmed the hypothesis that when students consider their preparation for the future Arctic-focused specialty, they generally reduce the level of their migration attitudes and do not express a strong intention to leave the region. Internal migration is the dominant direction of potential student migration. Migration preferences of students are almost equally divided between capitals and other regions of Russia. Among the capital regions, Saint Petersburg is the most popular one, and the regions of Central and Southern Russia are most popular among the provincial ones. Most potential migrants collected information on living conditions and specifics of moving, both in person and at a distance. Some of them were looking for a job in a new region (country), and only a few were engaged in specific preparation for moving. Migration intentions of students are primarily related to economic factors. Psychological and information-educational factors affect the delay in ...