Structural contradictions and reserves of integration of indigenous peoples of the North into the Arctic higher education space
А. О. Ljovkina University of Tyumen, Tyumen, Russian Federation, a.o.lyovkina@utmn.ru
G. F. Detter Scientific Center for Arctic Studies, Salekhard, Russian Federation, detter@mail.ru
ABSTRACT
Introduction: in the context of accelerating urbanization, industrial expansion, and the implementation of large Arctic infrastructure projects, education for indigenous peoples of the North is ceasing to be a mere tool for social mobility and is becoming a strategic resourceeither
for assimilation or for cultural and legal agency. In this context, the question becomes particularly pressing: how can education be transformed from a mechanism for alienation from traditional living conditions to a tool for their protection and sustainable development?
Objective: to identify structural contradictions and reserves for the integration of indigenous peoples of the North into the Arctic higher education system.
Research materials: the research corpus consists of narratives collected during field interviews with representatives of indigenous peoples of the North, processed using a hybrid method combining computational qualitative analysis and data interpretation.
Results and novelty of the research: unlike studies documenting a general gap between institutional education and traditional practices, this study, based on 50 field interviews, is the first to identify seven potential transformational factors in Arctic higher education. These factors facilitate the transition of indigenous peoples from policy targets to co-designers of the educational environment. These factors have a dual focus: simultaneously integrating into modernity and strengthening their identity. These identified potential factors allowed us to propose three interconnected transformational concepts for Arctic higher education: “An Arctic-Oriented Education Model”, “Arctic Universities”, and “Digital Tundra”.
Key words: Arctic, higher education, indigenous peoples of the North, agency, Arctic-oriented model
Acknowledgments: the research was conducted with the financial support of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug State Autonomous Institution “Arctic Research Center”. We also express our gratitude to the research volunteers and interviewers who participated in the study.
For citation: Lyovkina A. O., Detter G. F. Structural contradictions and reserves of integration of indigenous peoples of the North into the Arctic higher education space // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2026; 16 (2/65): 358–370. DOI: 10.30624/2220-4156-
2026-16-2-358-370
