Transformation of the Personnel Training System for Oil and Gas Projects in the Russian Arctic

Ekaterina Samylovskaya,Dmitriy Medvedev,Sergey Grinyaev,Alfred Nordmann,Regina-Elizaveta Kudryavtseva

doi:10.3390/resources9110137

Abstract

This paper analyses the process of transforming specialist training systems for oil and gas projects in the Arctic, which has been taking place within the structure of education in Russia over the past decade. Using classical methods of analysis, synthesis, and classification, the authors studied the main global trends in training personnel for the Arctic and the manifestations of these trends in the system of training Russian specialists. To identify the qualitative characteristics of the educational system development, the authors applied the survey method and composed a list of leading universities in training personnel for the Russian Arctic, as well as the “Arctic professions of the future”. As a result of the study, the authors came to the conclusion that global trends in training “Arctic personnel” show the need to develop an interdisciplinary approach, to form basic knowledge in Natural Sciences, to study the socio-cultural specifics of the region, to develop new educational standards, to implement the concept of ‘Life Long Learning’, to widely introduce digital technologies and to internationalize education. In general, the Russian personnel training system is adapting to changing conditions, in particular, some progress has been made in the formation of “digital” competencies and skills to work in a developed IT infrastructure. The introduction of “digital fields” has led to an increase in the demand for IT specialists in the Arctic oil and gas sector. With the help of an expert survey, it was revealed that in the future, the most popular professions, along with “drillers” and transport specialists, will be IT specialists who ensure the “digital fields” functioning. The leading Russian universities that train specialists for modern oil and gas projects in the Arctic have been identified. It is noted that not all leading industry universities in Russia are participating in international educational projects and organizations. There is skepticism about the internationalization of education.

Highlights

In the vector of development of both the global and Russian economy, the Arctic is the most important region with a huge potential for the Russian oil and gas industry
This study focuses on studying the directions of transformation of the personnel training system
It is noteworthy that 100% of the respondents who took part in the survey agree with the statement that there is currently a shortage of qualified personnel for implementing Russian oil and gas projects in the Arctic

Summary

Introduction

In the vector of development of both the global and Russian economy, the Arctic is the most important region with a huge potential for the Russian oil and gas industry. The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation has 7.3 billion tons of oil reserves and 55 trillion cubic meters of natural gas [1], so Russia is developing an extensive program to develop production capacities and realize the potential of the region [2]. Arctic resources are of considerable interest to non-regional powers. According to American analysts, the most aggressive policy is led by China, which, according to their estimates, is the largest investor in the Arctic countries [3,4]. Other major economies (Japan, Germany, France, Great Britain, etc.) are actively expanding their participation in developing the region [5]. They are suppliers of technologies that ensure the extraction of hydrocarbons on the Arctic shelf, as well as of competencies for working with these technologies

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Conclusion