On April 12 to 16, the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum 2021 was held at Siberian Federal University. Rector of North-Eastern Federal University Anatoly Nikolaev presented a report on the activities of the university, and also was an expert at the discussion panel “Labor migration. How to retain necessary competencies in the country?".

Anatoly Nikolaev noted that the special geopolitical position of North-Eastern Federal University determines the priorities for its long-term development - the implementation of projects for the advanced development of the Far East and the North of Russia. “NEFU territory of responsibility, in accordance with the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2025, covers two priority geostrategic macro-regions of the country - the Far East and the Arctic zone of Russia. Following this, we have defined NEFU mission as the formation of a new generation of professionals who implement the values ​​and goals of sustainable development of the North and the Far East, influencing the solution of global problems of mankind,” said NEFU rector.

Anatoly Nikolaev noted the main limiting factors affecting the development of the university and the region as a whole. “In our case, the extreme nature and climatic conditions, climate change, and small number play a huge role. Another threat to the development of the Arctic zone and ensuring national security is the decline in natural population growth, migration outflow and, as a result, population decrease. The number of residents of the Far Eastern Federal District decreases by 0.3-0.5 percent annually, there is a significant gap from the national level in key social indicators," summarized the rector.

In addition, the Rector of North-Eastern Federal University expressed the idea that universities should be the center of attraction and set the task of retaining young people in the regions. “To do this, we actively cooperate with the real sector of the economy and work closely with all the largest enterprises operating in the macro-region. But all this will not be enough if comfortable living conditions are not created for the population, the prospects for growth and development are not shown for young specialists in the North-East of the country,” concluded Anatoly Nikolaev.