Barents Specialists Network joins together educational institutions, teachers, researchers, students and other interested people from four countries: EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDSTATE PROVINCIAL OFFICE OF LAPLAND Russia Norway FinlandSweden

Partner institutions: Sweden Luleå University of Technology Association for Higher education of Eastern Norrbotten Norway Finnmark University College Finland Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic Rovaniemi Polytechnic University of Lapland Russia Murmansk State Pedagogical University Murmansk State Technical University Murmansk Humanities Institute Arkhangelsk State Technical University Murmansk Medical College Northern State Medical University Pomor State University Kola Medical College Khibiny Technical College

The long-term objective is to create permanent competence on Russia and the Barents region to the partner institutions. This is done by creating a Specialists and Researchers Network

The Project cooperates in two Networks Specialists Network Researchers Network Business Nature & tourism Health & social and three Sectors:

1.Creating a functional model for a regional network between educational institutions 2.Creating a network of Barents specialists in the educational institutions through: Graduate school and Professional development education to polytechnic teachers Barents Virtual Studies in the web (30 ECTS), Exchange program for teachers and students and Russian language program. Activities:

3.Sector based training services: information on the working environments of Tourism & Nature Business and Health & social sector in Northwest Russia and the Barents region 4. Creation of a web-based information exchange & study system 5.Realizing of the 2 nd stage of the project: The project is divided into two stages: 1 st and 2 nd stage Many of the results of the project will only fully be realized at the end of the 2 nd stage.

Existing human resources and competence in the Barents area Gathering existing competence and information Strategies for overall network cooperation and key activities Research Distribution of new knowledge and good experiences EducationPublic relations Strategy Permanent Barents and Russia competence in the Network institutions

Some problems/challenges in project administration with Russia:  Technical problems Deficiencies in cooperation between public authorities – difficulties on border ect. Differences in technical infrastructures connection, deficit of personal s Insufficient linguistic abilities Knowledge of other culture, prejudices Money transfer - Security risk

Some problems/challenges in project administration with Russia: Legislation Unpredictable changes in Russian – decrees, administrative orders etc. Differences between laws in different countries Law on higher education Copyright law Problems in understanding virtual copyrights (programs, music CD’s) Regulations on having virtual studies as part of degree lacks

An innovative Barents region, which draws its strength from a rich cultural heritage and unique arctic nature. Vision Contact FINLAND: Mare Rantaniemi: NORWAY: Per Moeller: RUSSIA:Oleg Klimov: SWEDEN:Mats Engström: