This educational programme was elaborated for researchers and faculty staff with the main focus on communication skills for international and multicultural contexts. Course participants improved their academic writing skills in English guided by Dr. Adair Richards, a British scientist and science communicator.

Specialists from nine universities and research centers came to Arkhangelsk to participate in the Researcher Connect programme. Among them are representatives from UArctic member institutions: Ural Federal University, Siberian Federal University, St. Petersburg State University, Norilsk State Industrial Institute, Yugra State University, Buryat State Agricultural Academy, Komi Republican Academy of Civil Service and Management and Surgut State Pedagogy University. One participant made a long way from Kamchatka. The geographical scope included also other cities located in different parts of Russia: St. Petersburg, Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ekaterinburg, Ulan-Ude, Surgut, Syktyvkar, Khanty-Mansiysk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Arkhangelsk. .

According to the participants’ feedback, the highlighted topics such as academic writing and persuasive proposals, are the most relevant ones, the training itself with practical exercises and group work facilitated a lot the acquisition of the needed skills.

The course was organized by the Uarctic Research Office within the project “Development of the UK-Russia Arctic Research and Collaboration Network”. The project is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Embassy in St. Petersburg as a part of the UK-Russia Year of Science and Education 2017.