Siberian Summer school in Yakutsk
Nature. People. Culture.
Yakutia is a unique region, known for its severe northern nature with record low temperatures in
winter, the cold pole and the permafrost, rich in natural and mineral resources, with a vast
territory and low population density. On the other hand, the history of the peoples inhabiting the
Sakha Republic (Yakutia), their culture, traditions and customs are of great interest and value to
humanity and science.
3-week summer school program includes several major topical units that let you become familiar
with the unique region, its geography, history and culture. These topical units are discovering the
following key issues.
Thematic issues of the Summer School:
Module 1: Northern Nature
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How do the Yakutians live at- 50 C in winter and at + 40 C in summer? What are the coldest
towns and villages in the world?
Is it possible to revive the mammoth? Lectures and a tour at the NEFU Mammoth Museum.
What does the permafrost hold: danger or basis for life? The impact of ecosystem changes on
the permafrost. Lectures and a tour at the Kingdom of Permafrost (tourist complex).
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What is the “Power of Siberia”? How does the extraction of natural resources in Yakutia
affect the sustainable socio-economic development of the region?
How to mine and produce the Yakutian diamond? Lectures from the Diamonds Studies
course and a tour to a lapidary plant.
Module 2: Population, indigenous peoples
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The culture and ethnography of the peoples of Yakutia, the multi-ethnicity of the population.
How do small indigenous peoples of Yakutia preserve their languages and cultures?
What is the northern shamanism? What are the traditional beliefs of the indigenous peoples
of the North?
Why was Yakutia called a prison without bars? What is the role of political exiles in the
development of Yakutia?
How has the life of local peoples changed over the years and centuries? In such aspects as
social, political (communism vs. post-communism), economic (extraction of resources then
and now), linguistic-cultural (preservation of northern languages), geographic (climate
change) and others?
Module 3: Languages of Yakutia
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What is the language situation in Yakutia?
Intensive language courses to choose from: Elementary Intensive Russian, Intermediate
Russian, Elementary Sakha Language, Elementary Evenki Language (small indigenous
people of Siberia), Elementary Yukagir Language (small indigenous people of Siberia)
Other interesting facts about Yakutia for consideration within the Summer School:
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Yakutia is Siberia, the North and the Arctic at the same time
Yakutia is the largest administrative-territorial unit in the world, equal in its area to five
Frances, with three time zones
Lena is the largest river in Eastern Siberia, the 11th longest river in the world and has the 9th
largest watershed. It is also the 3rd largest river in Asia, the Yakutians call her a “foster–
grandmother”
Yakutian village Oymyakon is the coldest locality in the world
Yakutsk is the biggest city built on continuous permafrost and the majority of buildings are
constructed on concrete piles
The unique Lena Pillars Nature Park is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List
Olonkho is a heroic epic tale of the Sakha people included in the list of Masterpieces of the
Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO
Yakut language (Sakha) belongs to the Turkic group of languages
There are unique, one of kind institutions in Yakutsk: Permafrost Institute, Mammoth
Museum, the International Center for Jaw Harp Music, and others.
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Yakutia is Russia’s main diamond mining territory, and includes the largest deposit of
diamonds, it accounts for 80% of total Russian reserves.
Field trips
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Lena River Trip to the UNESCO World Heritage “Lena Pillars Nature Park”
Trip to the Open-air museum “Friendship” in Sottinzy village
Trip to the typical Sakha village
Optional free time program
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Visiting of unique museums and centers: Jew's Harp Music international center, «Archy»
house of yakut spirituality, Museum of Political Exile, Treasury of Yakutia - Diamond
Museum, Museum of traditional music and folklore, Geological Museum of the Institute of
Geology of Diamond and Precious Metal, Permafrost institute and others.
Alternative (optional) evening program of NEFU international student organization: Yakut
films, northern national sport games, Yakut traditional cooking and other activities.
There might be changes in the program.
Program credits: 4 ECTS
Number of participants (min-max): 10 – 20
Accommodation: Shared rooms in the NEFU student dormitory. We kindly ask to respect the
University policy: NEFU campus is completely alcohol- and smoke –free in connection with the
acute problem of alcohol abuse among the local population. It is strictly prohibited to keep,
distribute or consume alcoholic beverages, including beer in the campus and the dormitories.
Participation fee:
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€ 900 (including lunches, accommodation, classes with field trips, tours and cultural
activities)
€ 750 for students from partner universities of NEFU within the cooperation and exchange
agreements
Target group: Bachelor, Master Students of German universities interested in natural and
humanitarian sciences: issues of geography, biology, ecology, tourism, history, ethnography,
anthropology, etc.
Duration:
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Arrival: July 29-31. 2016
Summer school program: August 1-19. 2016
Departure: August 20-21. 2016
Language of instruction: Knowledge of Russian language is not necessary. Language of
lectures and seminars: English, Russian with English interpretation
Deadline for registration: 15.05.2016.
Siberian Summer school in Yakutsk "Nature. People. Culture" is a wonderful opportunity to
immerse yourself in multicultural society of Yakutia in the North-Eastern Siberia. Witness the
historic, social, economic and cultural changes, which occur in Yakutia at present.
Contacts:
Vladlen Kugunurov, cand.sc. (pedagog.)
International Relations Office
North-Eastern Federal University
GUK-216, 58 Belinsky st, Yakutsk 677000,
Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia
www.s-vfu.ru/en
[email protected]
[email protected]
Tel. / Fax. +7-4112-361-453