The Centre for Arctic and Northern Urban Studies is a research division of the Vysokovsky Graduate School of Urbanism at the HSE University Faculty of Urban and Regional Development.

The centre focuses on advancing research and expertise in the socio-economic development of cities in the Russian North, Arctic, and Far East, integrating international experience and cross-disciplinary approaches.

Key Areas of Activity

— Applied research and expert consulting. The centre conducts applied studies and advisory projects for public authorities and partner organisations, addressing the challenges of socio-economic development in the cities of the North, the Arctic, and the Far East of Russia, as well as in single-industry, crisis-prone, and newly established urban settlements in Russia and allied countries.

— Development of the concept of dynamic urbanism. The centre contributes to building a theoretical and methodological foundation for a new research field—dynamic urbanism, which explores cities with rapidly changing population structures and economic dynamics.

— Resilience of northern cities. The centre systematises current academic perspectives on the challenges, prospects, and resilience mechanisms of Arctic and northern cities under conditions of global transformation.

— International collaboration and comparative research. The centre studies international cases of urban adaptation to demographic and economic shifts driven by internal (industrial restructuring) and external factors. It develops HSE University’s international partnerships and fosters research and educational exchange.

— Academic engagement and education. The centre involves HSE students, doctoral candidates, and faculty in field research, academic writing, and publication. It also organises specialised workshops and training programmes exploring the interconnections between urban development and global technological transformations.