Research background: Innovative development of industries and regions in Russia during the period 2005–2011 has not brought significant positive results. Innovative activity of regions and industries remained at a low level. After a relatively stable 2012–2013, the Russian economy faced the geopolitical crisis and economic sanctions in 2014–2015. Purpose of the article: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the innovative development patterns of industrial sectors in selected Russian regions in the years 2012–2015, which include the period of negative external environment (2014–2015) for the national economy. Methods: The study enhances the analysis of statistical data and applies quantitative analysis methods (variance analysis). The research focuses on 14 regions of Russia, members of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) and 2 specific industries: section D «Manufacturing» and subsection DL «Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment» which usually manifest high level of innovative economic activity. Findings & Value added: The research results show that the crisis period of 2014–2015 has not stimulated the increased innovative activities for both industries. The innovative sector (section D) grew faster than the non-innovative one in 2013, but this advantage became insignificant in 2014–2015. Some signs of revival for innovative enterprises in subsection DL were observed during the crises beginning in 2014, but this trend was not retained in 2015. The analysis of structural indicators (proportions) of the innovative sector shows that only a few AIRR regions have values comparable to the leading European countries. Most of the AIRR regions lag behind the leading foreign countries specifically on the «Share of enterprises engaged in technological innovation» and «Share of new or significantly improved products» Indicators. The study did not reveal the statistically significant positive dynamics of these indicators in the AIRR regions over the period 2013–2015.

Even though intra-European youth mobility is valued as a boost for personal and professional development, few opt for it. While obstacles preventing young people to become mobile have been discussed broadly, less attention has been paid to the obstacles for the youth who are already on the move. We offer this rare perspective in regard to intra-European mobility. We focus on youth in four types: pupil mobility, vocational (education and training) mobility, higher education student (degree and credit) mobility and employment mobility, in six countries: Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania and Spain. Our analysis, based on qualitative (140 interviews) and quantitative (N=1.682) data, reveals that the perceived obstacles vary between the mobility types, with the greatest divergence between the educational and work-related mobilities. Obstacles such as lack of financial resources and guidance, the perceived incompatibility of institutional regulations within Europe, are shared by all mobile youth.

The challenges of peer relations under mobility 1 TUBA ARDIC, IRINA PAVLOVA OG JAN SKROBANEK Høgskulen på Vestlandet SAMANDRAG Denne artikkelen tar for seg ungdomsgruppa som flyttar på seg i samanheng med elevutveksling på vidaregåande skule. Fokuset er retta mot jamaldergruppa og spesielt effekten av å vere saman med jamaldra frå same heimland under utanlandsopphaldet. Jamaldra frå same heimland har ei mangesidig rolle under mobilitet. Dei kan fungere som eit ankerpunkt som skapar tryggleik i vertslandet, men kan også danne ei nasjonal «kulturfelle» som held ungdommen borte frå den nye kulturen og nye relasjonar.

This research paper analyzes the existing forms of statistical surveys and indicators in Russia which could be associated with estimating the objective component of well-being of the elderly population. Also, it focused on identifying the possible statistics time depth for indicators evaluation in the study area. The article determines the scope of objective indicators in the Russian statistics and draws a profile on older people's quality of life in the Tomsk region for the period 2011-2014 on the bases of regional statistical data.