From abandoned sites to landmark buildings: Yugra universities in archival photos

Today, these buildings are familiar to many in Yugra, especially students. But were they always this way? We explore how Yugra«s educational institutions looked when first built, through archival photos.

Surgut State University

Surgut State University (Surgu) is the oldest university in Yugra, founded in 1993. Initially, it had no campus; classes were held in various parts of the city, in former administrative buildings and schools.

The old «University» building is on Energetikov Street and is still used by students today. It houses the Medical Institute (with faculties for general medicine and postgraduate medical education), the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Ecology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, and the Construction Department.

But the main image associated with Surgut State University is the «ship» building. Its framework stood for over 20 years: erected in Soviet times for a Youth Palace, construction stalled after the USSR«s collapse for nearly a decade. In the early 2000s, it was decided to complete the »ship« and transfer it to the university.

The seven-story building was fully constructed in 2007, with its first phase in 2005.

Now, Surgu«s main building is one of the city»s most efficient and recognizable structures.

Yugra State University

In the late 1990s, it became clear that the capital of Yugra needed its own large university. Despite difficult times, the young region developed dynamically and required specialists trained to account for the specifics of developing the North«s natural resources. Thus, in 1997, a governor»s decree established a university in Khanty-Mansiysk. In 2001, based on branches of Nizhnevartovsk State Pedagogical Institute, Siberian State Automobile and Highway Academy, and Tyumen State Agricultural Academy, Yugra State University (Yugu) was created.

Also in 2001, construction began on Yugu«s main building on Chekhov Street, completed in 2003. At that time, it was the tallest building in Khanty-Mansiysk.

The university has five buildings connected by passages, so similar inside that first-year students often get lost. The upper floors house the administration offices.

Nizhnevartovsk Oil Institute

During the active development of the Samotlor oil field, the need for local oil industry personnel became acute. So, in 1984, Nizhnevartovsk Oil Technical School was created, training specialists for the oil and gas industry for over 40 years.

In 2009, the technical school became a branch of Yugu, and in 2021, it received the status of the Oil Institute of Yugu.

In 2025, the building was extensively renovated. Students had complained about the cold, and the facade was worn. After renovation, the once white-and-orange building became black-white-gray, losing some historical character, but the pump jack symbol remained.

Surgut State Pedagogical University

The history of Surgut State Pedagogical University (Surgpu) begins in 1986 with the establishment of a pedagogical college in Surgut. Nadezhda Vasilyevna Konoplina, an honored teacher of Russia, was invited to lead it.

In 1992, the institution became a college. The teaching staff quickly improved their skills, aided by scientists from Moscow Pedagogical University. In 1995, it gained institute status, and in 2005, university status.

The main building is on 50 Let VLKSM Street. Another educational and concert-sports complex is at 9 Artema Street.

Previously, we showed Surgut frozen in the 20th century: retro photos that transport you to the past.