In 2010, N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University was awarded the status of National Research University (NRU). This allowed to a greater extent the development and implementation of a variety of research programs that are tightly integrated with the educational process. One of the main research areas included in the development program of the research university is to conduct basic and applied research in the field of Finno-Ugric studies. It implies the study of the Finno-Ugric peoples' formation and development; their ideological, linguistic, literary, and folkloric features; social, economic, religious and legal diversity; the Finno-Ugric folk art; the Finno-Ugric peoples' health problems.

Various academic units, as well as a number of laboratories and centers in the University, are involved in the implementation of this program. History professors of Mordovia State University and in particular lecturers of the Department of Russian History in History and Sociology Institute have made a great contribution to the development of the Finno-Ugric issues research programs. The Department has prepared a number of research programs, one of which is a complex academic program "History and culture of the Finno-Ugric peoples".

One of the main objectives of this program is to study the most important issues of modern historical Finno-Ugric studies, such as socio-economic, political, demographic and ethno-linguistic processes among the Finno-Ugric peoples in the 20th century - the beginning of the 21st century, development trends of the structural units of the Finno-Ugric material and spiritual culture, creation and contemporary activities of the various public Finno-Ugric organizations, etc.

An important goal of the research program "History and culture of the Finno-Ugric peoples" is its integration with the educational process. The scientists of the Department implement the results of their research in teaching bachelors and students within the following training courses of Finno-Ugric studies: "The history of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia and abroad", "Ceremonial traditions of the Finno-Ugric society", "Ethnography of the Finno-Ugric peoples", "Ethnoarcheology of the Finno-Ugric peoples" and others. The main objective of these academic programs is enculturation of the younger generation to the historical and cultural identity of different nationalities to preserve their spiritual heritage in the conditions of modern globalization. Guided by these objectives, lecturers strive to form students' comprehensive and interdisciplinary competence on social, political, economic, cultural and linguistic development of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia and Europe.

The participants of the research program in question also aspire to draw young people (undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate students) to research work. This can be achieved in different ways. For example, the students are assigned to collect field data, analyze and generalize archival and literary sources on various issues of historical Finno-Ugric studies to prepare their research projects, papers, graduation papers, theses. This activity expands and strengthens the students' theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the educational process, aids to acquire and improve skills of independent research work. The end result is training of qualified historians who can carry out a variety of activities. These include study of the Finno-Ugric peoples' history and culture, analytical and administrative activities in the implementation of national, cultural and youth policy, as well as educational activities focused on the analysis and explanation of political, social, cultural, and economic aspects of the history in the civilization component of the historical process.

Thus, the program "History and culture of the Finno-Ugric peoples" in practice is a holistic methodological complex which contributes to the efficient development of modern university education.