Bashkir state university
The Bashkir State University was founded in 1957 on the basis of the Bashkir State Pedagogical Institute named after К.А.Timiryazev. The University is actually the legal successor of the Ufa Teachers' Training Institute (est. 1918) - the first higher education institution of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which in 1920 was transformed into the Institute of Public Education and later into the Pedagogical Institute. Today this major scientific, educational and cultural centre of the Republic ranks among the top ten classical universities of the Russian Federation.
The University currently employs about 700 instructors, including 90 Doctors and 373 Candidates of Sciences. 28 Doctors have been elected Full Members and Corresponding Members of various academies.
More than 5,000 full-time students are trained in 32 trades, with 3,500 students studying рart time. The University incorporates 12 departments in Ufa and three branches located in Sibai, Neftekamsk and Sterlitamak. Instruction is effected by 73 chairs. The University provides post-graduate training in 38 specialties and doctorate training in 6, there being 11 boards for theses defence.
Science is represented by the R&D centre, three problem and multi-branch laboratories, the R&D Institute for Sociology, the Bashkir Patent Centre, the "Zaryad" experiment and design bureau focusing on building computer systems, measuring instruments and machine tools for the engineering industry.
The University instructors annually issue 30 titles of monographs, textbooks and teaching aids.
The Bashkir University participates in international integration activities, cooperating on а contractual basis with universities in the U.S.А., Turkey, Germany, France, Italy, Egypt, Hungary and Japan in the sphere of science and higher education.
The Bashkir University is а vibrantly growing institution. The transition is currently accomplished to а multi-level system of higher professional training. The high standard of theoretical and methodological background of the professor an instructor staff supported by academic traditions facilitates training highly-qualified specialists.
The University is justly proud of its graduates. More than 53,000 specialists have been trained here since 1957 thus contributing significantly to Bashkortostan's intellectual potential. Over а thousand University graduates have been awarder honorary titles of the Russian Federation and those of the Republic of Bashkortostan, and 67 of them are members of the Writers' Union of Russia.
Discussion
1. When was the University founded? 2. How many faculties or departments are there at the University? 3. Name some of the faculties or departments. 4. How many Universities are there in Ufa? 5. What can you say about the R&D (research ant development) potential of the University? 6. Who is the University Rector? 7. What is the organizational structure of the University? 8. What can you say about the University's international соoperation and exchanges of students and instructors? 9 What countries does the University maintain соoperation with? 10. What is the procedure for entering the University? 11. Which applicants for entry are given special preference or privileges? 12. Do all students get their scholarships? 13. What do students dо after graduating from the University degree? 15. Are you more inclined towards R&D or practical activities? 16. Dо you take part in any research activities? 17. What do students do in their fifth year at the University? 18. How many years do studеnts of the correspondence/extra-mural department study? 19. Which students of уоur group take part in amateur arts contests and concerts?