In agriculture grain- growing and potato-growing are developed as well as cattle-breeding, pig-breeding and poultry-farming. The Chuvash republic grows about 80% of hop in Russia.
The Chuvash State University
There are about 20 higher educational establishments in Cheboksary: the Chuvash State University, the Pedagogical University, the Agricultural Academy, the Cooperative Institute and some branches of Moscow and St.Petersburg higher schools.
Our University named after LN.Ulyanov was founded in 1967 on the basis of the Volga branch of Moscow Power Engineering Institute. The University educates students in 55 different areas of specialization1 and in 15 fields of study2. There are 23 faculties at the University now. They are the electrical engineering, the electrical power engineering, the radio engineering and electronics, the computer science, chemistry, civil engineering, machine-building, economics, medicine, mathematics, physics, history, Russian phylology, Chuvash phylology, law, journalism, foreign languages and some other faculties.
Our University has several buildings, old and new ones. There are various well equipped laboratories and workshops. There is a very good library which contains over 1.5 million volumes, In the computer centre students can work in the Internet free of charge .
Over 12.000 students study at the full-time, part-time and correspondence departments.
The course of study lasts 4,5 or 6 years depending on the faculties. The first-year students study obligatory4 general subjects. In the third year they begin specializing in different fields, at the end of the course the students defend their graduation paper (or project) or take final examinations (degree examinations).
The academic year starts in September. It has two terms. Students take exams twice a year. Before exams they take their end-of-term tests6. If the student fails, he may take his exam again. During the term students attend lectures, classes, seminars and write term-papers. There are many good lecturers at the University and the standards of teaching is rather high. Many first- and second- year students take part in scientific research, applying various scientific and mathematical methods. During the third year of studies students work with faculty chairs7 in various research programs. As a result, students attend scientific conferences, make reports and complete projects for graduation requirements.
The tuition at the University is mostly free and students get grants9. Those who have only very good marks get a special scholarship.
The University has its branches in Alatyr, Kanash, Novocheboksarsk and in Batyrevo. The University aiso has a gymnasia for gifted and talented children from rural areas10 of the Chuvash Republic. Thanks to these efforts, the enrollment" at the University from rural districts increased from 1.9% in 1992 to 50% in 2002.
The University integrates successfully into the world educational market. More than 100 foreign students from 23 countries study here. Professors from the USA, Canada, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Turkey and other countries deliver lectures and do research. For their part, teachers and students from the Chuvash University go abroad to give lectures and on study trips.
The University has a Palace of Culture which seats1 1000, and a sanatorium located on the bank of the Volga river, which can accomodate 100, and includes a Rehabilitation Center and Sports Center. In 2002 another sports block, consisting of 3 large sports halls opened.
There are 9 student hostels which house almost all of the students from other towns and countries.
The Chuvash State University plays an important role in the life of the republic. Highly qualified engineers, economists, doctors, lawyers and other specialists - graduates of the University - work in different fields of national economy, hold key governmental positions and head state-owned and private industrial enterprises of the republic.