Higher education in russia.

Every citizen of our country has the right to education.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9^th form inclusive. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10^th and the 11^th form. They can also go to a vocational or technical school, where they study academic subjects and receive a profession.

After finishing a secondary, vocational, technical school young people can start working or go on in higher education. They can enter an institute or a university. There are the following types of higher schools in Russia: universities, institutes, various higher military schools and academies. They train specialists in different fields. There are three departments at the universities and institutes of Russia: day-time, evening and extramural departments. The complete course of studies at an institute or a university usually takes 5 years.

Part-time students have an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs. All applicants must take competitive exams if they want to enter a higher educational establishment. Higher education institutions offer a programme of academic subjects for undergraduates in a variety of fields, as well as a graduate course. If one finishes a graduate course and writes a thesis, he or she receives a candidate’s degree or a doctoral degree.

The system of higher education in Russia is going through a transitional period. The main objectives of the reform are: to decentralize the higher education system, to develop a new financial mechanism, to give more academic freedoms to faculties and students. All institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state, the students have got scholarships. Now universities have fee-paing departments or courses where the cost of study is high and the students have to pay for their education.

Training specialists at our Institutes combines theoretical studies with practical work and industrial training. Students have lectures and practical lessons. They attend lectures on different subjects and they take notes. During practical lessons they study the material of the lectures.

The academic year is divided into two terms from September to January and from February to July. Students take examinations at the end of a term or a study year. To pass examinations successfully students are to work hard during the

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academic year. They must not miss lectures and they must study regularly. Sometimes students take examinations and credit tests in advance. At the end of each term the student submits a course paper, and at the end of course of studies he presents a graduation project or passes final state examinations.

Our country needs more and more specialists with higher education every year.

Exercises

1. Remember words and expressions:

the right to education право на образование

compulsory обязательный

inclusive [in’klu:siv] включительно

to finish a secondary school заканчивать среднюю школу

a vocational school училище

a technical school техникум

a day-time department дневное отделение

evening or part-time,

extramural or correspondence вечернее или заочное

an applicant [‘æplikənt] абитуриент

an undergraduate = a student

[ʌndə’grædjuit]

a term семестр

an academic year (a study year) учебный год

a graduate course аспирантура

a theses [Ɵi:sis] диссертация

a candidate [‘kændidit] degree степень кандидата наук

a doctoral degree степень доктора наук

an objective [ɔb’ʤektiv] цель

to decentralize уничтожить централизацию

to be funded by the state финансироваться государством

to get a scholarship [‘skɔləʃip] получать стипендию

to take notes вести конспект

credit tests зачеты

in advance [əd’va:ns] заранее

a course [kɔ:s] paper курсовая работа

a graduation project дипломный проект

to submit [səb’mit] (to present [pri’zent]) представлять

2. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word-combinations:

продолжать образование в вузе, общеобразовательные предметы, одновре-менно работая, поступать в университет, находиться в переходном периоде, высшие военные училища, иметь возможность, сдавать конкурсные экза-

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мены, создать новый финансовый механизм, платные курсы, производст-венная практика, посещать лекции, обучение специалистов, учебный год делится на два семестра, успешно сдать экзамены, учиться регулярно и усердно работать, сдавать зачеты заранее, сдавать выпусные государствен-ные экзамены.

3. Fill in gaps by words or word-combinations in brackets.

1. My friend is a second-year student. Last year he … successfully and … the University. He studies … . He is a … student.

2. Mike studies at the day-time department. During the academic year he works hard and … lectures reqularly. Sometimes he takes exams and credit tests …. Mike gets ….

3. Did you write … and receive a candidates degree?

4. In Russia the academic year … into two terms. At the end of each term the student … a course paper.

5. How many … are there at the universities in Russia? … at a university usually takes 5 years.

(a thesis, the complete course of studies, is divided, took competitive exams, departments, a scholarship, entered, part-time, attends, submits, without leaving his job, in advance)

4. Replace underlined words by antonyms and translate sentences into Russian.

1. My friend’s brother is a full-time student.

2. Higher education is our country is free of charge.

3. An applicant failed at the entry exams.

4. John passed final state exams successfully.

5. The students often missed lectures and studied inconstantly.

5. Answer the questions. Follow the model:

Model: Do you study literature at the University?

No, I don’t. I study mathematics.

1. Are you a second-year student?

2. Do you study at an extra-mural department?

3. Is higher education in Russia compulsory?

4. Does your friend get a scholarship?

5. Will you present a thesis after graduating from the University?

6. Do you always take exams and credit tests in advance?

6. Ask the questions to the anderlined words:

1. There are three departments at the Universities of Russia.

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2. Part-time students have an apportunity to study without leaving their jobs.

3. The complete course of studies at a University usually takes 5 years.

4. All institutes and universities until recently have been funded by the state.

5. They regullarly attend his lectures.

7. Answer the questions:

1. Do you think it’s necessary to get a higher education? Why?

2. Is your future profession prestigious?

Why do you think so? Give your reasons.

3. What country would you like to get a higher education in? Why?

8. Imagine that you are a Prime Minister of Russia. What will you do for Higher Education in the country?

9. Retell the text.

MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY

Moscow State University is the oldest, autonomous, self-governing and state-supported institution of higher learning, founded in 1755 by the scientist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov. Located in Moscow, the university is composed of faculties of biology, chemistry, computational mathematics and cybernetics, eco­nomics, foreign languages, fundamental medicine, geography, geology, history, journalism, law, mechanics and mathematics, physics, psychology, sociology, and soil sciences, as well as an institute of Asian and African Studies. Several museums, colleges, and a number of institutes are affiliated with Moscow University, and a preparatory faculty teaches Russian language and other subjects to foreign students.

Except for the science faculties and some of the arts faculties — which are situated in south-western Moscow — the remainder of the faculties are located in the older university buildings in the centre of the city. A diploma in a given field of study is awarded after five or five and a half years of study. The highest degree, the Doctor of Sciences, may be attained upon completion of a thesis based on independent research.

The University produced a great number of brilliant scholars such as Zhukovsky, Stoletov, Sechenov. Timiryasev, Pavlov and Vernadsky. Classics of Russian literature: Lermontov, Griboyedov, Turgenev and Chekhov also studied at the University. The list of such great names is endless.

Today every fifth 'Russian academician is its graduate.