University1
.docxOMSK STATE TRANSPORT UNIVERSITY
Railways are considered to be the backbone1 of the country’s economy, that’s why2 training of highly qualified engineers for railways is a problem of special importance.
Omsk State Transport University (OSTU) is one of the oldest universities in the East of the country. It originated from Tomsk Institute of Technology where in 1900 the training of locomotive and car engineers began. In 1961 it was transferred to Omsk – a major railway junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway. In 1994 our Railway Institute was reorganized into the Railway Academy and 3 years later it acquired the university status.
At present the total number of students at the University is more than 10,000. They study at five full-time faculties (5 years) and the Correspondence Faculty (6 years) Each faculty is headed by dean. The full-time faculties are the following: the Mechanical Engineering Faculty, the Faculty of Automation, Telemechanics and Information Technologies, Heat-and-Power Engineering Faculty, the Faculty of Electromechanics and the Faculty of Management and Economy. They will become engineers specializing in Locomotives; Railway Cars; Electric Transport and Communication; Radio and Control Systems of Railway Transport; Power Supply for Railways; Heat-and-Power (Thermal) Engineering; Information Systems and Technologies and others.
Today it pays much more attention to the Humanities. Besides, the University trains specialists in Economy, Finance, Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Quality Control, Tourism, etc. Present-day OSTU provides training with 4-year course for Bachelor’s3 degree, 5-year – for specialists, 6-year – for Master’s4 degree.
Every year over 5,000 specialists of railway transport take Refresher Course at the Professional Development Institute. Our University has Post-graduate and Doctorate studies.
The academic year begins in September and lasts ten months. It is divided into two terms (semesters) and at the end of each term students take exams. If the results of the exams are good, students get grants. Twice a year they have vacations – two weeks in winter and two months in summer.
The first- and second- year students study general subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanics, Strength of Materials as well as Information Science, Foreign Languages and a number of others. The subjects studied in the first two years are very important for future engineers. These years are good foundation for professional knowledge. In the third year students begin studying specialized subjects.
The methods of teaching at the University are lectures, laboratory and course works, seminars and practical lessons. The student’s progress is evaluated by means of tests, term works and exams in each course (за каждый курс).
The University is staffed by highly qualified teachers. Among the leading teachers there are full members and corresponding members of International and Russian Technical Academies, Transport Academics, the Electrotechnical Academy and others. 70 per cent of the University teachers have academic degrees.
Among the University graduates there are Deputy Ministers of Railways, Heads of Railway Divisions, prominent scientists, directors of industrial enterprises, bank managers both in Russia and abroad.
The University possesses good training facilities. There are a lot of well-equipped labs, lecture-halls, workshops and computer classes. There are a very good technical library, a computer centre and working railway equipment training ground. Four academic buildings, six student hostels, a canteen (a dining-hall), a medical centre, a cultural and educational centre and a sports complex are compactly located on the campus in the downtown of Omsk.
The University maintains close contacts with railway and technical universities of Europe, North America and South-East Asia. Every year 20-30 OSTU students are sent to the universities and railway enterprises of Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and other countries.
1 …are considered to be the backbone – … являются (считаются) основой.
2 that’s why – вот почему.
3 Bachelor’s degree – степень бакалавра
4 Master’s degree – степень магистра