Higher education in russia

Russia, a land of great scholars, has been a leading centre of culture, science and education in Europe for centuries. The country of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Mendeleyev, and Pavlov attracts people all over the world for education.

The higher education system in Russia has a distinguished reputation in the world. The standard of the higher education in Russia is considered to be one of the best in the world with advanced and sophisticated teaching methods and scientific approaches.

Text 1

History of education

Russia's higher education system started with the foundation of the universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg in the middle of the 18th century. The system was constructed similar to that of Germany. In Soviet times all of the population in Russia had at least a secondary education. The pursuit of higher education was and still is considered to be very prestigious. More than 50% of people have a higher education.

Due in great part to demands of the international educational organizations, the system of education in Russia began to change over the past five to ten years. Universities began transitioning to a system similar to that of Britain and the USA: 4 years for the Bachelor's degree and 2 years for the Master's degree. The universities are still in the process of these changes; some of them offer the new system and others still work according to the prior 5-year system, particularly in programs such as law.

1. Words and expressions:

attract [ə'trækt] - привлекать

distinguished [di'stiŋgwiʃd] reputation - выдающаяся репутация

is considered - считается

sophisticated [sə'fistikeitid] - сложный

approach – подход

Bachelor's degree - степень бакалавра

Master's degree - степень магистра

2. Complete the following sentences:

1. Higher education system in Russia started in …

2. The system was constructed similar to that of …

3. The system of education in Russia began transitioning to a system similar to that of … and …

4. 4 years for the … and 2 years for the … degree.

An interesting fact:

· The literacy rate in Russia, according to the 2002 census, is 99.4% (99.7% men, 99.2% women);

· 16.0% of population over 15 years of age (17.6 million) have undergraduate level or higher education;

· 47.7% have completed secondary education (10 or 11 years);

· 26.5% have completed middle school (8 or 9 years) and 8.1% have elementary education.

Text 2

Higher education

Every citizen of our country has the right to education.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10th and the 11th 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 program 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-paying 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 a different subject 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 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.

1. Skim through the text and say which of its paragraphs give the information about:

a) secondary education

b) types of higher schools in Russia

c) transitional period

2. Remember the words and expressions:

compulsory - обязательный

inclusive [in´klu:siv] - включительно

to decentralize - уничтожить централизацию

to be funded by the state - финансироваться государством

in advance [əd´va:ns] - заранее

to submit [səb’mit] - представлять

3. Match the words:

the right to education A училище
a secondary school B дневное отделение
a vocational school C абитуриент
a technical school D аспирантура
a day-time (full-time) department E степень кандидата наук
an evening (part-time) department F средняя школа
an extramural department G получать стипендию
an applicant [‘æplikənt] H право на образование
an undergraduate [Λndə´grædjuit] I вести конспект
a graduate course J вечернее отделение
a theses [өi:sis] K студент
a candidate degree l цель
an objective [ob´dзektiv] L заочное отделение
to get a scholarship M курсовая работа
to take notes N техникум
a course [ko:s] paper O дипломный проект
a graduation project P диссертация

4. Complete these sentences:

1. Every citizen of our country has the right to …

2. Education in Russia is compulsory up to …

3. Young people can also go to … or …, where they study … and receive...

4. There are the following types of higher schools in Russia: …

5. There are three departments at the universities and institutes: …

6. The complete course of studies at an institute or a university usually takes …

7. The main objectives of the reform are: …

8. Training specialists at our institutes combines …

9. The academic year is divided into …

10. Students take examinations at the end of …

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