Тема # 2 Higher Education in Great Britain
Тема # 1 Bauman Moscow State Technical University
Bauman Moscow State Technical University is one of the oldest and largest technical universities in Russia. It offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Ph.D.1 degrees in various engineering fields and applied sciences. BMSTU was founded in 1830 by the Emperor Nicolas I.
By studying the history of Bauman Moscow State Technical University one can learn what scientific and technological ideas appeared in our country within two centuries, and how significant the influence of the well known engineering schools was. During its long history, the university has earned a great reputation both in Russia and abroad. The University graduates have greatly contributed to the development of Russian and international engineering.
Presently there are approximately 18000 students, concentrating their studies in science and engineering, and 1000 post graduates, working on their Ph.D. theses at BMSTU. The university curriculum combines the academic studies with fundamental and applied research and design and experimental works.
Research and educational complexes represented by the undergraduate school and the research institute constitute the basic structural subdivisions of Bauman Moscow State Technical University. There are seven research and educational complexes at BMSTU such as
- MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
- RADIOELECTRONICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
- INFORMATICS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
- SPECIAL MACHINERY
- ROBOTICS AND COMPLEX AUTOMATION
- POWER ENGINEERING
- FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCES
The university is working in close cooperation with Russian Academy of science and with hundreds of leading institutes and industrial enterprises.
At present there are 13 faculties at BMSTU. Each of them consists of various specialized departments and is headed by the dean. The head of the university is Rector.
The course of studies lasts six years. The academic year is divided into two terms. Each year runs ten months with two-weeks vacation in winter and two-months vacation in summer. Exams and tests are held at the end of each semester. Final exams are taken at the end of each study course. A whole course of study is followed by diploma project.
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Ph.D.1 = Doctor of Philosophy – кандидат наук.
Тема # 2 Higher Education in Great Britain
There are about one hundred universities in Britain. The oldest and best-known universities are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham.
Good A-level results in at least two subjects are necessary to get a place at a university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose their students after interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings with it a grant from their local education authority.
English universities greatly differ from each other. They differ in date of foundation, size, history, tradition, general organization, methods of instruction, way of student life.
The academic year in Britain’s universities is divided into three terms, which usually run from the beginning of October to the middle of December, from the middle of January to the end of March, and from the middle of April to the end of June or the beginning of July.
After three years of study university graduates will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. Later they may continue to take a Master’s Degree and then a Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Oxford and Cambridge cling to their traditions, such as the use of Latin at degree ceremonies.
Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Great Britain. They date from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and are often called collectively Oxbridge. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford or Cambridge.
Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college is different, but in many ways they are alike. Each college has its name, its coat of arms and is governed by a Master. The larger ones have more than 400 members, the smallest colleges have less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes.
Oxford is the second largest university in Britain, after London. There are now twenty-four colleges for men, five for women and another five which have both men and women members, many from overseas studying for higher degrees. Among the oldest colleges are University College, All Souls and Christ Church.
The local car industry in East Oxford gives an important addition to the city’s outlook. There is a great deal of bicycle traffic both in Oxford and Cambridge.
Cambridge University started during the 13th century and grew until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges.
On the banks of the Cam willow trees drown their branches into the water. The colleges line the right bank. There are beautiful college gardens with green lawns and lines of tall trees. The oldest college is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, and the most recent is Robinson College, which was opened in 1977. The most famous is probably King’s College because of its magnificent chapel, the largest and the most beautiful building in Cambridge left of English fifteenth-century architecture.
The University was only for men until 1871, when the first women’s college was opened. In the 1970s, most colleges opened their doors to both men and women. Almost all colleges are now mixed.
Many great men studied at Cambridge, among them Roger Bacon, the philosopher, Milton, the poet, Oliver Cromwell, the soldier, Newton, the scientist, and Kapitza, the famous Russian physicist.
The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine. Sport is part of students’ life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.
Тема # 3 Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural centre. Moscow is the largest metropolitan area in Russia with the population of about 30 million people during the daytime, when many commuters arrive from the nearest towns to study or to work, and about 20 million people at night.
The city is situated on low hills on the banks of the Moskva River. The original settlement was founded where the Kremlin now stands. Because of its central location in the heart of European Russia, Moscow became a focal point for important trade routes.
Moscow was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1147, when it was founded by Prince Yury Dolgoruky. It is the official date of the foundation of Moscow, though the settlement had been there for some time before. It was fortified and became a market town in the late 12th century. The town was almost totally destroyed in 1237 and 1293 during the Tatar invasion. In the early 14th century Moscow became the political and religious centre of the north-eastern part of Russia. It was again captured by the Tatars in 1382. By the end of the 15th century Moscow extended its rule over most of central and northern Russia. Its rulers continued to build fortifications around it.
The transfer of the capital by Peter the Great to St. Petersburg in 1712 brought a period of decline to Moscow. In 1812 came the Napoleon’s conquest, and the city was destroyed by fire. But it was rebuilt within a short period. In the 19th century Moscow became a centre for industry and commerce, as well as a leading cultural, scientific and political centre. Moscow is the seat of the Government of the Russian Federation.
Moscow is Russia’s largest industrial city and many plants are located in or around Moscow. Metallurgy, metal processing and engineering are the largest industrial sectors. Other large sectors are textiles, clothing and footwear, chemical and petrochemical industries, electronic instruments and automation equipment.
Moscow, apart from its political, administrative and economic functions as the capital of Russia, it is its leading cultural centre. It is the seat of the Academy of Sciences. Russia’s largest universities, over 80 scientific and research institutions, technical colleges and academies of music and art are situated here. The city also contains the Lenin Library, with one of the largest and richest archives in the world, over 80 museums, the famous Bolshoi and Maly Theatres, opera and ballet. It is one of the world’s largest publishing centers.
The Kremlin is the heart of Moscow. It is surrounded by a high wall, built by the Russian builders by order of Ivan the Third and supervised by the Italian architects.
There are a lot of beautiful palaces, old mansions, cathedrals, churches and monuments in Moscow. The capital of our country is the main tourist attraction.
Тема # 4 для экзамена по специальности МТ-13 (Модернизация производства)
Modernization of production and equipmentcan solve many important problems in Engineering:
1). Renewal of the service life / life cycle of technical equipment.
2). Restoration of the service life of technical facilities: modernization of work places, renewal of production lines, rebuilding of plants.
3). Reuse of products or technical equipment
4). Repair, Remanufacturing or Recycling.
Tribology is a branch of engineering that deals with friction and the problems it causes. This science studies different types of friction in mechanisms. It is always necessary to eliminate or reduce wear and tear in machines. Therefore, we study fundamental aspects of lubrication and lubricants, corrosion and maintenance. We study properties of different types of materials, for example, metals, metallic alloys, ceramics, polymers and composites). All over the world, the wastage of resources resulting from high friction and wear is great. That is why our specialty is very important now.
After graduation, we could work as maintenance engineers at plants and factories.
Maintenance engineers are responsible for the continuous running of equipment and machinery. They use computerized systems to oversee routine maintenance and organize repairs. They are also involved in control and monitoring devices and occasionally in the manufacture of items that will help in maintenance.
Maintenance engineers work with other professionals in order to improve production facilities. They try to reduce the number of costly breakdowns. Their duty is to improve overall reliability and keep an eye on safety of plant, personnel and production processes.
The most important typical work activities of a maintenance engineer, his responsibilities and tasks are:
· diagnosing and solving breakdown problems;
· planning and scheduling planned and unplanned work;
· dealing with emergency and unplanned problems and repairs;
· controlling maintenance tools, stores and equipment;
· monitoring and controlling maintenance costs, and others. (2000)
(Специальность 072100 «Реновация средств материального производства в машиностроении» - “Renovation of Productive Means in Mechanical Engineering)
Тема #5 для экзамена по специальности МТ-13 (Триботехника)
My department trains specialists in a very interesting branch of engineering – Renovation or Modernization of Technical Production and Equipment. This specialty also includes quite a new branch of engineering – Tribology, which is of my special interest.
Tribology is a science that studies how friction and lubrication work together. It has been known since ancient times. By understanding friction and lubrication, a tribologist is better able to reduce the corrosion of machines and products. There are four things that a tribologist must study to prevent wear and tear: abrasion, erosion, corrosion and adhesion.
Tribology is the only branch in science and technology that is concerned with how surfaces interact with each other in relative motion.
Lubrication is one of the most essential ingredients in tribology. Engineers use lubrication to make mechanical parts more slippery to reduce friction, overheating, and tearing. Lubrication is most often used to reduce friction on moving parts. The two main types of lubricants are grease and oil.
By using lubricants, we can prevent or eliminate wear and extend the working life of equipment and products. We use tribology when decide how to design common things that are used in everyday life. Tribology can be applied to many aspects of modern technology.
Even products like hair conditioner and lipstick are designed with tribology in mind, as tribologists are interested in how products can most effectively move against the skin with ease.
Tribology is especially important to manufacturers. Friction against metal can cause corrosion and eventual destruction. Tribologists have the potential to develop lubricants that can be used as a protective layer against metal. Lubricants have been known to make things more effective and powerful.
Tribology is a common concept in the automotive and oil industry. It is used to reduce the amount of friction that occurs in man-made machines, such as automobiles. The automotive industry is one of the fields that heavily involve tribologists in their design decisions.
One benefit of this science is that it helps to save energy by making things wear-resistant. Saving energy results in improved efficiency.
Tribologists often have an extensive background in chemical engineering, physics, chemistry, metallography, and physical metallurgy. Having been educated in several adjoining engineering disciplines, tribologists can provide expert advice on the most effective manner to minimize the effects of friction. (2500)