II. The subject-matter of economics
1. What does economics as a scientific and academic discipline deal with? What is economics concerned with?
2. What forms (makes up} the major part of the subject-matter of
economics?
3. Why do economists build economic models? What serves as a basis for these models?
III. Economic systems
1. Economic systems can be divided into types of management. How many of them do you know?
2. What fundamental concept (method) is used in managing the free-market economy?
3. Who makes the most important decisions in free-market economies?
4. What are the disadvantages of free-market economies?
5. What makes planned economic systems inefficient?
6. Do you agree with the statement that every economic system is mixed to some extent? What do you prefer, living in a country where the totally free-market economy operates or in a country where the mixed economy operates?
READING
TEXT B
University Life in Russia and in Great Britain
Scan the dialogue (read it for the specific information) summarizing in your own words the main differences in Russian and British higher education. When translating the texts make use of NOTES and an ABBYY Lingvo Electronic Dictionary. Give special attention to the differences in:
1. Number of universities in Britain and in Russia.
2. Facilitiesfor studies.
Admission requirements.
4. Examinations.
5. Diplomas and degrees.
6. Lectures and seminar classes..
M. Hello, Helen! I know you speak rather good English. Let me introduce you to a student from Great Britain. His name is John. He is an economics student. Do you mind showing him round our university and telling him about higher education in Russia?
H. You are welcome. Hello, John? What are you interested in?
J. I am mostly interested in how and where economists are trained in Russia? Can you say a few words about the economics faculty at your university? Are there many students and teachers in it?
H. Our economics faculty includes the following departments: finance and credit, taxation, management and marketing departments. The academic staffare highly qualified people. They usually combine teaching with research. Most of them have got a doctorate (PhD) degreein economics. The economics faculty has a student population of about 600. What institutions of higher learning train economists in Britain?
J. In Britain, economists are usually trained at universities. There are about 325 universities and colleges of higher education, including polytechnics (about 88 and 237 respectively). Britain’s universities enjoy complete academic freedom. The tradition of excellence in university education dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries when Oxford and Cambridge Universities were founded. How many universities are there in Russia now?
H. As far as I know, there are currently about 384 universities in Russia including polytechnical and pedagogical universities. But the
Government is planning to reduce the number of universities to 50 by 2012. Do your students have to pay for their tuition?
J. Well over 90 % of full-time university students in England and Wales receive grants, from public and private funds, which providewholly or in part for the payment of their tuition fees and other expenses. The trouble is that our Government is going to introduce education cuts and higher tuition fees. Do your students have good facilities for studies and research work? Do they pay for their tuition?
H. For 50–60 % of students higher education is still mostly free of chargein this country. But those who are admitted into the university (join the University) on the contract basis must pay for their education. As for facilities for studies you can judge for yourself. On the ground floor of the main building there are several lecture rooms. We have a number of laboratories specially equipped for practical work and for conducting experiments. Students are also trained in operating computers. On the campus there are sports grounds and playing fields. The main building of the university contains a library, a large hall for meetings, debates and concerts, a dining hall with a coffee bar. Those studying away from home are usually givenaccommodation in a hall of residence.
J. How long does it take you to graduate from a university in Russia?
H. Normally it takes 4 to 5 years. When the course of studies is completed and final examinations are successfully passed, the graduate is awarded a Bachelor’s degree or a Specialist diploma. But this system is a recent development in our higher education. Now we are going to introduce Master’s degree courses as part of postgraduate education.
Do you have the same system?
J. With us it is a little bit different. Students who attend English universities usually do a three or four-year course. When students successfully complete their university courses and have the required number of credits, they earn (obtain or get) a Bachelor’s degree. There are two main types of bachelor’s degree: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) for such subjects as languages or history and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) for such subjects as chemistry and biology. Students who want to continue studying after they graduate from a university can get a higher degree such as a Master’s degree. Universities and polytechnics are mainly responsible for degrees and research. Our universities do their best to improve the quality of teaching and introduce what is called “personalised learning” because different students may have different needs and learning styles.
H. As I have already mentioned, our universities began to offer Bachelor Degree courses, but with no division into BA and BSc.
J. On what basis are students admitted to universities in Russia?
H. Now they are admitted on the basis of the Unified State Examination. It can be passed in several subjects. These exams are actually entrance examinations. Normally there are several applicants for every place at most universities.
J. Most British universities have no special entrance examinations now. Students are accepted mainly on the basis of their results for the General Certificate of Secondary Education at ORDINARY (O) or ADVANCED (A) level. Minimum entrance requirements for British universities are 5 passes at O level and 3 passes at A level. Universities may specify whish A-level grades an applicant should have to be admitted to a particular department of a university (e.g. A-A-B – two A-gradesin mathematics and physics and one B in chemistry). Do you have end-of-term exams?
H. Yes, of course. We have end-of-term tests and examinations. Marks are entered into students’ record books. Within each academic year there are two terms or semesters. What about your exams? In what way are students tested at the examinations?
J. First of all, I want to tell you that most British universities have terms of approximately 10 weeks and that is why the academic year is divided into three terms. As to exams, they are mostly written. At the examination the students sit and answer the questions in writing for a fixed period of time. The papers are markedlater. In such subjects as chemistry, physics, biology there are also practical examinations. How long do lectures and classes last at your university?
H. Lectures and seminar classes at our universities usually begin at 830 or 900 o’clock in the morning. Each of them consists of two 45–50 minute periods.
If you are late for a lecture or class you are expected to apologize for your lateness in some way: “I am sorry, I am late”, or “Excuse me for being late”.
J. At British universities and colleges each lecture or class lasts for 50-55 minutes. It means that we have 5 lectures or classes a day. In England if a student is 5–10 minutes late for a lecture or class, he or she comes in quietly and sits down. A university or college teacher does not want his class to be interrupted by apologies and excuses. But if a student is very late, he does not go to the class at all because such unpunctuality is considered to be very impolite.
H. What a useful exchange of information about university life we’ve had!
J. I wish you every success in your studies. Good-bye, Helen.
NOTES
| · facilities (for studies) | – зд. возможности, условия |
| · admission requirements | – требования для поступления |
| · staff (sing./pl) | – штатные сотрудники, зд. преподаватели |
| · tuition (fee) | – плата за обучение |
| · to provide for | – обеспечивать (расходы на обучение) |
| · expenses | – расходы |
| · free of charge | – бесплатно |
| · equipped for … | – оборудованные, оснащенные |
| · accommodation | – жилье, место для проживания |
| · hall of residence | – общежитие |
| · to award a degree | – присуждать (степень) |
| · passes | – зд. проходные баллы |
| · grade | – отметка, оценка (AmЕ) |
| · end-of term exams | – экзамены в конце семестра |
| · to enter marks into students’ record books | – ставить оценки в зачетки студентов |
| · to mark papers | – проставлять оценки по контрольным работам |
SPEAKING TASK
Work in pairs. Express your opinion on: