University Administration Office
APPROACHING THE ISSUE
1 The word ‘University’ was derived from Latin worduniversitas (совокупность, общность)Many other words, which we use today speaking about university, its structure, subjects taught, are also of Latin and Greek origin. Many of these words are the so-called international words and you can easily guess the meaning of them. Read the following words and give their Russian equivalents. Mind their pronunciation.
university, faculty, academic, rector, professor, student, semester, college, department, philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics, ethics, logic, history, humanities, lecture, lecturer, seminar, specialist, communication, culture, national, tradition, form, professional, reform, technology, journal, correspondence, pedagogical, result, modern, encyclopedia, information, archives, laboratory.
^ 2 Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about the University. When answering use the following phrases:
| What was the word ‘university’ derived from? |
| As far as I know, the word ‘university was derived from &… |
| What subjects do students study at the University? |
| How many higher educational establishments are there in Belarus? |
| As far as I remember, …. |
| As far as I know/remember … –Насколько я знаю …/ помню … If I’m not mistaken … –Если я не ошибаюсь … If my memory doesn’t fail me … – Если мне не изменяет память … |
| What’s your … (full name)? Have you got … (a nickname/any pets)? How old/tall …? When/Where … (were you born)? Who is your … (hero/favourite singer)? When/Where did you … (get education)? |
^ 3 Work in pairs. Interview your partner using the questions. Present the results to the class.
1. Why did you decide to study at the Belarusian State University?
2. What do you know about your future profession?
3. What subjects do you study?
4. Do you often work at the University library?
5. What do you want to do after graduation (окончания)?
ReadING FOR INFORMATION AND DIsCUSSION
&1 The Belarusian State University is the major higher educational establishment in Belarus. The BSU students’ community consists of about 29,000 undergraduate and over 600 post-graduate students. The BSU trains specialists with fundamental knowledge and special skills in more than 250 specializations. Read the text and find answers to the following questions:
1. When was the BSU founded and who was the first Rector of the BSU?
2. How many faculties does the University have today?
3. What forms of learning are available at the University?
4. What is the structure of the University?
5. What is the academic staff of the BSU?
6. What facilities are there at the University?
7. In what international projects does the University participate?
8. Where do university graduates work?
Welcome to the University!
Dear first-year students,
Welcome to theBelarusian State University – the major higher educational establishment in Belarus, the center of education, culture and science!
Historical Reference
The Belarusian State University is the oldest university in Belarus. It was founded in 1921 and had only three faculties at that time: faculty of medicine, of social sciences and workers’ faculty (рабфак).
The first Rector of the BSU was Professor V. I. Picheta, a distinguished historian, a graduate of Moscow State University. He headed the University for 8 years and contributed greatly to the development of higher education in Belarus.
The BSU rapidly grew and developed. During the first 10 years of its existence a number of research institutes and independent higher schools for medicine, pedagogy and national economy appeared on its basis. During the Great Patriotic War, the University was destroyed. After the liberation of the Belarusian capital in August 1944 the University reopened in Minsk. The pre-war education and material base of the University had been restored by the end of 1950.
The University Today
Nowadays, the University turned into one of the largest institutions of higher education of the country. There are 16 Faculties, 4 Research Institutes and 25 Research Centers at the University. Students of the University study Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography, Biology, Philology, Journalism, History, Philosophy, Law, International Relations, Economics, Foreign Languages and other subjects. The Higher Education Program at the BSU is aimed at preparing specialists with fundamental and special knowledge and skills in more than 250 specializations.
There are two forms of learning: full-time and part-time (the day department and department by correspondence). Students attend lectures and seminars; have practical classes, study foreign languages. Students' practical work is given much attention to. Students’ academic success is assessed at the end of each semester in the form of oral or written tests and examinations. Professors and students are engaged in fundamental and applied research.
Academic Staff
The academic staff of the BSU is highly qualified. It includes about 2,500 professors and lecturers, among them 6 Academicians and 7 Corresponding Members of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, about 290 Doctors of Science and more than 1350 PhD degree holders. In total more than half of teaching staff are professors and associate professors working at the 176 Departments of the University. The research activity is conducted on the basis of Research Centers and 115 Scientific Laboratories.