The Structure of the University

The University is headed by the Rector. The rector is assisted by Vice-rectors who are responsible for different aspects of university life: for academic affairs (учебная работа), for research (научно-исследовательская работа), for administrative and maintenance work (административно-хозяйственная работа) and others.

Facilities

Each of the University study building is equipped with well-furnished classrooms, seminar rooms and reading rooms. The University laboratories are equipped with up-to-date devices. There are 70 computer laboratories and 4 media classrooms. Information Resources of the University Network include Web-Server, Web-Servers of the faculties and Intranet-Server of the BSU.

The Fundamental Library in the BSU is one of the biggest libraries in Belarus. At present the funds of the Library include more than 2 million volumes in Belarusian, Russian and foreign languages. International book exchange is organized with 136 research and educational institutions from 24 countries of the world.

International Activity

The Belarusian State University ranks high among European Universities. Spanish ‘Webometrics’¹ places the BSU among 2% of the best world universities. The ranking includes over 22, 000 universities of the world. In 2015 the Belarusian State University took 612^nd place and was among three best universities of the CIS countries² including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc.

The University is a member of the International Association of Universities³. It participates in a number of international projects like ERASMUS MUNDUS, TEMPUS, INTAS, COPERNICUS, and some others. At present, the Belarusian State University cooperates with more than 40 universities – members of the Euroasian Universities Association⁴. Every year the BSU organizes international conferences, seminars and exhibitions.

Career Opportunities

The University offers high quality learning experience, which enables students to develop intellectually. Every year hundreds of young specialists begin working in different branches of national economy, science, education, in mass media, in business organizations and social services.

Belarus accession to the Bologna Process⁵, which is an important and responsible step in the development of the national education system, will open new opportunities for University graduates.

Notes:

¹ The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, also known as Ranking Web of Universities, is a ranking system for the world's universities based on university web presence (number of web pages and files, site citations, etc).

²CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) – СНГ (Содружество Независимых Государств)

³ The International Association of Universities (IAU) is the worldwide association of higher education institutions. It brings together 641 higher education institutions and organizations.

⁴ The Eurasian Universities Association (EUA) unites 128 universitiesof Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine.

⁵ The Bologna Process – the ideas for the European University Community and the Single European Higher Education Area (EHEA - единое европейское пространство высшего образования) come from Italy's oldest University of Bologna. Belarus accession to the Bologna Process was approved in May 2015.

VOCABULARY BOX

1. higher educational establishment– высшее учебное заведение 2.department – отделение, кафедра full-time department(day department) – дневное отделение part-time department (department by correspondence, distant learning department) – заочное отделение Department of Sociology – отделение / кафедра социологии Department of Philosophy – отделение / кафедра философии Department of Journalism – отделение / кафедра журналистики 3.to assess (knowledge, success) – оценивать (знания, успехи) ~ students’ academic success – оценивать успеваемость студентов 4.to be engaged(in) – заниматься 5.research – исследование, исследовательская работа carry out/do research – проводить исследование applied research – прикладное исследование to research– исследовать, изучать 6. degree – ученая степень ~ holders – обладатели научной степени a Specialist ~ (Bachelor) – степень специалиста (бакалавра) a Master ~ – магистерская степень PhD~ = Doctor of Philosophy – ученая степень, приблизительно соответствующая ученой степени кандидата наук 7. professor – профессор associate professor – соответствует званию доцента 8.to be equipped(with) – быть оснащенным (чем-то) 9.up-to-date– современный ~ devices – современные приборы, средства, устройства ~ laboratories – современные лаборатории 10.to be responsible(for) – быть ответственным (за) 11.to rank high – высоко оцениваться, занимать высокое место 12. to enable – позволять, давать возможность 13. to develop intellectually – развиваться интеллектуально 14. to access – вступать, иметь доступ accession – вступление (в должность, организацию) 15.a graduate– выпускник an undergraduate(student) – студент первой ступени обучения a post-graduate(student) – студент второй ступени обучения (магистратуры, аспирантуры) to graduate(from) –заканчивать (высшее учебное заведение)

Reading Comprehension Tasks