Higher and Technical Education in Russia
Russia’s higher education system started with the foundation of the universities in Moscow and Saint-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 school education.
The pursuit of higher education was and still is considered to be very prestigious. More than 50% of people have a higher education. Russians have always shown a great concern for education.
Due to great demands of the international educational organizations, Russian universities have a similar system as foreign universities: 4 years for the Bachelor’s degree and 2 years for a Master’s degree. The Bachelor’s degree programs last for at least 4 years of full-time university-level study.
The programs are elaborated in accordance with the State Educational Standards which regulate almost 80% of their content. The other 20% are elaborated by the university itself. The programs include professional and special courses in Science, the Humanities and Social-economic disciplines, professional training, completion of a research paper/project and passing of State final exams.
Having obtained the Bachelor’s degree, students may apply to enter the Master’s program. For some professions, also the Specialist Diploma programs exist. The Bachelor’s degree is awarded after defending a Diploma project prepared under the guidance of a supervisor and passing the final exams. Holders of the Bachelor’s degree are admitted to enter the Specialist Diploma and Master’s degree programs. Access to these programs is competitive. The Master’s degree is awarded after successful completion of two-years’ full-time study. Students must carry out a one-year research including practice and prepare and defend a thesis which constitutes an original contribution and sit for final examinations. After graduation from the university students may continue postgraduate studies. It takes 3 or 4 years and writing the dissertation to get the Candidate of Science degree and more years and defending the doctoral thesis to get the Doctor of Science degree.
Technical education in Russia started with organization in Moscow of School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts. The date of the School foundation - January 14th (or January 24th by new style) in 1701 and was housed in Kadashevskaya Slobodan. The School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts was liquidated in 1752. Its higher classes were joined with the Maritime Academy.
It is known that mathematics, and later physics, were taught at the Slavonic-Greek-and-Latin Academy founded in 1687 in Zaikonnospassky Monastery, situated in Moscow on Nikolskaya Street. The first institution of higher learning in Russia, Kiev Seminary, dates back to the early XVII century. The entire student body of the School was planned to contain 500 people. Children of all social levels were allowed to be enrolled. The study program went through 3 stages: primary school taught reading, writing and some grammar, secondary classes taught arithmetic, geometry and trigonometry, and the higher (specialized) classes taught geography, astronomy, navigation and other subjects. The School comprised elements of both secondary and higher education.
In 1703 Moscow Engineering School for 100–150 students was founded. Students of the school were directed to the School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts for instruction in arithmetic and geometry.
In 1713 Petersburg Engineering School was organized which in 1723 was combined with the Moscow school. Creation of these schools was the beginning of an all-Russian network of institutions for general education of the first and second levels.
The significance of the School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts for the history of engineering education in Russia is great. It has educated not only naval specialists but also civil engineers, mechanics, architects, as well as specialists of many other professions. It has a full right to be regarded as the first higher technical education institution in Russia, and the date of its foundation is the starting date of technical education in Russia.
Nowadays there are many technical universities in Russian Federation. They train engineers in different fields of engineering and technology. One of the most famous universities is Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Bauman Moscow State Technical University is a public university located in Moscow, Russia. Bauman MSTU is one of the oldest and biggest Russian educational institutions offering the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in various engineering fields and applied sciences.
The university was established in 1830 as Imperial Vocational School by the Decree of Emperor Nicholas I. It was renamed in 1868 as Imperial Moscow Technical School, then after the 1917 revolution to Moscow Highest Technical School (MHTS). A number of research institutes were created from laboratories and departments of MHTS in 1930. The remaining school was named Bauman Moscow Mechanical and Machine Construction Institute. The name MHTS was revived in 1943. The current name was given in 1989.
The Faculties of the University are: Radioelectronics and Laser Technology, Fundamental Sciences, Machine Construction Technologies, Special Machines, Power Machines, Robotic Technology and Automation, Computer Science and Control Systems, Biomedical Technology, Social and Human Sciences, Engineering Business and Management, Radiotechnology, Rocket and Space Technology, Optic-electronic Equipment, Equipment Construction, Air and Space.
5. True, false or no information:
1. Technical education in Russia started with organization in Moscow of University for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts.
2. Russian universities have the following system: 4 years for the Bachelor’s degree and 2 years for a Master’s degree.
3. Civil engineers, mechanics, architects were educated at the School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts.
4. Moscow State University nowadays offers education in 27 faculties and research training in a number of institutes.
5. Holders of the Bachelor’s degree are admitted to enter a PhD degree programs.
6. Bauman Moscow State Technical University is a private university located in Moscow.
7. Many Russian technical universities also offer distance education and provide courses for specific professional needs.
8. The current name was given to Bauman Moscow State Technical University in 1989.
6. Complete the sentences according to the text:
1. Engineering education in Russia….
2. The school was housed in….
3. The study program went through 3 stages: ….
4. The school did not have… of study.
5. The School for Mathematical and Navigational Crafts was liquidated in….
6. Bauman MSTU is offering the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in….
7. The university was established as Imperial Vocational School….
8. There are… faculties in Bauman MSTU.
7. Make a plan of the text. Retell the text according to the plan.
8. Prepare a short summary of the text using the following expressions:
The main idea of the text is….
The problems/statements/points mentioned/discussed/described in the text are….
The text is divided into… logical parts.
The first/ second/ third logical part deals with the problems/statements/points of/ contains information about/ gives the definition of….
In my opinion/ to my mind the text is… for me as a future ICT specialist and a citizen of my country.
Part II. Language
9. Fill in the gaps with the correct word form to complete the sentences:
1. Every year students… a specialty that includes several main disciplines: the humanities, social and physical sciences, engineering.
acquired acquires are acquiring acquire
2. Students… to work out new decisions in the area of engineering.
are trained is trained was trained train
3. Using modern information technologies the students… many different problems.
solve solves had solved is solving
10. Find in the text the words or phrases which mean the same as:
Система высшего образования, среднее образование, защитить диплом (дипломную работу), гуманитарные дисциплины, обязательный, государственные экзамены, степень, точные (естественные) науки, выпускные экзамены, завершение, окончание, специальные курсы, академические предметы, считаться престижным, практика.
11.Make sentences using the given words in the correct order:
1. was founded, Moscow Engineering School, for 100–150 students, in 1703. 2. combined, the Moscow school, Petersburg Engineering School, in 1723, was, with. 3. for at least 4 years, of, the Bachelor’s, degree programs, full-time, university-level, last, study. 4. Was, to, renamed, the 1917 revolution, in 1868, Imperial Moscow Technical School, after, Moscow Highest Technical School. 5. Technical, in, Russia, with, started, in, Moscow, of, School, Mathematical, and, for, organization, Navigational, education, Crafts. 6. Soviet, of, a school, times, all, in, Russia, had, at least, the population, education, in. 7. The M.S. and Ph.D., Bauman MSTU, degrees, in, applied, various, fields, engineering, and, offers, sciences.
12. Make your own sentences with the words and phrases: to be awarded, finals, compulsory, to defend a thesis, research paper.
13. Ask Special questions to the text using different wh-words and h-words.