The system of higher education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1. Write down three important facts related to the topic The system of higher education in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

2. Skim the text, present its main ideas and discuss them in pairs.

The structure of higher education in Great Britain is very complex. The main sources of higher educational institutions are: universities (including the Open University1), teacher-training colleges and polytechnics. British universities come in all ages, sizes and shapes. The oldest of them, Oxford and Cambridge, founded in the 12-th and 13-th centuries took the students from all over the country. The younger civic or “Redbrick” universities serving the needs of their cities were organized in the 19-th century. The newest “Whitebrick” universities came into existence during the 1960s. Admission to universities is by examination or selection in the for of interviews. Applications from candidates for admission to nearly all universities are submitted to the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS). It is the UCAS that sends the copies to different universities and each university selects its own students.

British universities are independent, self-governing institutions. Although they all receive financial support from the state (about 79 per cent), the Department of Education and Science has no control over their regulations, curriculum, examinations and the way in which the money is spent. Teacher education includes all forms of education provided mostly by teacher-training colleges which receive their grants directly from the Department of Education and Science. The great majority of colleges are maintained by the Local Education Authorities. The most usual route to a teaching qualification is by way of three or four year course, leading to the Bachelor of Education Degree.

The universities and teacher-training colleges are classed as higher educational institutions because they awarddegrees. The normal duration of a first degree course is three of four years. At the end a Bachelor Degree is awarded on the results of examinations. A Master Degree is usually awarded after a further year or two years of studies. The highest degree is the Doctor of Philosophy. It is awarded for research and submission of a thesis-normally after Bachelor and Master Degrees.

Apart from the Universities and teacher-training colleges there are 30 polytechnics in England and Wales and 14 Scottish central institutions. The work of the Polytechnics is of university level. But the universities, funded directly by the state, are less controlled than the Polytechnics. Local Education Authorities are responsible for the budgets of the Polytechnics. Their work is planned and financed by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council.

Most degrees in Polytechnics are awarded by a national body called the Council for National Academic Awards. The Council ensures that the degrees awarded in polytechnics are equal to the degrees awarded by universities. Polytechnics award the Diploma in Technology. The usual course for the diploma is 3 years for full-time students and 4 years for “sandwich” course ones. The “sandwich” course students alternate periods of full-time education and full- time employment. These courses provide many people with the opportunity of receiving higher technical education.

3. Read the text again and put the sentences and phrases below in the correct order.

1. The main sources of higher education in Great Britain.

2. Academic year in British higher educational establishments.

3. Types of British universities.

4. Admission to British universities.

5. Functions of the Department of Education and Science.

6. Scientific degrees awarded by the British higher educational establishments.

7. Polytechnics and their educational and financial authorities.

4. Match the highlighted words in the text with the definitions (1-6) below.

1. a list of subjects which are to be taught at some educational institutions

2. academic title given by a university to one who has passed an examination or defended a thesis.

3. a request, especially in written form.

4. to give as a result of an official decision, e.g. a degree, a prize, a medal.

5. money given by the state for a particular purpose, e.g. to a university or a student

6. a group of persons who do smth. together in a planned way.

5. Read the text again and decide if the sentences (1-6) below are true or false.

1. The applications for admission to British universities are sent to the Department of Education and Science. T\F

2. The Department of Education and Science does not control rules, programs

and examinations in most British universities. T\F

3. Almost all teacher-training colleges receive their grants directly from the Department of Education and Science. T\F

4. The work of the Polytechnics is planned and financed by the Polytechnics and

Colleges Funding Council. T\F

5. Local Educational Authorities do not bear responsibility for the budgets of the

Polytechnics. T\F

6. The Council for National Academic Awards ensures that the degrees awarded by Polytechnics are equal to the degrees awarded by Universities. T\F

6. Read the text again and answer these questions:

1/ What are the main sources of higher education in Great Britain? 2/ How are British universities classified? 3/ How are the British students admitted to the universities? 4/ What is the role of the Department of Education ad Science in controlling universities? 5/ What financial support do the universities get from the state? 6/ What are the main sources of teacher education in Great Britain? 7/ How are the teacher-training colleges maintained?

7. Make up the plan of the text and retell it according to the plan (not less then 100 words).

UNIT 12

Environmental protection

1. Answer the questions:

· What do you think are the main ecological problems?

· What measures should be taken to protect the Nature? Discuss your ideas with the class.

2.Read and translate the text:

The poisoning of the world’s land, air, and water is the fastest-spreading disease of civilization. It probably produces fewer headlines than wars, earthquakes and floods, but it is potentially one of history’s greatest dangers to human life on earth. If present trends continue for the next several decades, our planet will become uninhabitable.

Overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption have created such planet- wide problems as massive deforestation, ozone depletion, acid rains and the global warming that is believed to be caused by the greenhouse effect.

The seas are in danger. They are filled with poison: industrial and nuclear waste, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The Mediterranean is already nearly dead; the North Sea is following. The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. If nothing is done about it, one day nothing will be able to live in the seas.

Every ten minutes one kind of animal, plant or insect dies out for ever. If nothing is done about it, one million species that are alive today will have become extinct twenty years from now.

Air pollution is a very serious problem. In Cairo just breathing the air is life threatening – equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. The same holds true for Mexico City and 600 cities of the former Soviet Union. For example, Moscow is covered by a smoggy cloud that can be easily seen in sunrise even without any special gadgets. This smog is permanent and doesn’t disappear even in rainy days.

Industrial enterprises emit tons of harmful substances. These emissions have disastrous consequences for our planet. They are the main reasons for the greenhouse effect and acid rains.

An even greater environmental threat is nuclear power stations. We all know how tragic the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are. An awful explosion of a nuclear reactor happened in1986. Since that time the nearest to the Chernobyl nuclear power station towns and settlements were left by the native residents and the “Dead zone” was announced.

The list of serious environmental problems could be continued.

People are beginning to realize that environmental problems are not somebody else’s. They join and support various international organizations and green parties.

In 1987 a «Green Peace» public commission combined the people’s efforts for peace with the huge and ever mounting movement for nature conservation. Another area of its work is to set up and strengthen cooperation among environmentalists from many similar organizations abroad.

Russia is cooperating in the field of environmental protection with the United States, Canada, Norway, Finland and other countries.

3. Scan the text and answer the questions:

1/What is the fastest-spreading disease of civilization? 2/ What planet-wide problems have overpopulation, pollution and energy consumption created? 3/ What will happen to our planet if present trends continue? 4/ What is happening to the seas and rivers? 5/ The Aral Sea is on the brink of extinction. Do you think it’s possible to save it? 6/ A lot of animals are dying out. But people wear fur coats, crocodile handbags, leather shoes, etc. Are you for or against hunting? 7/ Is air pollution a serious problem? Why? 8/ What were the tragic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster? 9/ Are nuclear power stations dangerous? 10/ What do people of different countries do to save our planet?

4. Find out , whether these words are synonyms or not:

1. Damage/benefit;

2. Extinction/deforestation;

3. To halt/to sacrifice;

4. Prudent/efficient;

5. Inheritance/future;

6. Input/disposal;

7. To sustain/to pollute;

8. To annoy/to like;

9. Gains/achievements;

10. To halt/to stop.

5. You are given a list of 10 practical ideas. Choose those, which in your opinion can help to save the environment and explain your choice.