Read and translate the text below.
Russian engineering schools are a unique national tradition; they significantly influence the development of science and technology, make contribution to the industrial process improvement and facilitate industrial production. The engineering education in Russia began with the foundation of the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in Moscow according to Tsar Peter the Great's Decree dated 27 January 1701.
Soon after the Navigational School, other schools appeared: the Artillery-Engineering School (1701), the Moscow Engineering School (1703) and St. Petersburg Engineering School (1713). In 1733 the Mining College appeared in St. Petersburg. It was equal in status to academies. In 1828, the first institute – St. Petersburg Practical Technological Institute was established.
Nowadays there are 275 state technical universities in Russia. They train engineers in different fields of engineering and technology, natural sciences and social economics. The quality of Russian teaching in natural sciences and technology is higher than in many western countries.
Most Russians begin to study at the university after the compulsory education (a secondary school, a lyceum or gymnasium) at the age of 17. Admission to the university is according to the Unified State Exam results. Competition for places in universities and other prestigious academic institutions is rather stiff.
Traditionally the basic university programme lasted five years and at the end students received a university degree. For five years at the end of each year students had oral examinations. They also wrote a graduation paper for a university degree. At present due to the fact that Russia has signed Bologna Declaration, the system of higher technical education in Russia has been changed according to the demands of the international educational organizations. Universities are now implementing a system similar to that of Britain and the USA: 4 years for a Bachelor's Degree and 2 more years for a Master's Degree. The Bachelor's degree programmes last for at least 4 years of full-time university-level study.
The undergraduate programmes correspond to the State Educational Standards. The programmes include professional and special courses in different disciplines, professional training, completion of a research paper / project and State final exams. To get the Bachelor's Degree students defend a Diploma project and pass the final exams.
Students with the Bachelor's Degree may enter the Master's programme (two more years). After graduation from the university students may continue postgraduate studies. It usually takes 3 or 4 more years and writing the dissertation to get the Candidate of Science Degree (equivalent to the PhD degree in the American and British systems) and some more years and defending the doctoral thesis to get the Doctor of Science Degree (no equivalent in the American and British education systems).
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Answer these questions. Use such expressions as
I think / suppose / consider / believe / guess…
In my opinion…
As (far as) I remember / know / understand…
The matter / trouble / problem is…
Frankly speaking…
To tell the truth…
I'm inclined to think…
1. When did the first engineering school appear in Russia?
2. How many state technical universities are there nowadays?
3. When do the Russians begin to study at university?
4. How many years did university programme last traditionally?
5. Why did the situation change?
6. What system of education are universities implementing now?
7. Which disciplines do the university programmes include?
8. What do students do to get a Bachelor's Degree?
9. How long does it take to get a Master's Degree?
10. Are there any postgraduate studies at technical universities in Russia?
TEXT 3
Read and translate the text.
Higher Education in Great Britain
When we speak about higher education of Great Britain we generally mean the University education. But in fact students in Great Britain can get higher education not only at Universities but also at Colleges of higher education. Universities offer degree courses which last for three or four years. Colleges of higher education provide vocational training (including teacher training, art, drama, music and physical education) and offer one or two year non-degree courses.
There are some 90 universities, which enjoy academic freedom. Every University is autonomous and responsible to its governing body. The regulations differ from University to University. While there are similarities between them, they all differ from Oxford and Cambridge, where are a number of separate colleges, each with their own regulations and courses of studies.
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The new, so-called "red-brick" universities are divided into various faculties: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, etc. Universities offer a wide range of courses from highly academic to very vocational ones. Students study natural and technical sciences, history, law, medicine, foreign languages, arts, engineering, economics, etc.
First degree courses are mainly full-time and usually – as it was mentioned – last three years, however medical and veterinary courses last five or six years. University teaching combines lectures, practical classes and small group teaching in either seminars or tutorials. The last is a traditional feature of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. There is little continuous assessment on many courses, so the final examinations are very important.
After three years of studying students can get the Bachelor's degree. Students who are working for their first degree are called undergraduates. At the end of the third year of study undergraduates pass examinations and take the Bachelor's degree. If they study arts subjects (history, languages or law) they take Bachelor of Arts (BA). Those who study sciences such as medicine, technology or agriculture get Bachelor of Science (BS).
When students are awarded the degree, they become graduates. Students who obtain their Bachelor's degree can take post-graduate courses and after one or two years of studying they get Master's degree (MA or MS). The highest degree is Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which takes two or three years.
Universities offer courses in a broad range of academic and vocational subjects, including traditional arts subjects, the humanities, and science and technology. The government encourages young people to choose degree courses in subjects, or combinations of subjects, that provide the knowledge and skills required by a technologically advanced economy.
Over 95 percent of students on first degree and comparable higher education courses receive government grants covering tuition and accommodation and other maintenance expenses. Parents also contribute, the amount depending on their income. In addition, students can take out loans to help pay their maintenance costs.
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The largest teaching institution in Britain is the Open University, itis a public distance learning and research university. The majority of the OU's undergraduate students are based throughout the United Kingdom and principally study off-campus; many of its courses (both undergraduate and postgraduate) can also be studied anywhere in the world.
The OU was established in 1969. It qualifies as one of the world's largest universities. The OU uses a variety of methods for teaching, including written and audio materials, the Internet, disc-based software and television programmes on DVD. Course-based television broadcasts by the BBC, which started on
3 January 1971, ceased on 15 December 2006.
Higher education in Great Britain is highly selective, i. e. entrance to British universities is via a strict selective process based on interview. After the interview a potential student (applicant) is offered a place on the basis of the results of General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-level exams. If a student does not get the proper grades, he can't take the place. Some universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, have an entrance exam before the interview. The academic year starts in October and ends at the beginning of July. It is divided into three terms with vacations at Christmas, a month off at Easter, and three or four months in summer.
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