TEXT 2 History of the Belarusian State University
October 30, 1921 is the foundation date of the main educational establishment in our country – the Belarusian State University. Academician Vladimir Ivanovich Picheta – the outstanding historian and slavist – headed the University. The first Rector united the staff consisting of scholars from Moscow, Kazan, and Kiev universities.
Rapid development of the University played a significant role in the creation of the educational system of the republic. The University’s educational and research capacity gave birth to a number of independent higher educational establishments, such as Minsk Medicine Institute, Minsk Law Institute, Minsk Pedagogical Institute, the Belarusian Institute of National Economy, Minsk Chemical and Technological Institute, which later became a part of the Polytechnic Institute. The Belarusian State University contributed much to the foundation and development of the Academy of Sciences, the Republic’s State Library and a number of large research institutions.
Elimination of illiteracy, assimilation of European and world cultural heritage, formation of the national system of higher education and science — all these impressive achievements of the Belarusian people in 1920-1930s would have been impossible without the University and the work of its staff.
In a two decades’ time the Belarusian State University trained 5240 specialists in History, Law, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, etc. The activities of the People’s Writer of Belarus Yakub Kolas and outstanding Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of the Soviet Union G.K.Zhukov were associated with the name of the University of that period. It was the time when L.A.Artsymovich, P.U.Brovka, K.K.Krapiva studied and worked at the University. These outstanding people made a valuable contribution to the development of both national and world science and culture.
1941 was the year of the most severe ordeal in the history of the University. June 21, 1941 a jubilee exhibition was arranged at the University presenting the achievements of the staff consisting at the time of 17 professors, 41 associate professors, 90 teachers and assistants, 60 post-graduates and 1337 students. The day following the celebration, June 22, 1941 became a tragic landmark in our history. All the post-war generations of teachers, post-graduates and students of the University have always remembered and will remember their colleagues who left the classrooms and scientific laboratories to sacrifice their lives for the glory and independence of their Motherland. The evidence of this is the obelisk erected in 1970s at the University campus in honor of those who perished in the battle against fascism.
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The war did great damage to the University. The University campus was destroyed almost completely. University archives, library funds, laboratories and study-rooms were plundered. The pre-war education and material base of the University had been restored by the end of 1950. A new period in the history of the Belarusian State University began, the period of its rapid development, creative teaching and scientific research.
The 1950-1980s were characterized by an expansion in the scope of University activities. Its material base and teaching facilities were improved by the Government’s decisions. The contents, forms and methods of academic process and scientific research changed radically. New buildings of faculties were erected and new faculties were opened: the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Faculty of Physics, Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Radio Physics and Electronics, Philosophy and Economics.
The Belarusian State University deservedly occupied an honorable place among the leading universities of the Soviet Union. Its international prestige increased, scientists and professors actively participated in international symposia and conferences, sessions of the UN General Assembly and UNESCO.
In 1990s the Belarusian State University was the largest scientific and educational center not only with impressive achievements and traditions, but also with a number of problems caused by serious contradiction in the development of society. June 27, 1991 the Supreme Soviet adopted the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Belarus and the Belarusian people faced the vital task of the development of a sovereign state. Being the oldest and largest University of our country, the Belarusian State University contributed to the programs of strengthening the Belarusian statehood, the development of economic and social reforms in our republic. In 1995 the Faculty of International Relations; in 1999 two new faculties – the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Science and the Faculty of Economics were formed on the basis of former Philosophy and Economics Faculty. The Military and Humanities faculties, as well as several educational bodies of unitary status added to the university structure.
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Today the Belarusian State University is a prominent educational, scientific, and production complex that includes 17 faculties, the State Institute of Management and Social Technologies, Institute of Business and Administration Technologies, Institute of Theology named after Sts. Cyril and Methodius, the BSU lyceum and law college. Three scientific research institutes, five national scientific centers, and 14 unitary scientific and production enterprises are also in the university structure.
PART III
DIRECTIONS:
Find in the text the English equivalents for:
Культурное наследие, быстрое развитие университета, исследовательский институт, формирование национальной системы высшего образования, внести неоценимый вклад, занимать почетное место, принимать активное участие в международных симпозиумах и конференциях, крупнейший научный и образовательный центр, факультет прикладной математики и информатики, серьезное противоречие, факультет международных отношений.
PART IV
DIRECTIONS:
Match the synonymous pairs:
| scholar main prominent evidence considerable illiteracy creation ruin facility | destroy formation proof scientist principle outstanding significant ignorance means |
PART V
DIRECTIONS:
Agree or disagree with the following statements:
1. The Belarusian State University is the main educational establishment in our country.
2. The University wasn’t destroyed during the war.
3. In 1950-1980s the international prestige of the Belarusian State University considerably increased.
4. Today the Belarusian State University includes 10 faculties.
PART VI
DIRECTIONS:
Complete the following sentences:
1. October 30, 1921 is the foundation date of … .
2. The University’s educational and research capacity gave birth to … .
3. The Belarusian State University contributed much to the foundation and development of … .
4. The 1950-1980s were characterized by … .
5. The University’s scientists and professors actively participated in …
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