Tampere University of Technology: Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering

Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering is a newly structured department operating from 1st January 2013.

Research fields in the Department are Advanced Electronics Systems, Electronic and Biomaterials and Manufacturing, and Communication and Positioning Circuits and Systems. The department has a modern, forward-looking research agenda that is both scientifically ambitious and industrially relevant and well aligned with the general research strategy of the University. The research agenda combines elements of science and technology in innovative ways and is open to new initiatives. The department maintains close ties with industry and the broader society.

The education activities at the Department cover both B.Sc. and M.Sc. level degrees, as well as the doctoral degree which requires clear contributions to the scientific understanding in the research areas of the department. B.Sc. level studies are intended for Finnish students only, whereas M.Sc. and doctoral studies are offered also for international students.

The amount of teaching staff at the Department is around 25, and in practice, the majority of the researchers also participate in teaching. 

The courses consist of a variety of teaching methods – not only lectures, but also exercises, seminars, laboratory work and web-based teaching.

The education at the department is distinctive for its’ multidisciplinary and international approach. Biomedical engineering extends to almost every field of engineering by offering education to several degree programs beyond faculty borders. It combines engineering seamlessly to science by applying the methods of physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology among others.

English as the language of instruction, the international master’s degree program hosted by the department and the development of international e-Learning are tokens of the department’s international approach.

1. Read and translate the text above.

2. Prepare a short summary of the texts.

3. Speak about modern tech education in Finland.

II. Russian universities and “QS World University Rankings”

Russia’s top universities have very competitive entry requirements, and special entry exams are held each year. Students must apply for studies according to the standard competitive system. Higher education is provided by public and non-public (non-State) accredited higher education institutions.

Most of Russia’s universities are located in large cities. Moscow State University, which was founded in 1755 and has about 28,000 students and 8,000 teachers, enjoys the highest reputation. The Russian People’s Friendship University in Moscow has about 6,500 students and 1,500 tutors, and St. Petersburg State University has about 21,000 students and 2,100 tutors.

Many Russian universities also offer distance education and provide courses for specific professional needs. However, such systems are usually less developed than in the US and other Western European countries.

There are a lot of systems of rating universities in the world. The criteria of choosing the best university are different. For example, every year the English consulting company QS Quacquarelli Symonds is released their own rating of universities and the criteria are the achievements in scientific researches, the academic reputation of the university, the amount of the students and the tutors, and the amount of the foreign students.

According to the site of “QS World University Rankings”¹², the rating is based on 6 indicators made up the methodology:

• Academic reputation (40%),

• Employer reputation (10%),

• Faculty/student ratio (20%),

• The citation per faculty (scientific papers, Scorpus) (20%),

• International students (5%),

• International faculty (5%).

In 2016 the top 10 of the universities over the world is: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, University of Oxford, University College London, Imperial College London, Eth Zurich, University of Chicago.

Moscow State University is on the 108^th, Saint-Petersburg State University is on the 257^th.

1. Read and translate the text above.

2. True or false:

1. Russia’s top universities do not have any entry requirements. 2. Special entry exams are not held every year.

3. Higher education is provided only by non-public accredited higher education institutions.

4. Most of Russia’s universities are located in large cities. Give some examples. 5. The system of distance education in Russia is more developed than in the US and other Western European countries.

3. Find in the text the situations in which the following word combinations are used: Russia’s top universities; the academic year; highest reputation; distance education; specific professional needs.

4. Find in the text the words or phrases which mean the same as:

Требования, проводить экзамен, привлекательность, качество, учебный год, иметь самую высокую репутацию, дистанционное вступительные экзамены, образование согласно стандарту, учреждение высшего образования, летние каникулы, курсы для определенных профессиональных потребностей, менее развитый.

5. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases in English: top universities; competitive entry requirements; highest reputation; distance education; public higher education institutions, rating, ranking, academic reputation, citation.

6. Make up situations using the English equivalents of the words (ex.4).

7. Read the information on the sites¹³ and make the report about one of the technical universities.

III. Moscow State University

Lomonosov Moscow State University is the oldest and the most prestigious university of Russia. Moscow University was founded in 1755 on Saint Tatiana’s Day at the Decree of the Empress Elizaveta and on the initiative of the great Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. The day of Moscow University’s foundation is celebrated as the Student’s Day in Russia.

Started with three faculties in 1755, Moscow State University nowadays offers education in 27 faculties and research training in a number of institutes. Moscow State University has a long-standing tradition of academic excellence. At this oldest and most famous Russian university, scientific and educational schools of international reputation have been formed. A number of its graduates and professors had become Nobel Prize winners and are considered world famous scientists. According to all private and governmental surveys, Lomonosov Moscow State University is the leading national educational establishment. It is internationally recognized and ranked among the top ten in the world. The University has been providing a means for the people from all over the world to learn about the latest advances in sciences, humanities and medicine for about 250 years.

The total number of university students including post-graduates exceeds 30,000. The university employs 8,500 professors, teachers and researchers. About 6,900 of them hold Doctor of Science Degrees. The number of foreign students is growing constantly. Currently the university hosts about 3,000 students from about 100 countries. The university teachers and professors are highly qualified and world recognized for their achievements in modern sciences. Further, the application of the latest techniques in teaching provides the necessary background for an excellent education. The Diploma of Moscow University has won universal prestige and is recognized worldwide. Many educational programmes are carried out in close co-operation with research institutes of the university and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The main building of the university is world famous for its exceptional architecture and size – it is the largest and highest university building throughout the world. The university campus located in one of the most beautiful parts of Moscow supplies the students with all necessary facilities: lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, dining halls, dormitories, movie theatre, conference hall, post office, clinics, pharmacy, and various shops. The university campus includes 12 training halls, 2 swimming pools, baseball and football stadiums, tennis courts and other sport facilities. The university closely cooperates with the leading international organizations including UNESCO and The World Bank.

The University is a member of various international associations and has concluded more than 350 exchange, research and cooperation agreements with universities on all continents. Moscow State University is also the centre of cooperation between the universities of the former USSR. The Rector, Prof. V.A. Sadovnichy, is the President of the Eurasian Association of Universities. Many outstanding scholars, public and state leaders of the world have been elected Honourary Professors and Doctors of the University. Among them are J. Goethe, the beloved German thinker and novellist, the first prime-minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, Margarete Thatcher, Bill Clinton.

Moscow State University provides a wide range of educational services and educational programmes. It has established modern educational programmes in all basic areas of research and education. The educational system of the University is designed to give a student deep understanding of fundamental disciplines combined with specialization in the applied and concrete scientific problems.

Almost all programmes at the University are delivered in the Russian language. However, some graduate and training programmes are conducted in foreign languages. Courses of different type and duration, pre-university programmes, various specialized courses including teachers’ and researchers’ qualification advancement studies as well as courses of the Russian language, history and culture are open for international students.