2. International Cooperation and Academic Mobility in the Sphere of Higher Education and Research

a) Read the text.

The system of Higher Education all over the world suffers from cultural, socio-economical and academic barriers. The Bologna [bə'ləunjə] process is an attempt to lower these obstacles within the European higher education area. In 1999 Education Ministers from 29 European countries signed the Bologna declaration. This document promotes international cooperation in the sphere of higher education and research because academic degree standards and quality assurance standards become more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. The processes in education can draw benefit from systematic exchange of experiences, support to best practice, innovative products and educational cooperation.

The Bologna declaration has given rise to academic mobility which allows professors’, research workers’, students’ and post-graduates’ moving to another higher education institution inside or outside their own country to study or teach for a limited time. It cleared the way for various international organizations, funds and programs which provide informational and financial support of mobile students and teachers. The students may be taught and examined in particular subjects similar to those at their home universities.

Mobile students use exchange programmes at department, faculty, institution or national level. As programme students they may choose Erasmus [ɪ'ræzməs], Nordplus or Fulbright programmes. These programmes contribute to the development of quality and innovation in the educational systems by means of educational cooperation, development projects, exchanges and networking (установление деловых контактов, налаживание связей).

Some of mobile students are called  free-movers. They travel entirely on their own initiative. Free-movers may apply any university satisfying their educational needs.

One of the key aims of academic mobility is to place an emphasis on studies measured by results and to make an assessment of what students actually know and what they don't.

b) prepare a summary of the text.

c) Webquest.

• Search the sites for details of exchange programs. Copy the details into this table for each program (at least three).

Program name	Purpose	Target	Countries involved	Peculiarities

• Prepare a report on one of them.

www.fulbright.state.gov/

www.esn.org/

www.isep.org/

www.exchanges.state.gov/programs/university.html

3. Higher Education in Russia

1. Skim the text through fairly quickly to understand the topic and the main points.

2. Read the text for the second time very carefully. When you have finished reading, see how much you can recall.

3. Answer the questions after the text.

Entrance to the university is by competitive examination or by the results of the Unified State Exam. Those who passed entrance examinations with merit and credit receive monthly state grants. If the applicants did not fail in the examinations but their results are satisfactory they can gain entrance but must pay for their education.

The complete course at the university lasts for 5 years, in some educational establishments it may be a little longer or shorter. Students have lectures and practical hours. They attend lectures on different subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry, philosophy, history of Russia, economics, strength of materials, drawing and others and take notes of them. During practical hours in the laboratories and shops they study the material of the lectures. Students can borrow books from the university library and use computer-assisted learning materials to read for credit tests and exams.

The academic year is divided into two terms from September to January and from February to July. Students take examinations at the end of a term and can be transferred to the next course. On completion of studies the student presents a graduation thesis or passes final state examinations.

The classic universities train highly qualified specialists in sciences and humanities. The specialized universities train specialists for one of the fields of culture or national economy. The graduates of specialized technical universities are well grounded in a specific field of engineering. Special attention is given to the training of technical engineering personnel in most important branches of modern transport, industrial and housing construction.

In all higher educational institutions there are some optional courses which provide students with an opportunity to study besides obligatory subjects, subjects they are most interested in.

Besides full-time education there are evening and correspondence higher educational establishments which train specialists in most fields. Correspondence and evening higher schools differ in the system in which studies are organized. The basic form of study is independent work and self-study at home. The majority of evening and correspondence students study professions they are engaged in.

Post-graduate education. Those who have a gift for research work may enter the post graduate course. A postgraduate carries out his research and work at the doctoral thesis under the guidance and supervision of the experienced professors and academics. The time taken to complete a postgraduate degree varies, but it usually involves three years of study.

Questions

1. What’s the school-leaving age in Russia?

2. Do students have to pay for their education?

3. Do students get grants for further education?

4. How long does the course of studies at the university usually last?

5. How many terms are there in the academic year?

6. Where do students take textbooks?

7. What types of universities are there?

8. What is the purpose of optional courses?

9. Where can working people study if they wish?

10. What is the difference between full-time and correspondence education?

11. What possibilities exist for graduates who want to continue their education?

12. *What would you say are the successes and failures of Russian educational systems? Compare the British and Russian educational systems. How do British schools and universities differ from schools and universities in Russia?

4. Education in Great Britain

1. Skim the text to understand the topic and the main points.

There are some features in the British educational system, which distinguish it from education in other countries.

The availability of higher education and finding a university place is not easy. Universities, although financed by the government, have autonomy and each one has complete control over what to teach, how to teach it, and how to test the students. They accept only the better students on their courses. Universities normally select students on the basis of top grades in several A-level exams and an interview, and competition for places is fierce.

The labour-intensive system of instruction known as tutorials has been polished for 800 years. The strength of the tutorial system is that it’s almost impossible to be lazy under it. Within the first week the freshman meets the tutor to whom he is assigned and begins his work.

The academic year in Britain’s universities is divided into three terms. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, etc. It is only for modern languages, medicine and certain vocational studies that students take more than three years. Later a university graduate may continue to take the Master’s Degree and then the Doctor’s Degree. Research is an important feature of university work.

The cost of education depends on the college and speciality which one chooses.

This is how a student spends his day. His working hours are from 9 to 1. From 2 to 5 he is engaged in sport. From 5 to 7 he usually either works in the library or in the laboratory. 7 o’clock is the dinner-hour. After dinner the students have club activities, debating societies, etc.

There is an interesting form of studies which is called the Open University, when people study in their own free time and “attend” lectures by watching television, listening radio, using Internet. They keep in touch with their tutors by phone, letter or on-line.

2. Read the text carefully to understand the peculiarities of the British educational system. When you have finished reading, see how much you can recall.

3. Try to work out the meanings of any words you don’t know from the context. Try to find Russian equivalents to the underlined word combinations.

Glossary

A Levels = Advanced Levels.	They are taken mostly by people around the age of eighteen who wish to go on to higher education.
Certificate	A qualification obtained after secondary education.
Degree	A qualification from a university. Students studying for the first degree (a BA or BS) are called undergraduates. When they have been awarded a degree, they are known as graduates.
Diploma	A qualification obtained after higher education.
Grant	Money, given by an organization, eg the Local Education Authority.
Master’s Degree	The general name for a second (postgraduate) degree, an MA or MSc.
Part-time education	Students must be present at the classes for only a part of the working day or week.
A pass	A successful result in an examination.
A period	A lesson in school.
Polytechnics	Are similar to universities, but the courses tend to be more practically-oriented.
A professor	A senior university academic, not an ordinary teacher.
Reader	A lecturer, usually ranking below a professor, but above an ordinary lecturer
Term	Schools usually divide their year into three “terms”, starting on the first Tuesday morning in September. (Autumn term – Christmas holiday about 2 weeks, Spring term – Easter holiday about 2 weeks, Summer term – in July schools break up for 8 weeks). In addition, all schools have a “half-term” holiday, lasting a few days in the middle of each term.
Tutor	A teacher in a college or university who leads a discussion group, directs the studies of undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge
Undergraduate	University student working for a bachelor’s degree

5. University Education in Great Britain

1. Read the text.

There are 46 universities in Britain. But not all universities are equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, academic organization. Oxford and Cambridge, the oldest universities are world-known for their academic excellence. The University of London ranks among the UK's top universities.

University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels from that in many other countries. An undergraduate programme consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which account for about 15 hours per week.

Following a particular programme students take series of lecture courses which may last one academic term or the whole year. Associated with each lecture course are seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes which illustrate the topics presented in the lectures. Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis (one member of staff and one student).

Students prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can take the form of researching a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems. Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours. Much emphasis is put on the private study nature of a UK degree. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any matter whether academic or personal.

The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks. Universities teach in all major subject areas: arts, science, law, engineering, medicine, social sciences. University staff are at the foreground of knowledge in their subject.

University degree courses extend from three to four years. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master's Degree and then the Doctor's.