Variety of other British higher institutions

One development in education in which Britain can claim to lead the world is the Open University. It was founded in 1969 in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and is so called because it is open to all – this university does not require any formal academic qualifications to study for a degree, and many people who do not have an opportunity to be ‘ordinary’ students enroll. The university is non-residential and courses are mainly taught by special written course books and by programs on state radio and television. There are, however, short summer courses of about a week that the students have to attend and special part-time study centers where they can meet their tutors when they have problems.

There are also a variety of other British higher institutions, which offer higher education. Some, like the Royal College of Arts, the Cornfield Institute of Technology and various Business Schools, have university status, while others, such as agricultural, drama and arts colleges like the Royal Academy of Dramatics Arts (RADA) and the Royal college of Music provide comparable courses. All these institutions usually have a strong vocational aspect in their programs, which fills a specialized role in higher education.

Words and expressions

driving force – движущая сила

to assume – предполагать, допускать

enrolment – регистрация

to merge – сливаться, соединяться

oversea – зарубежный

virtually – фактически

semi-independent – полунезависимый

network – сеть, сообщество

chapel – часовня

to cater – угождать

to resemble – походить, иметь сходство

to admit – допускать, признавать

to comprise – включать, содержать

pattern – система, образец civil – гражданский

to cater – поставлять

to claim – претендовать, требовать emphasize – осoбое значение

upgrade – подъём

elitist – отборнейший

to enroll – регистрировать, записывать

via – через

sheer – абсолютный extra-mural – заочный

honors’ degrees – почетные ступени

noticeable – заметный

to enable – давать возможность или право to modify – видоизменять

workforce – рабочая сила digestion – усвоение

grant – стипендия loan – ссуда

to fund – вкладывать, делать запас

affluent – приток

to worsen – ухудшаться

Task 5. Match the English and Russian equivalents.

higher education способности

entrance exam учебный год

skills учебные пособия

abilities творческая деятельность

academic year наука

creative activities приобретать знания по….

to acquire knowledge in навыки, умения

study aids вступительный экзамен

science высшее образование

to assess оценивать, расценивать

Task 6. Give the English equivalents.

Ученый, предсказание, наблюдение, безработица, промышленный, модный, ценный, повторение, центральный, забывчивый, коллективный, соглашение, невозможный, исторический.

Task 7. Translate underlined words and phrases into English.

1. The aim of the government is увеличить the number of students who поступают в высшие учебные заведения.

2. The British University year делится into three terms, приблизительно eight to ten weeks each.

3. Существует two different types of post-graduate courses – the Master’s Degree (MA or MSc), which занимает one or two years, and the higher degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), which занимает two or three years.

4. There are short летние курсы of about a week that the students have to посещать and special part-time study centers where they can meet their tutors when возникают у них проблемы.

Task 8. Practiсe the following dialogues.