In what way is the Natalya Nesterova Uni­versity different from others?

The difference is fundamental. We offer our students a maximum choice of various possibili­ties. We are open to positive changes, whoever they may be initiated by – a student, or a post­graduate, or a professor. We try to create and pre­serve the unique atmosphere of freedom and that legendary spirit of brotherhood universities are supposed to possess. We don’t have entrance examinations. Instead, we have an interview with the entrant during which we determine the level of his or her training and give the person the nec­essary counseling. Our students can be of any age and from any country. We have also taken care of young people from families in low income brackets, for them we have a special department, where the tuition fees are just $500 a year, or half the amount of university fees.

We also see to it that student select a de­partment that is best for them. It takes just one day for a student who has made a mistake to be transferred to another department. Those who wish can attend two departments. A student who wants to attend some particular course of lec­tures can do so on an occasional basis. To an extent, our choice of lecturers is influenced by the students. Sometimes, proceeding from their wishes, we invite a professor to deliver an addi­tional course of lectures.

Doesn’t paid education make students slack, when they can choose which lectures to attend, and so on?

Not those who have come to learn. Incidental students normally drop out – they would fail our end-of-term examinations anyway. Besides, our system of home assignments, course projects, and tests keeps busy even the late sleepers.

What do you hold to be your educational know-how?

For ten years we have been working over the concept of continual education. Our educa­tional system can take in a two-year-old and keep them until a ripe old age. The university struc­ture includes a kindergarten, a primary school, several types of secondary schools, a study center for decorative and applied arts, a Ladies’ Institute, a school of foreign languages, and a further education center.

Could I ask you a traditional question now? What is your vision of education in the third millennium?

It seems to me that humanity will very soon start making great strides in spiritual advance­ment. Spiritual development will inevitably carry education forward, putting it on a more individu­al, personal footing.

Today’s fast-developing long-distance instruc­tion and the tremendous possibilities of the In­ternet are bound to revolutionize the system of education as we know it today, providing sub­stantially greater opportunities for those thirst­ing for knowledge.

Interviewed by K. Paramonov

c) Using the plan given in XII (c), render the contents of the interview with Natalya Nesterova in the written form.

XV. Give possibly exhaustive description of the system of higher education in Russia.

Unit II: Higher Education Abroad

I. a) Read the text.

Higher Education in Great Britain

Higher education in Great Britain is provided at univer­sities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other esta­blishments of higher education. There are 46 universities in Britain. The oldest and best known of them are located in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Birmin­gham. English universities greatly differ from each other in history, traditions, general organization, methods of instruc­tion, etc.

Good A-level results in at least two subjects are nece­ssary to get a place at a university. However, good exam passes alone are not enough. Universities choose their students after interviews. For all British citizens a place at a university brings with it a grant from their local education authority.

A university consists of a number of faculties: divinity, medicine, arts (philosophy), law, music, natural sciences, economics, engineering, agriculture, etc. After three years of study a university graduate gets the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, Science, Engineering, etc. Later he may proceed to the Degree of Master and then a Doctor's Degree. The first post-graduate degree is that of Master, conferred for a thesis based on at least one year's full-time work. Everywhere the Degree of Doctor of Philo­sophy is given for a thesis, which is an original contribution to knowledge. Research is an important feature of university work.

The Polytechnics, like universities, offer first and higher degrees. Some of them offer full-time and sandwich courses. Colle­ges of Education provide two-year courses in teacher education or sometimes three years if the graduate specializes in some particular subject.

Some of those who decide to leave school at the age of 16 may go to a further education college where they can follow a course in typing, engineering, town planning, cooking, full-time or part-time. Further education colleges have strong ties with commerce and industry.

There is an interesting form of studies, which is called the Open University. It is intended for people who study in their own free time and who “attend” lectures by watching television and listening to the radio. They keep in touch by phone and letter with their tutors and attend summer schools. The Open University students have no formal qualifications and would be unable to enter ordinary universities.