Oral topic № 1

The role of knowledge and education in society.

We have every right to say that the future of the country in many respects depends upon the quality of education received by its citizens. Knowledge is very important in modern life; it helps young people to choose a profession according to their brain and abilities, to be active, useful citizens of the country, to develop the national economy. Only highly qualified specialists can solve the most complex problems facing our society.

Types of higher educational establishments in Belarus. A two-level system of higher education.

Institutions of higher education in RB fall into four major types: University, Academy, Institute and Higher College. Higher educational establishments provide a two level system of higher education. The 1st- level (stage) education is completed by passing the examinations and/or defending a diploma thesis. The students, who successfully completed the education, are issued a diploma and awarded a qualification (a Bachelor’s Degree). A more stringent selection and much more advanced 2nd- stage curriculum (for obtaining the Master’s Degree) allow perfectly educated intellectual elite of the country to be formed.

The Belarusian State Economic University: rules of enrolment, schools and conditions for studies, curricula, student life.

schools and conditions for studies: The BSEU has a well developed infrastructure which provides training and research within twelve schools:

School of Management, School of Accounting and Economics, School of Finance and Banking, School of International Economic Relations, School of Trade Management, School of Marketing- It incorporates five departments: Marketing; Industrial Marketing and Communications; Logistics and Pricing of the Main Industrial Branches; Technology of the Main Industrial Branches; Security of Life Activity, School of Law, School of International Business Communications, Institute of Social Liberal Education, School of Pre-University Training, Higher School of Tourism, Higher School of Business and Management.

The conditions for study are good. Numerous tutorial rooms, lecture halls, modern laboratories, computer and foreign language classes, audio- and video-facilities, a big library, several spacious reading halls and canteens are at the students' disposal.

student life: A lot of activity is being done outside the curriculum as well. There are many societies, sports and art circles that students are engaged in. Going to the cinema, theatre, concert halls, clubs or dancing parties is also very popular. Time at the university passes very quickly, but memories about it stay for a long time.

Oral topic №2+

The procedure of admission to Universities.

Great Britain: A student who wants to go to university must write to the Universities Central Council on Admissions (UCCA), and they send him a form which he has to complete. On this form, he has to write the names of six universities in order of preference. This form, together with an account of his out-of-school activities and two references, one of which must be from the headmaster of his school, is then sent back to the UCCA. The UCCA sends photocopies of the form to the universities concerned. Each applicant is first considered by the university admission board. In some cases the board sends the applicant a refusal. If there are no reasons for immediate refusal, the university admission officer passes the candidate's papers on to the academic department concerned.

USA: the procedure of admission to university in USA. Admission decisions at selective institutions in the USA are based on a number of academic and nonacademic criteria. Academic criteria include high school coursework, grade point average and class rank, recommendations from high school teachers and so on. Nonacademic criteria are such characteristics as demonstrating leadership abilities, creativity and community service. Because the USA has no national secondary school curriculum or school exit exams colleges rely on two admission examination – the scholas aptitude test and the American College Test. An applicant can take either of these test must he taken in senior year in high school. Both tests are composed of three parts: math, logic, and language proficiency. A SAT can he taken two, or three times, so that the student can improve the result of he or she wish to do so.

Types of universities in Great Britain and USA (also university degrees)

Great Britain:

Universities in the UK may be divided into three types:

• The old established universities, such as Oxford (founded 1249), Cambridge, Edinburgh.

• The 19th century "redbrick universities" such as London and Manchester. These Universities were created to fill local needs, to provide a liberal education for the poorer boys, and to give technological training.

• The “new universities” established after World War II, such as Essex, Lancaster. These were originally technical colleges set up by local authorities.

USA: Degree-granting institutions in the USA are typically divided into four major groups:

1) Two-year colleges usually offer the associate’s degree such as an Associate of Arts, Associate in Science.

Community colleges are often open admission, with low tuition. These institutions award associate’s degrees in vocational fields, prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions.

2) Four-year colleges offer the bachelor’s degree, such as the Bachelor of arts or Bachelor of Science. They are known for being residential and for having smaller enrollment and class size. Most are private. In addition some offer experimental curricula.

3) Universities are research-oriented institutions which provide both undergraduate and graduate education. Graduate programs grant a variety of master’s degrees- such as the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration or Master of Fine Arts.

Some universities have professional schools, which are attended primarily by those who plan to be practitioners instead of academics.