Дидактические материалы к занятиям 8.1.1,8.1.2, 8.1.3
Education in Russia and Abroad
Lesson 8.1.1. Irkutsk Technical University-routine and perspective
Lead-in
Look at the pictures. What do you think the people in the pictures might be doing. (pictures from the booklet)
How has technology helped to improve the educational system?
What are your favourite subjects?
Reading
Ex 1.You are going to read a text about Irkutsk State Technical University. For questions 1-5, choose the answer (a, b, c) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Irkutsk State Technical University has passed to perspective multilevel system of higher technical and arts education. Its priority direction is training for master's degree.
Over 80 thousand full-time, pert lime students and students by correspondence have graduated from the Irkutsk State Technical University over the years.
Integrated training of specialists, which corresponds to international standards, has made it prestigious and attractive for students from many countries of Asia, Middle East, Africa, America end Europe.
Irkutsk is the capital of Eastern Siberia end a beautiful ancient city. It is situated 65 km from the unique Lake Baikal. Founded in 1661, Irkutsk has constantly been developing as an administrate, industrial and cultural centre.
Established in 1930 as a Siberian Mining Institute, the Irkutsk State Technical University (ISTU) is one of the largest higher educational institutions in Russia now and is the leading university in Eastern Siberia and the far East. But traditions of technical education took-root in the XVIII century, when the Irkutsk navigational school was founded in 1754 in order to train navigators and land- surveyors.
As the industrial potential of the region was developing, the institute grew and developed too.
Each year more than eleven thousand students study at the Irkutsk State Technical University. The University gives a student a choice, and this choice is broad - over 70 specialities in science, economics and humanities. There is full-time, part-time, distance and evening education. There are also preparatory courses for would-be students.
12 departments make up the structure of the University: Architecture and Design; Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy; Civil Engineering and Municipal Economy; Geology, Geological Data Processing and Geological Ecology; International Department; Mining Engineering; Oriental Department; Power Engineering; Technology and Computing for Mechanical Engineering; Transportation Systems; Department for Evening Education Students and Students by Correspondence.
The Chair of Gemmology at the Department of Geology, Geological Data Processing and Geological Ecology, which is not to be found anywhere else in Siberia and the Far East, trains experts in gemmology and engineers - artists in technology of artistic working of jewelry materials.
At the International Department students are trained for such urgent specialties as International Economics, Journalism, Cultural Studies, Regional Studies and Psychology. International economics programme offers courses in international business, tourism or public relations.
The strategy of training at the university assumes, alongside an in-depth professional teaching, the study of international economics, the acquisition of modern computer techniques, and the development of fluency in one or two foreign languages.
A language Centre. It was designed to improve and develop teaching of foreign languages. It also provides additional educational services, consultations, as well as training of Russian as a foreign language. The Centre is equipped with a state-of-the-art facilities, up-to-date audio video and computer technologies, and various teaching materials for individual training, it has close collaboration with the language centres in the USA, Great Britain and other European countries.
A Cybernetics Centre. Its aim is to train specialists in new information technology, carry cut scientific research and disseminate knowledge in systems engineering computer technology. The Centre has access to the World Wide Web and hardware and software packages are regularly being updated.
A Centre for New Information Technology. It introduces multimedia technologies for education and advanced computer aided training and testing systems info the information process.
The East-Siberian Centre for Automation «Festo», found at the university, represents a well- known company FESTO KG. This centre covers different fields of engineering, marketing, training and upgrading of specialists, and provides the educational process at our university with the western Training Technologies.
The Training Centre for Computer Technology, founded in 1995 after the agreement between ISTU, Administration of Irkutsk Region and Delcam international plc (UK) had been signed. Its aim is to train specialists in modern computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) for mechanical engineering production, consumer goods (e.g. footwear, ceramics, etc.), artistic products (design, bas-reliefs and medals). TCCT has a various engineering software. The high standard of this software is supported with a help of the direct connection with Delcam via Internet. TCCT trains students, starting in their third course, specifically for different companies in the Irkutsk region (Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Radio Plant, Confectioner’s Factory, Aluminium Plant, Chemical Association).
Students have excellent opportunities for post graduate studies at the Irkutsk State Technical University. There are programmes for master's, candidate's and doctor's degrees. Retraining programs for engineers and leaders are offered as well.
Questions
1. The ISTU has passed to
a) a large private educational establishment.
b) multilevel system of higher education.
c) the mining and metallurgy Institute.
2. The ISTU is one of the larges
a) branch of the Russian Academy of Science.
b) college of Oxford University.
c) higher educational institutions in Russia and Eastern Siberia.
3. The Chair of Gemmology trains experts in
a) technology of artistic working of jewelry materials.
b) architecture and the arts.
c) modern computer techniques.
4. The Language Centre was founded to
a) introduce multimedia technologies.
b) improve and develop teaching of foreign languages.
c) provides the educational process in different fields.
5. Student have exellent opportunities for
a) improvement of Eastern Siberia culture.
b) post graduate studies.
c) nature protection.
Ex 2. a) Read the text again and make notes under the following headings, then talk about ISTU.
ISTU is one of the largest higher educational institutions in Russia.
A few worobs from ISTU history.
The departments.
Specialists in different fields.
Students’ opportunities.
Social life at the University
b) Read and Speak about your Department
Look through the text and make a summary of each part of the text.
Can you think of any guestions about this department?
Have a talk about this department.