History of Technical Education in Russia

Russia has contributed significantly to engineering education internationally.

Engineering education in Russia started with the foundation of the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in Moscow in accordance with Tsar Peter the Great's Decree dated 27 January 1701 (new style).

The total number of students at the School was defined as 500, but at times went up to 700 persons. The School taught mathematics, geodesy, sea sailing, cartography, astronomy and a number of other engineering and technical subjects. It was soon placed in the building of Sukharev Tower, which incorporated special laboratories equipped for practical studies and an observatory. By the time of establishment, the School was the first and the biggest educational institution in Europe of its type.

Soon after the Navigational School, the Artillery-Engineering School was organized (1701). In 1703, the Moscow Engineering School was formed, then the St Petersburg Engineering School in 1713. The Mining College was founded in St. Petersburg in 1733, which was equal in status to academies.

Since the beginning of the 19th Century, the process of establishing higher technical schools in Russia continued, although the process went on at an extremely slow pace. In 1828, The St Petersburg Practical Technological Institute was founded, which was followed in 1830 by the Moscow Handicraft Education Institution for preparation of skilled workmen with theoretical knowledge.

The preparation of highly qualified technical specialists was carried out at professional higher educational institutions. The first to start such preparation of engineers were: the Mining Technological Institute; the Practical Technological Institute; and the Kharkov Technological Institute. One characteristic of most of the higher technical educational institutions was their multi-profile nature. They mostly had four departments: mechanical, chemical, engineering-construction and economics.

The end of the 19th Century and the beginning of 20th Century were characterized by establishing a number of higher technical educational institutions: the Moscow Engineering College, the Kiev and Warsaw Polytechnic Institutes, the Yekaterinoslavl Higher Mining College, the Tomsk Institute of Technology, and the Electro-technical Institute in St Petersburg, the Petersburg Polytechnic Institute.

After the 1917 revolution, and during the industrialization of the country, especially after the war, higher engineering education in Russia developed at a very fast rate. At the beginning of the 1960s, some of the best higher technical engineering schools of the world were established in Russia. The quality of higher engineering education in Russia was, and still is, acknowledged all over the world.

Recent advances have led to the formation of a technical university in Russia, which is a centre of science, education and culture that realizes mostly fundamental research and professional training, generally for scientific and technical activities in a wide spectrum of directions and specialties.

TEXT 14. Read and translate the text. Learn new words. Speak on the topic.

The Smolensk Branch of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (National Research University)

The Smolensk Branch of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (National Research University) was founded in 1961. It is the main university in the Smolensk region in the field of power engineering, electrical and thermal engineering, electronics and nanoelectronics, optical techniques, technological machines and equipment, computer science, economics and management.

To enter the institute you have to undergo entrance examination or you can be admitted according to the results of the state examinations on the school-leaving certificate.

The university offers a Bachelor’s degree programme (the first and basic level of higher education) which lasts for at least 4 years of full-time study, and a Master’s degree programme (the second level of higher education) which lasts for 2 more years of education. The programmes include professional and special courses in Science, Humanities and Social economic disciplines, professional training, completion of a research paper/project and passing of State final exams.

The teaching staff of National Research University consists of professors, highly qualified lecturers and assistants.

The academic year is divided into two terms. During the studying process the students attend lectures and classes and do laboratory work. After each term students examinations and if they pass them successfully they get a grant. During the first two years there is a common curriculum for most majors. Specialization usually begins in the third year of studies.

The institute today is a unity of educational and scientific laboratories supplied with modern equipment, control and measuring systems, technical means of education. In addition, it has a large scientific and technological library. Scientific conferences held at the university broaden students’ outlook and enrich knowledge in modern trends and recent developments.

There are also facilities for sport, recreation and entertainment. Students have a chance to compete in athletics and football, participate in voluntary groups and different students’ clubs.

Nobody doubts that these days the progress in the world depends on the progress in education, higher education in particular. Students of the Smolensk Branch of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute acquire good knowledge, obtain prestigious diplomas to get higher wages and advancement in future.

TEXT 15. Read and translate the opinions. Share your view on the problem.

How to Cope with Exams

For many students, the run-up to important exams is a stressful time. Students explain how they cope.

Student A

Revising for exams can be really tiring, so I try to stay alert by drinking cups of coffee while I’m studying. But the most important thing for me is to make sure I sleep well the night before an exam. I need at least eight hours a night to feel really awake the next day. Before I go to sleep, I put on a CD or read a book.

Student B

For me the best way to stay on top of things during exams is not to worry too much and to take time off from revision. Some people give up everything to spend their time studying, but I don’t actually think this helps you to do any better. I still meet up with my friends while exams are on. As well as that, I do a lot of exercise and I make sure I have a good work-out the night before an exam.

Student C

I tend to panic in exams, so I have learnt that the best way to cope is to watch the time carefully throughout the exam. I plan how much time I will need for each question, and keep an eye on the clock to see how I am doing. I never tackle a question until I have thought about it, and made some rough notes on the answer. I ignore people who are writing fast. When I see them I start to panic.

Student D

I get very stressed about exams a long time before they happen, and I have always wished I had more time to study. In the past, I have found that I got lower marks than I could have got because I spent time worrying, not studying. So now, I talk things over with my parents and teachers. They often give very good advice, as they have been through it all before, and it helps to get all my anxieties into the open. I’d rather do this than waste a lot of valuable revision time worrying about everything.

Student E

During exams, I avoid all those negative people who are completely stressed out and wish they had done more work. The night before an exam, I go out with my friends – I don’t believe in last-minute revision. We usually go for a walk, or go round to someone’s house, order a pizza and watch a good video, preferably a comedy. It’s important to laugh a lot, and see the funny side of things when there is so much hard work to do the next day. When I go to bed, I simply glance through my notes one more time, and this helps me to feel ready for anything the next day!

Student F

I know that I can only concentrate for a limited time, so I stop every hour or so for 10 minutes during my revision sessions. Even if I were the world’s greatest genius, I would start getting tired after an hour or so. I may go for a walk or just think about something else to take my mind off exams. After that, it’s much easier to go back to my books. I think it’s also important to avoid drinking lots of strong coffee, because it tends to increase my anxiety, so I drink lots of fruit juice or mineral water.

PART II. WORLD AROUND

 

UNIT 1. GREAT BRITAIN