TEXT 7. The Bologna Process.

A European reform process aimed at creating the European Higher Education Area

The aim of the Bologna Process is to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) based on international cooperation and academic exchange that is attractive to European students and staff as well as to students and staff from other parts of the world.

The envisaged European Higher Education Area will

• facilitate mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff;

• prepare students for their future careers and for life as active citizens in democratic societies, and support their personal development;

• offer broad access to high-quality higher education, based on democratic principles and academic freedom.

Why is it called Bologna Process and who participates?

The Bologna Process is named after the Bologna Declaration, which was signed in the Italian city of Bologna on 19 June 1999 by ministers in charge of higher education from 29 European countries. Today, the Process unites 46 countries - all party to the European Cultural Convention and committed to the goals of the European Higher Education Area. An important characteristic of the Bologna Process - and key to its success - is that it also involves European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO-CEPES, as well as representatives of higher education institutions, students, staff, employers and quality assurance agencies.

What are the reforms all about?

• Easily readable and comparable degrees organised in a three-cycle structure (e.g. bachelor-master-doctorate): Countries are currently setting up national qualifications frameworks that are compatible with the overarching framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area and define learning outcomes for each of the three cycles.

• Quality assurance in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

• Fair recognition of foreign degrees and other higher education qualifications in accordance with the Council of Europe/UNESCO Recognition Convention.

• Work is also undertaken in areas of broader societal relevance, such as the links between higher education, research and innovation; equitable participation and lifelong learning.

The ongoing reforms will have a strong impact on how European higher education relates to higher education in other parts of the world, which is why Ministers have adopted a Strategy for the European Higher Education Area in a Global Setting.

After you read

Questions

1. What is the aim of the Bologna Process?

2. What will the envisaged European Higher Education Area?

3. Why is it called Bologna Process and who participates?

4. What are the reforms of the Bologna Process all about?

Tasks

1. Get into groups and discuss the pluses and minuses of the Bologna Process.

2. Complete the sentences.

1. The aim of the Bologna Process is…

2. The envisaged European Higher Education Area will…

3. The Bologna Process is named after…

4. The ongoing reforms…

5. The European Higher Education Area…

3. Translate into Englush.

1. «Болонским» принято называть процесс создания странами Европы единого образовательного пространства.

2. В Болонской декларации указаны 6 основных задач, решение которых, как предполагается, будет способствовать единению Европы в области образования.

3. Высшее образование является сферой, которая в значительной степени влияет на то, как формируется общество, поэтому раздробленность, пестрота образовательных систем препятствуют единению Европы.

4. В настоящее время становится все более принятым говорить об общеевропейском образовательном и исследовательском пространстве.

5. Болонский процесс — процесс сближения и гармонизации систем образования стран Европы в рамках Болонского соглашения, с целью создания единого европейского пространства высшего образования.

6. Россия присоединилась к Болонскому процессу в сентябре 2003 года на берлинской встрече министров образования европейских стран.

Before you read

What is the Globalization?

What is the role of Globalization in Russia?

TEXT 8. Globalization.

Globalization is a process of interaction (взаимодействие) and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.

Globalization is not new, though. For thousands of years, people—and, later, corporations—have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the famed Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe during the Middle Ages. Likewise, for centuries, people and corporations have invested in enterprises in other countries. In fact, many of the features of the current wave of globalization are similar to those prevailing before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

But policy and technological developments of the past few decades (десятилетия) have increased cross-border trade, investment, and migration so large that many observers believe the world has entered a qualitatively new phase in its economic development.

In the years since the Second World War many governments have adopted free-market economic systems, vastly increasing their own productive potential and creating new opportunities for international trade and investment. Governments also have negotiated dramatic reductions in barriers to commerce and have established international agreements to promote trade in goods, services, and investment. Taking advantage of new opportunities in foreign markets, corporations have built foreign factories and established production and marketing arrangements with foreign partners. A defining feature of globalization, therefore, is an international industrial and financial business structure.

Technology has been the other principal driver of globalization. Advances in information technology, in particular, have dramatically transformed economic life.

Globalization is deeply controversial (спорный, противоречивый, дискуссионный), however. Proponents (защитники, сторонники) of globalization argue that it allows poor countries and their citizens to develop economically and raise their standards of living, while opponents of globalization claim that the creation of an unfettered international free market has benefited multinational corporations in the Western world at the expense of local enterprises, local cultures, and common people. Resistance to globalization has therefore taken shape both at a popular and at a governmental level as people and governments try to manage the flow of capital, labor, goods, and ideas that constitute the current wave of globalization.

To find the right balance between benefits and costs (доходы и издержки) associated with globalization, citizens of all nations need to understand how globalization works and the policy choices facing them and their societies.

After you read

After you read

globalization threaten to weak and small countries?

5. What place does US have in the process of globalization? What is the impact of the UN and other international organizations in the development of globalization?

6. Should citizens make efforts to encourage their compatriots to purchase goods made in their own countries (i.e. to purchase American automobiles)?

7. Is there anything wrong with Starbucks or McDonald’s trying to crack the China market and open as many stores there as possible?

8. How small countries can “struggle” with globalization?

9. What benefits does globalization bring to small countries?

10. How must education systems be fundamentally altered to accommodate this new, global market?

11. In the final analysis, will globalization lead to more peace or more war? Explain.

12. List three specific things that we can do to maximize the potential of globalization while minimizing its deleterious effects.

Tasks

1. Discuss the following quotes.

1. Respond to the following quote, “It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of meaning." (Kofi Annan)

2. Respond to the following quote, "Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility." (Kofi Annan)

3. Respond to the following quote, "Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very nice thing... you are talking about the Internet, you are talking about cell phones, you are talking about computers. This doesn't affect two-thirds of the people of the world.

2. Complete the table.

Pluses of the Globalization	Minuses of the Globalization

 

3. Wrtie the essay. «What are the pluses and minuses of the Globalization in Russia?»

4. Translate into English.

1. Глобализация — процесс всемирной экономической, политической и культурной интеграции и унификации.

2. В результате глобализации мир становится более связанным и более зависимым от всех его субъектов.

3. Происхождение самого слова «глобализация» указывает на то, что ведущую роль в данном процессе играет бурный рост международной торговли, происходящий на тех или иных исторических этапах.

4. Самый мощный фактор глобализации – экономический.

5. Глобализация оказалась трудным вопросом не только для массового сознания, но и для научного анализа.

6. У глобализации есть различные аспекты, которые затрагивают мир несколькими различными способами.

7. Глобализация предполагает, что множество социальных, экономических, культурных, политических и иных отношений и связей приобретают всемирный характер.

8. Глобализация является важнейшим процессом, без учета которого невозможно прогнозировать, определять и осуществлять внешнюю политику любого государства.

Before you read

What is the term innovation?

What is the role of innovations in Russia?

What innovations in Russia do you know?

TEXT 9. Innovation.

An invention (изобретение) is useful only to the inventor unless it is offered to the public, however niche that public may be. If the invention improves some product, process or service for the public, then that invention transforms into an innovation.

An innovation (инновация, новшество, нововведение, рационализаторское предложение (изменение технологии, организации производства или самого продукта, которое осуществляется с целью достижения более высокой эффективности или создания новой ценности)) can be big or small. Brand-new or just a bit different, it doesn't matter. An innovation can be clearly complex or seemingly simple. Innovations are often thought of in terms of technical achievement, but can also be a design. The type, industry and style of innovation are irrelevant; an innovation's impact determines its qualification.

The presence of a genius can help with innovation – it may speed up the end result by having a person who can see and make the future happen. However, innovation is more than the work of any one "Einstein." Innovation involves the taking of the work of an individual (or team) of inventors and taking it to a broader audience.

The future of many businesses depends upon their ability to innovate. Competition is fierce. Knowledge spreads quickly. The ability of a company to not only keep up with its current business practices, but to exceed its own – and its competition's – expectations are critical to survival.

Barriers to Innovation

We ought not be over anxious to encourage innovation, in case of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established and it is understood. (C.C. Colton)

The company culture and leadership are two prominent barriers to innovation. If your company's culture isn't set-up to accept new ideas and creative contributions from its staff then inventions will be unable to break through to the marketplace.

What Is NOT Innovation?

It is important to be clear as to what innovation is not. Innovation is NOT invention, even if invention is the mother of necessity. These two words are sometimes used interchangeably, but although connected they are not the same. An innovation is the extension of an invention.

If an inventor discovers the "next big thing," but is unable to find anyone to produce it, then the next big thing remains undiscovered to the world. For this invention to become an innovation, a public needs to be introduced to the invention and have said invention improve their lives in some way. This may happen behind the scenes (e.g., streamlined processes that lower costs to the customer) or be clearly visible (e.g., the flexibility of a laptop vs. a desktop).

What Is "Real" Innovation?

"Real" Innovation does not happen haphazardly (бессистемно, бесцельно, случайно) or sporadically within organizations. "Real" Innovation is accomplished consistently and systematically, given the true voice of the customer and a process for delivering solutions. Companies that innovate successfully do so using an efficient and repeatable methodology. Success is not dependent upon genius – it emerges from the disciplined application of a proven innovation.

After you read

Questions

1. Why are the innovations so popular today?

2. Why do some innovations become so popular?

3. Who works at innovations?

4. What is the future of innovations?

5. Who buys the innovations?

6. Where do innovations apply?

7. Where do scientific men take money for innovations?

8. What is the Real innovation?

Tasks

1. Discuss the following statements

- The role of innovations in Russia and Europian Contries

- Innovation is only fancy.

- What Is NOT Innovation?

- What Is "Real" Innovation?

2. Write the essay. «Your own innovative world»

3. Translate into English.

1. Инновация — это внедренное новшество, обеспечивающее качественный рост эффективности процессов или продукции, востребованное рынком.

2. Инновация является конечным результатом интеллектуальной деятельности человека, его фантазии.

3. Инновация — это результат инвестирования интеллектуального решения в разработку и получение нового знания, ранее не применявшейся идеи.

4. Инновации рассматриваются с разных точек зрения: в связи с технологиями, коммерцией, социальными системами.

5. Инновационные технологии - наборы методов и средств, поддерживающих этапы реализации нововведения. Различают виды инновационных технологий.

6. Инновационный проект (инновация, нововведение) — это конечный результат инновационной деятельности, получивший реализацию в виде нового или усовершенствованного продукта.

7. В зависимости от технологических параметров инновационные проекты подразделяются на продуктовые и процессные.

8. Важным условием для практической реализации инноваций в бизнесе является привлечение инновационных инвестиций.

9. Зачастую именно малые предприятия становятся первооткрывателями новых продуктов и новых технологий в различных отраслях.

10. Основными мотивами покупки инноваций являются: повышение конкурентоспособности и имиджа хозяйствующего субъекта; получение в перспективе дохода на капитал, вложенный сегодня.

II

Before reading

1.What do you know about engineering?