Text A Past and Present of Russian Higher Education

Historically, higher education in Russia was divided between wide curriculum universities and narrow specialization institutes. There were medical and teachers' institutes in every region of the country. Universities and institutes conducted their own admission tests. Since 2009 they admit students according to the results of the Unified state examination (USE). A few higher education establishments are still allowed to introduce their own entrance tests in addition to USE scoring.

Unlike the United States model, there was no division into undergraduate (BS/BA) and graduate (MS/MA) levels. Higher education usually resulted in specialist degree. It took five or six years to complete. Specialist degrees of selected high-ranking institutions were stated equal to Western MS/MA qualification. A specialist graduate needed no further academic qualification for a career, with the exception of some branches of medical professions that required a post-graduate stage. Military and militia college education lasted for four years and was ranked as equivalent to specialist degree.

Study programs were (and still are) fixed for the whole term of study. According to a 2005 UNESCO report, more than half of the Russian adult population has attained a higher education, which is twice as high as average in developed countries of the world.

At present Russia is in the process of migrating from its traditional higher education model to a modernized degree structure in line with Bologna Process model. In October 2007 Russia enacted a law that replaces the traditional five-year model of higher education. It consists of a four-year Bachelor’s degree followed by a two-year Master’s degree. The five-year specialist training was previously free to all students, but the new MS/MA stage is not. The shift forces students to pay for tuition. Postgraduate education so far retains its unique pattern. There are two postgraduate degrees: Candidate of science and Doctor of science.

In 2007–2008 academic year Russia had 8.1 million students enrolled in all forms of higher education (including military and police institutions and postgraduate studies). Foreign students accounted for 5.2% of enrollment. 6.2 million students were enrolled in 658 state-owned and 450 private civilian university-level institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education; total faculty reached 625 000 in 2005.

There is a trend for consolidation of the nation’s higher educational establishments. It began in 2006 when state universities and colleges of Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog and other southern towns were united into Southern Federal University. A similar university was formed in Krasnoyarsk as the Siberian Federal University. The third one is the Far Eastern Federal University. Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University acquired the federal university status in 2007 without further organizational changes.

 

 

5. Translate the following word combinations from the text A. Pay attention to – ed forms in Past Indefinite Active, Past Indefinite Passive, Past Participle as an attribute.

a) conducted admission tests; usually resulted in; needed no further academic qualification; acquired the federal university status; total faculty reached; Russia enacted a law; resulted in specialist degree; that required a post-graduate stage; accounted for 5.2% of enrollment;

b) was divided; were stated; were united; was formed; were enrolled;

c) selected high-ranking institutions; institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education; state-owned university-level institutions; modernized degree structure; Bachelor’s degree followed by Master’s degree; students enrolled in all forms of higher education.

6. Read the text A and answer the following questions:

What tradition was there in Russian higher education?

How did the universities and institutes admit students?

What degree did the university students usually receive?

How long did it take to study for it?

What is the peculiarity of modern higher education in Russia?

What is the higher education model according to Bologna Process?

Do students pay tuition fees?

How many private and public universities are there in Russia?

Do many Russians take up higher education?

What is the latest trend in Russian higher education?

 

7. What information have you learnt about higher education in Russia?

Is there any difference between higher education in Russia, Great Britain and the USA?

8. Read the text B “Moscow State University” and answer the following:

Do you think that MSU is the most prestigious and peculiar Russia's universities? Prove your answer by the examples from the text.