Английский язык. Higher education

Special secondary and higher education is available both on free and paid basis. The latter option is for those who failed to get the necessary score at entrance examinations and did not win the entrance competition. The paying students can make use of lax credit system. On the other hand the state prohibits the increase of the places for paying students at the cost of reduction of budget places. For comparison Belarus is the only country in the CIS, which retained the same quantity of budget places at higher educational establishments as it had in 1991. In the near future the budget financing of the higher school is not going to be reduced. This policy is the major guarantor of the accessibility of all levels of education to all groups of population. Besides the citizens of Belarus and Russia have equal rights to education in both states according to the intergovernmental agreement signed not long ago.

Social state policy in the sphere of education envisages also financial and material support of students: a 50% reduction on public transport for students, nonresident students and pupils are provided with accommodation at hostels and boarding houses, advanced students receive monthly allowance. The most gifted young people can also apply for the scholarship from a special President fund on social support of gifted pupils and students.

The official languages of upbringing and education at the educational establishments of the Republic of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian. The state guarantees its citizens the right to choose the language of upbringing and education and creates adequate conditions for exercising this right. By applications of children’s legal representatives (parents or tutors) and on the decision of local authorities special groups can be established at preschool establishments and general schools, where education and instruction is fully or partially conducted in the language of a national community or the study of the language of a national community is introduced into a school curriculum.

Graduates of state establishments of the system of vocational, special secondary and higher education as well persons with specific features of psychophysical development, who received training on a special curriculum are guaranteed the first workplace in compliance with the labor legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

Another important issue is the control over the quality of education. Regardless of the pattern of ownership all educational establishments are subject to accreditation procedure, which takes place every five years. Accreditation is aimed at confirmation of adequate level of quality and contents of education and graduate training, which should meet the requirements of established educational standards. Accreditation entitles the educational establishment in question to issue a standard certificate of education of corresponding level.

It should be noted that the research work in the sphere of education and upbringing, humanities and social science as well as the major scientific, technical and economic developments, conducted by education system bodies are budget funded. In the whole, the volume of budget spending on education is fixed at 10% of national income.

UNIT 2

TOPIC “HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN”

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

to go on to higher education

продолжить образование в вузе

professional training

профессиональная подготовка

to take one's «A» level examinations in…

сдавать экзамены продвинутого

уровня по...

to accept students on the basis of «A» level results

принимать студентов на основе результатов экзаменов продвинутого уровня

to interview smbd.

провести собеседование с кем-либо

the Open University

открытый университет

formal qualifications

формальные результаты

a part-time student

студент-заочник или вечерник

to follow a degree course

проходить курс, ведущий к получению степени

a former polytechnic

бывший политехнический институт

an institute of higher education

институт, вуз

a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science

степень бакалавра гуманитарных

или естественных наук

a postgraduate degree

ученая степень (присуждается после обучения в аспирантуре или докторантуре)

Master of Philosophy

to be awarded for smth.

research in Arts or Sciences

магистр гуманитарных наук

присуждаться за что-либо

исследования в области гуманитарных или естественных наук

the Council for National Academic Awards

Национальный совет по присуждению ученых степеней

a vocational area

область профессионального обучения

to take qualifications

сдавать экзамены

a professional body

профессиональный орган

to receive a grant

получать стипендию

a local authority

местный орган власти

to cover the cost of smth.

покрывать расходы на что-либо

living expenses

стоимость проживания

to make a contribution

зд.: возместить часть расходов

to pay smth. back

возвратить что-либо

to introduce a system of loans

ввести систему займов

to be famous for academic excellence

быть известным за великолепное

качество обучения

VOCABULARY EXTENSION:

Study the following words, which are often confused by students of English:

I. diploma — degree — certificate — licence — qualifications.

A diploma is often a lower qualification than a degree and may be awarded for a practical or more specialized skill.

E.g. Pat has a degree is maths. I did/took my degree at York. I did a course in hairdressing and gained a diploma.

A certificate is a document marking official recognition of smth.: a birth/marriage/death certificate.

A licence (Am.E.: license) is an official written/printed statement giving permission to do something, usually for a fixed payment and sometimes after a test: a driving licence/a dog licence.

E.g. When did you get your driving license/diploma?

Qualifications: proof of having passed essential exams.

E.g. What qualifications do I need to teach English as a Foreign language?

II. college — university

A university is an institution that awards degrees.

A college is any institution of higher learning, not always leading to a degree; in the UK a university may consist of different colleges; some independent schools use College as part of their title: e.g. Eton College.

E.g. Ann’s at York University.

Our daughter started college last October. Tom’s at college for three years to study engineering.

Ann’s going to college next October.

GETTING STARTED

What do you know about the system of higher education in Great Britain?

Do you think British universities differ much from those in your country?

ACTIVITY A

SCAN THE TEXT 1 HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN

DIRECTIONS:

You are going to read the text about the systemof higher education in Great Britain. Before you read, look at the sentences below and decide if you think they are true or false.

Students of the Open University get their education through the medium of television and radio.

Undergraduate courses in British Universities normally take three years of full-time study.