Топик: Education and future profession

- What problems does Russian educational system face?

- The systems of secondary and higher education in Russia are going through a transitional period. As for secondary education, the idea of replacing eleven years of classes by twelve years of classes is being discussed now. I doubt that it will be welcomed by school children. They prefer to finish school as early as possible. Some of them finish school at the age of fifteen and enter different universities. Too young students is one of the recent problems of Russian universities. Other problems concern the reforms within universities. The main objectives of higher education reform are: decentralization of the higher education system, development of the autonomy of higher educational institutions, expansion of academic freedoms of faculties and students, development of new financial mechanism.

- What do you know about British universities?

- There are 46 universities in Britain. But not all universities are equal. They differ from one another in history, tradition, academic organization. Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest world-known universities. The University of London is one of the best UK's universities.

- What does a British university usually consist of?

- A British university usually consists of colleges. The departments of the colleges are organized into faculties.

- Does University teaching in the UK differ from that in other countries?

- Yes, it does. University teaching in the UK differs greatly at both under-graduate and postgraduate levels from that in many other countries.

- What does an undergraduate programme consist of?

- An undergraduate programme consists of a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and laboratory classes which in total account for about 15 hours per week. Following a particular programme students take series of lecture courses which may last one academic term or the whole year. Associated with each lecture course are seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes which illustrate the topics presented in the lectures. Lectures are given to large groups of students (from 20 to 200). Seminars and tutorials are much smaller than lecture classes and in some departments can be on a one-to-one basis - one member of staff and one student.

- Do students in Britain prepare work in advance?

- Yes, as far as I know, students in Britain prepare work in advance for seminars and tutorials. And this can take the form of researching a topic for discussion by writing essays or by solving problems.

- How long do seminars and tutorials last?

- Lectures, seminars and tutorials are all one hour in length, laboratory classes last two or three hours.

- Do students in Britain have supervisors?

- In Britain much emphasis is put on the private study nature of a degree. Each student has a tutor whom he can consult on any matter whether academic or personal. The teaching encourages students to learn in the most effective way.

- What terms is the academic year split into?

- The academic year is split into three terms. Formal teaching takes place in the first two terms which last for twenty four weeks in total. The third term is reserved for classes and examinations and lasts for six weeks.

- How long must a student study to take a UK degree!

- University degree courses extend from three to four years. After three years of study a university graduate will leave with the Degree of Bachelor of Arts or Science. He can continue to take his Master's Degree and then the Doctor's Degree.

- Do many British go on to higher education?

- Several important social developments that occurred in the decades after World War II renewed the vigour of the young to study at the universities. The rising standard of education became especially evident, as the number of pupils going on to higher education increased dramatically after World War II and was matched by a major expansion in the number of universities and other institutions of higher education.

- Is education important for Americans?

- Americans place a high value on education. Universal access to quality education has been one of the nation's historic goals.

- When did Americans start to place emphasis upon education?

- From the first years of their colonial life Americans placed great emphasis upon education. In the seventeenth century the colonies made elementary schooling compulsory. Grammar schools and academies flourished. America's first college, Harvard was founded in 1636. Harvard with a library of five thousand volumes, and good scientific apparatus, and the classics lagged little behind the best European universities in the 18th century. A number of colleges were founded in the middle and lower colonies -which trained Thomas Jefferson and many other public figures. The College of Philadelphia was set up by Benjamin Franklin in 1755. In 1865 education was becoming available to all.

- What is a peculiar feature of American education?

- The peculiar feature of American education is the absence of national administration. Each of the 50 states controls and directs its own schools. Most states require that children attend schools from the time they reach six or seven years old until they are sixteen or seventeen.

- Is there any uniform school organization or curriculum throughout the nation?