Section 2

Introductory text

Altai State University

Altai State University is a federal state budget educational establishment of higher professional education. Altai State University is one of the youngest universities of Barnaul. It was founded in 1973 and became the pioneer of classical education in Altai Region. Today the University is the centre for development of classical higher professional education, fundamental and applied sciences, social and cultural life in the south of Western Siberia.

There are 16 faculties in the University: the Faculty of Arts, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, History, Journalism, Law, Mathematics, Open Education, Philology, Physics and Technology, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Sociology, Teaching Training, and International Institute of Economics, Management and Informational Systems.

The University possesses significant research and staff potential. More than 900 teaching staff members collaborate here, including 97 Doctors of Sciences and 483 Candidates of Science (PhD specialists). More than 18000 students are enrolled into academic studies in the full-time, evening and correspondence departments. The University offers education in 52 specialities of higher professional education and 18 specialities of secondary professional education, 34 directions of Bachelor’s training and 32 directions of Master’s training, 56 PhD and 16 doctoral scientific specialities. The University includes 6 branches, 3 Scientific and Research Institutes, 21 Re-training and Qualification Improvement Centres, South-Siberian Botany Gardens, Lake Krasilovo field practice, 7 Research centres, a voluminous scientific library. 17 scientific schools have been formed and are actively developing in the University. The University is the founder of 5 small innovative enterprises.

There are Preparatory Courses, where about a thousand of students are being taught at a time, around 60% of whom, as a rule, successfully pass entrance exams. Nearly 2500 high school students have a special training provided by the University. Preparatory study is organized in more than 30 specially oriented classes of Barnaul secondary schools, in the Maths Lyceum, Natural Science College.

Altai State University hosted All Russian Students’ Forum (On October 31 - November 3, 2011) and the Asian Students’ Forum “Education without borders” with the protection of Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Administration of Altai region.

Altai State University is actively developing international cooperation. Altai State University has close connections with educational centres of Europe, Asia and America. The University participates in 25 various Russian and International programs, including Soros International Program. During the last years the international cooperation of Altai State University has essentially expanded (Hamburg, Berlin, Priston Universities are the foreign partners of the University). The extensive system of grants is in operation. During the year 2011 teachers, postgraduates and students got 30 grants and scholarships of various international organizations and funds.

The University possesses modern buildings for study, student dorms, scientific research labs, a computer-stock. New information technologies for education are being worked out and widely used in the University. In June, 2012 an electronic reading room with access to the resources of the Presidential Library was opened in the Altai State University. This reading room will help students to find the rich collection of documents on the history of Russia, including documents on the history of the Altai Territory.

There are various students organizations, which are responsible for solving all issues concerning students’ welfare at dorms, canteens, sports organizations and social amenities.

The recent years are characterized by a substantial extension of the material and educational faculties of the University, which enable the teaching staff to train highly qualified specialists in most diverse spheres.

Glossary:

• branch – филиал

• Scientific and Research Institute – научно-исследовательский институт

• Re-training and Qualification Improvement Centre – центр переподготовки и повышения квалификации кадров

• South-Siberian Botany Garden – Южно-Сибирский ботанический сад

• Lake Krasilovo field practice – база учебных практик «Озеро Красилово»

• possess significant research and staff potential – обладать внушительным научно-педагогическим потенциалом

• to access – получить доступ

• to collaborate - сотрудничать

• to ensure - обеспечивать

• to participate in - участвовать

• to enable smb. to do smth - помогать кому-то сделать что-то

Ex.1. Read the following words correctly:

establishment, research, voluminous, extensive, scientific, scholarship, issue, welfare, amenities, facilities, substantial, diverse, extension, sphere.

Ex.2. Match Russian words and phrases to their English equivalents.

A

1	факультет	1		dormitory	a
2	отделение	2		grant	b
3	научно-исследовательский институт	3		post-graduate courses	c
4	прием	4		entrance exams	d
5	аспирантура	5		secondary school	e
6	подготовительные курсы	6		departments	f
7	вступительные экзамены	7		teaching staff	g
8	средняя школа	8		chair	h
9	кафедра	9		admission	i
10	преподавательский состав	10		faculty	j
11	грант	11		scholarship	k
12	стипендия	12		preparatory courses	l
13	общежитие	13		research institute	m
14	компьютерный центр	14		computer stock	n

B

1	быть основанным сравнительно недавно	1		to ensure a high level of education	a
2	быть одним из ведущих вузов города	2		to be enrolled in the University studies	b
3	получать твердую базу во всех сферах знаний	3		to train highly-qualified specialists	c
4	обеспечивать высокий уровень знаний	4		to give classical education	d
5	готовить высококвалифицированных специалистов	5		to participate in educational programs	e
6	участвовать в образовательных программах	6		to keep close connections with other educational establishments	f
7	числиться в списках	7		to open a new speciality	g
8	иметь тесные связи с другими учреждениями образования	8		to get a solid background in all spheres of knowledge	h
9	открыть новую специальность	9		to expand international cooperation	i
10	давать класическое образование	10		to be one of the leading educational establishments	j
11	расширять международное сотрудничество	11		to be comparatively young	k

Ex.3. Ask your neighbour

1) когда был основан АГУ	to be founded
2) какое место занимает АГУ среди вузов города	to take the leading place among other institutions
3) какие факультеты существуют в университете	faculties
4) обеспечивает ли АГУ подготовку для поступающих	to provide preparatory study for applicants
5) сколько студентов обучается в АГУ	to be enrolled in the University studies
6) каким по составу является педагогический коллектив	to be like / teaching staff
7) поддерживает ли АГУ образовательные связи с другими вузами	to keep close connections with other institutions
8) какие вспомогательные структуры существуют в АГУ	to possess excellent material and educational facilities

Ex. 4. Explain the following terms to your groupmates:

Model: preparatory courses – courses organized by the University to help the applicants to enter the University

full-time department; correspondence department; post-graduate courses; examination session; full-time student; part-time student; undergraduate student; Bachelor of Science; Master of Science; Ph.D; The Candidate of Science; The Doctor of Science; scholarship; term; tuition fee; major.

Ex. 5. Study the table below and present your groupmates a brief story about ASU covering the following points. Make use of the vocabulary items given in the table.

Altai State University
date of establishment	1973; to be founded
general characteristics	to take the leading place among other institutes; to give classical education; to ensure a high level of education.
faculties	14 faculties (The Faculty of Law, Economics, Philology, Mathematics, History, etc.)
department	day-time evening departments correspondence
preparatory study	to provide a special training for applicants; to pass entrance exams successfully
total number of students	to be enrolled in the University studies; 12 thousand
teaching staff	86 chairs; highly-qualified / experienced; 16 Academicians; 97 Doctors of Science; 483 Candidates of Science, 600 junior staff members
cooperation	to expand international cooperation; to participate in educational programs
facilities	to extend material and educational facilities; to possess modern buildings for study, dormitories, research labs, computer-stock, Internet Centre, libraries, botanical garden, Picture Gallery

Ex. 6. Translate into English:

1. Хотя АГУ был основан сравнительно недавно, он является одним из ведущих университетов нашего города. 2. Выпускники АГУ получают твердую базу во всех сферах знания. 3. В Университете в настоящее время на дневном, вечернем и заочном отделениях обучаются более 12 тысяч человек. 4. Опытный преподавательский состав Университета, состоящий из 16 академиков, 97 докторов наук, 483 кандидатов наук и более 600 ассистентов обеспечивает высокий уровень знаний студентов. 5. В Университете существует 16 факультетов, которые готовят специалистов более чем 52 специальностей. 6. Учебный год делится на 2 семестра, каждый из которых заканчивается сессией. 7. Студенты, которые успешно сдают экзамены, получают стипендию. 8. Каждый год сотни молодых специалистов, недавних выпускников АГУ, начинают работать в различных отраслях национальной экономики, культуры, образования, в судах и средствах массовой информации.

SECTION 3