Unit 1 – academy

The Siberian State Academy of Geodesy (SSGA), the former (бывший) name NIIGAIK, was established in 1933 in Omsk but a year later it was moved to Novosibirsk. In Russia there is an impressive number of technician-level colleges¹ specializing entirely in educating surveying and mapping technicians with a study duration of about four years. Most university-level (standard) surveying and mapping students are enrolled² in MIIGAIK and SSGA. These institutions train specialists in surveying, photogrammetry, cartography, remote-sensing, geoecology, cadastre, earth-resources exploration, geoinformation systems and some other specializations in economics and management.

Academy Structure. The Governing Body³ of the academy approving the Charter is the Conference of scientific and teaching staff⁴ and representatives of employees and students. The consultative body is the Academy Council with the rector at the head. The scientific and teaching staff are readers, senior lecturers, assistant professors, professors with M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees⁵. At present at the academy there are the following Institutes: – Institute of Geodesy and Management;

• Institute of Cadastre and Geoinformation Systems;

• Institute of Remote Sensing and Natural Resources Management;

• Institute of Optics and Optical technologies; and

• Institute of Distant Training (дистанционное обучение).

There are approximately 9 000 students at the academy at all departments (day, evening and correspondence). They are served by nearly⁶ 300 members of the full-time academic staff and some part-time and visiting lecturers. Practically all the lecturers are professors and assistant Professors. Applicants become students of the academy on the basis of school test results mainly in Mathematics and Russian, but some specialities require test results in Information Science (информатика) and in Physics. The students are trained full-time, part-time, by correspondence and also according to individual plans (shortened course).

Tuition (обучение). The minimum training period at the academy is four years. A four-year programme leads to a (diploma) degree of Bachelor of Science, and a five-year programme leads to a specialist. The first degree is given after a period of 4 years of specialized study; a higher degree is given after one more year of specialization.

The first year is spent on a foundation course. The course consists of lectures, practical classes, seminars and laboratory works. The material of lectures and interesting topics are backed up⁷ and discussed at seminars. Seminars, practical and discussion classes are conducted in small groups. In accordance with the curriculum (programme) first-year students study Mathematics, Physics, History of Russia, a foreign language and some other subjects. Beginning with the second year students are taught special subjects which are necessary for a given speciality. From the third year the course becomes more specialized. The Special Studies course⁸ involves the study in depth the disciplines in a particular area and provides a theoretical as well as an applied knowledge.

There are two terms in each academic year. Except periodic assessment⁹ students pass tests and exams at the end of each term. Senior students have to prepare papers, course works and project reports (инд.задания) for discussion purposes with their supervisors. The whole training course is followed by state exams in some subjects and a final project.

Industrial Training. Senior students (at the end of the third and fourth years) have industrial (vocational) training during several months at some enterprises, research institutions, laboratories and expeditions in order to get some practical experience in a chosen specialization. The students of the Institute of Optics and Optical Technologies usually have their practice at instrument-making plants and big enterprises. The students of the Institutes of Geodesy and Remote Sensing have the practice in summer-surveying camps¹⁰, expeditions, and at various enterprises. If properly handled, the practice¹¹ has the following advantages: – the student and instructor work together full time:

• the student learns that the theory he/she has been taught has application and is valuable;

• the student develops confidence (уверенность) in himself/herself;

• the instructor has an opportunity to observe the student closely; he can find and correct the student’s weaknesses, develop his/her strong points, stimulate and motivate him/her.

The academy has various well-equipped modern computer classes. Computing is an essential part of most of the major courses run by the Academy¹², although emphasis is on the applications of computers rather than (а не…) on the technical aspects of computer science. The availability of an extensive amount of equipment in the academy laboratories enables students to spend sufficient time for thorough training at the instruments. The large number of devices is needed because all students specializing in surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, earth resources exploration, geodetic astronomy and optics are required to undergo practical training¹³.

Post-graduate course. Acquiring skill (experience) in research is very important for successful (advanced) students who are going to devote themselves to science, and concentrate on research project. Undergraduate research is usually conducted under the supervision of senior lecturers, assistant professors and professors. The Academy offers facilities for post-graduate research. The post-graduate students (science students) have a chance to extend and deepen their knowledge not only in good solid grounding in the fundamentals¹⁴ but in the latest technologies in a particular field. Advanced (prospective) students are given the opportunity, after a post-graduate course and defending the dissertation to obtain a “candidate” degree, the equivalent to a M.Sс. degree (Master of Science degree).

Library Service. Over a number of years the Library has built up a specialist collection of books and periodicals, directly related to the areas of study with which the academy courses are concerned.

Accommodation. Slightly under a half¹⁵ of full-time students live in a hall of residence (hostel), some in lodgings (rent a room), and the remainder live at home. In a hall of residence usually three or four students share a room.

Physical Recreation. Whilst (while) at the Academy students are offered the chance to participate (принимать участие) in the following sporting activities: Basketball, Badminton, Table-Tennis, Volleyball, Hockey, Swimming and some others.

Medical Services. The Academy has a medical centre with a General Practitioner (терапевт). A nursing sister can give medical assistance, first aid, or generally discusses health worries. A strong emphasis throughout the whole training period is placed on a student’s intellectual development.

Notes:

1. an impressive number of technician-level colleges	– внушительное число средне-технических учебных заведений (техникумов)
2. Most university-level… students are enrolled in…	– зд. большая часть студентов, занимающихся по программе вуза (на университ.уровне), обучаются в…
3. the Governing Body	– орган управления
4. …scientific and teaching staff…	– профессорско-преподавательский состав
5. M.Sc. (Master of Science) degree	– степень магистра наук (русск. «кандидат наук»)
Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)	– доктор философии (наук)
Bachelor of Science (Bachelor’s degree)	– первая степень диплома о высшем образовании (степень бакалавра)
6. They are served by nearly…	– зд. их обучают (обслуживают) почти…
7. lectures… are backed up…	– закрепляются (материалы лекций)
8. Special Studies course…	– курс более узкой специализации
9. Except periodic assessment…	– кроме промежуточной (периодической) аттестации
10. …the practice in summer-surveying camps	– практика на учебном геодезическом полигоне
11. If properly handled, the practice	– если организовать должным образом, практика…
12. …most of the major courses run by the academy	– большинство основных курсов (дисциплин), предусмотренных учебн. планом академии
13. …all students… are required to undergo practical training…	– всем студентам… необходимо проходить практику…
14. …good solid grounding in the fundamentals…	– фундаментальная подготовка по основным (профилирующим) дисциплинам
15. Slightly under a half…	– приблизительно половина…