III. There is a mistake in each sentence. Correct the mistake as in the example.

HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

I. Read the text.

Bologna Process

The purpose of the Bologna Process is to create the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. It is named after the place it was proposed, the University of Bologna in the Italian city of Bologna, with the signing in 1999 of the Bologna declaration by Ministers of Education from 29 European countries. This was opened up to other countries signatory to the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe; further governmental meetings have been held in Prague (2001), Berlin (2003), Bergen (2005), London (2007), Moscow (2007), and Leuven (2009).

It is a common misconception that the Bologna Process is only within EU (European Union). The Bologna Process has 47 participating countries not only in Europe.

Vocabulary

European Higher Education Area – Европейское пространство высшего образования (совокупность всех стран участвующих в Болонском процессе)

academic degree standards – стандарты присвоения учёных степеней и званий (квалификационная система в науке и высшей школе, позволяющая ранжировать научных и научно-педагогических сотрудников на отдельных ступенях академической карьеры)

the University of Bologna – Болонский университет (старейший непрерывно существующий университет в Европе, находится в итальянском городе Болонья)

Bologna declaration – Болонская декларация

European Cultural Convention – Европейская Культурная Конвенция;

misconception – неправильное представление, заблуждение

EU (European Union) – Европейский союз (экономическое и политическое объединение 27 европейских государств)

Goals

The Bologna Process was a major reform created with the goal of providing the public responsibility for higher education and research, higher education governance, the social dimension of higher education and research, and the values and roles of higher education and research in modern, globalized, and increasingly complex societies with the most demanding qualification needs.

With the Bologna Process implementation, higher education systems in European countries are to be organized in such a way that:

· it is easy to move from one country to the other (within the European Higher Education Area) – for the purpose of further study or employment;

· the attractiveness of European higher education has increased, so that many people from non-European countries also come to study and/or work in Europe;

· the European Higher Education Area provides Europe with a broad, high-quality advanced knowledge base, and ensures the further development of Europe as a stable, peaceful and tolerant community.

Vocabulary

governance – управление, руководство

dimension – измерение, размеры

demand – требовать, нуждаться

employment – устройство на работу

attractiveness – привлекательность

ensure – обеспечивать, гарантировать

stable – стабильный

Criticism

In many countries the Process was not implemented without criticism.

Economic aspects

There is much skepticism and criticism of the Bologna Process from the side of academicians. Dr Chris Lorenz of the Free University of Amsterdam has argued that: "the basic idea behind all educational EU-plans is economic: the basic idea is the enlargement of scale of the European systems of higher education,... in order to enhance its 'competitiveness' by cutting down costs. Therefore a Europe-wide standardization of the 'values' produced in each of the national higher educational systems is called for. "

Academic aspects

In much of continental Europe, the previous higher education system was modeled after the German system, in which there is a clear difference of vocational and academic higher education. This mostly has an impact on the old degrees. The conformation of the two types of degrees can be consideredin the following cases:

· The vocational three-year degrees are not intended for further study, so those students who also want to advance to a master's degree will be at a disadvantage.

· The master's degree effectively becomes the minimum qualification for a professional, rather than the bachelor's degree.

· The academic three-year degrees prepare only for continuing towards master's, so students who enter the employmentat that point will not be prepared. Yet they would have the same academic title as the fully trained vocationally educated specialists.

· The end-result of the change is that the agreements between professional bodies will require reevaluation in some cases as qualifications change.

Other reforms as riders

The Bologna Process has been implemented at the same time as other reforms, which have been attached as "riders" to the implementation itself. These reforms go far outside the minimum requirements necessary to implement the Bologna Process, and include introducing tuition fees, overhauling departments, and changing the organization of universities. These reforms have been criticized as unnecessary, negative to the quality of education, or even undemocratic.

Vocabulary

to implement – вводить, внедрять

to argue – утверждать

enlargement – увеличение

scale – размер, масштаб

enhance – увеличивать, повышать, усиливать

called for – востребованный

to intend – предполагать, подразумевать

reevaluation – переоценка

tuition fees – плата за обучение

overhaul – пересмотреть

Bologna Process in Russia

The Russian higher education framework was basically incompatible with the Process: the generic "lowest" degree in all universities since Soviet era is the Specialist which can be obtained after completing 5-6 years of studies.

Since the mid-90s, many universities have introduced limited educational programs allowing students to graduate with a Bachelor's degree (4 years) and then earn a Master's degree (another 1-2 years) while preserving the old 5-6 year scheme.

In October 2007 Russia enacted a move to two-tier education in line with Bologna Process model. The universities inserted a Bachelor's diploma in the middle of their standard specialist programs; transition to real Master's qualification has not been completed yet.

It is worth mentioning that even though Specialists are eligible for post-graduate courses (Aspirantura) as well as Masters are, Bachelors are not. Specialist degree is now being discontinued, so new students don't have this option. At the same time, while specialist education was free, the Master's part of six-year program is not; students graduating in 2009-2010 will have to pay for what was free to their predecessors. The labor market regards Bachelor's diplomas as low-grade to "classic" education, thus Master's stage remains compulsory for most graduates.

Also, some politicians in Russia are trying to connect the transition to Bologna Process with attempts to find a way around an article of the Russian Constitution which guarantees a free higher education for every citizen of the Russian Federation. But the Master's degree is not free and must be paid for. This fact is seen as a violation of the Russian Constitution.

Vocabulary

framework – основа, структура

incompatible – несовместимый

to be obtained – быть признанным

eligible – подходящий

discontinued – незаконченный

predecessor – предшественник

attempt – попытка

violation – нарушение

II. Read the text “Bologna Process” and complete the sentences choosing the right variant (a, b, or c).

1. The purpose of the Bologna Process is…

2. The Bologna Process is named…

3. The Bologna Process has…

4. There is much skepticism and criticism…

5. The Russian Constitution guarantees…

a …47 participating countries not only in Europe.

b …after the place it was proposed, the University of Bologna in the Italian city of Bologna.

c …a free higher education for every citizen of the Russian Federation.

d …to create the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe.

e …of the Bologna Process from the side of academicians.

III. There is a mistake in each sentence. Correct the mistake as in the example.

1. The purpose for the Bologna Process is to create the European Higher Education Area. of

2. It is easy moving from one country to the other – for the purpose of further study or employment.

3. Many people from non-European countries also come to study and/or work at Europe.

4. There is more skepticism and criticism of the Bologna Process from the side of academicians.

5. The Russian higher education framework was basically incompatible with a Bologna Process.

6. Since the mid-90s, much universities have introduced limited educational programs.

7. The Master's degree is not free or must be paid for.

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