ответьте на вопросы, опираясь на текст 1. When did the first engineering school appear in Russia?
2. How many state technical universities are there nowadays?
3. When do the Russians begin to study at university?
4. How many years did university programme last traditionally?
5. What system of education are universities implementing now?
6. Which disciplines do the university programmes include?
7. What do students do to get a Bachelor’s Degree?
8. How long does it take to get a Master’s Degree?
9.Are there postgraduate studies at technical universities in Russia?

Russian engineering schools are a unique national tradition; they
significantly influence the development of science and technology, make
contribution to the industrial process improvement and facilitate industrial
production. The engineering education in Russia began with the foundation of the
School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in Moscow according to Tsar
Peter the Great’s Decree dated 27 January 1701. Soon after the Navigational
School, other schools appeared: the Artillery-Engineering School (1701), the
Moscow Engineering School (1703) and St.Petersburg Engineering School (1713).
In 1733 the Mining College appeared in St. Petersburg. It was equal in status to
academies. In 1828, the first institute - St. Petersburg Practical Technological
Institute appeared.

Nowadays there are 275 state technical universities in Russia. They train
engineers in different fields of engineering and technology, natural sciences and
social economics. The quality of Russian teaching in natural sciences and
technology is higher than in many western countries. Most Russians begin to study
at the university after the compulsory education (a secondary school, a lyceum or
gymnasium) at the age of 17. Admission to the university is according to the
Unified State Exam results. Competition for places in universities and other
prestigious academic institutions is rather stiff.

Traditionally the basic university programme lasted five years and at the end
students received a university degree. For five years at the end of each year
students had oral examinations. They also wrote a graduation paper for a university
degree. At present due to the fact that Russia has signed Bologna Declaration, the
system of higher technical education in Russia began to change according to the
demands of the international educational organizations. Universities are now
implementing a system similar to that of Britain and the USA: 4 years for a
Bachelor’s Degree and 2 more years for a Master’s Degree. The Bachelor’s degree
programmes last for at least 4 years of full-time university-level study.

The undergraduate programmes correspond to the State Educational
Standards which regulate almost 80% of their content. The university itself
elaborates other 20%. The programmes include professional and special courses in
Science, the Humanities and Social-economic disciplines, professional training,
completion of a research paper/project and State final exams. To get the Bachelor’s
Degree students defend a Diploma project under the guidance of a supervisor and
pass the final exams.

Students with the Bachelor’s Degree may enter the Master’s programme
(two more years). After graduation from the university students may continue
postgraduate studies. It usually takes 3 or 4 more years and writing the dissertation
to get the Candidate of Science Degree (equivalent to the Ph.D. degree in the
American and British systems) and 3 more years and defending the doctoral thesis
to get the Doctor of Science Degree (no equivalent in the American and British
education systems).