IV. Speaking

4.1. Read the following quotes from different articles about the problems of the higher education in Russia. Formulate the main idea of each statement. Do you agree with these opinions?

1. «One of the major problems of the Russian higher education today is the relatively small number of graduates who find employment that matches their qualification. The statistical information varies considerably depending on the source. However, at present, around 40% of Russian students remain unemployed on graduation, a situation is aggravating (обостряется) by low salaries; only 25%–30% find a position that matches their qualification, while, realistically, some 20% of graduates are not equipped to fill a position demanding a high-level of knowledge».

W. John Morgan & Grigori A. Kliucharev.

«Higher Education and the Post-Soviet Transition in Russia».

2. «Competition between higher education institutions in Russia changed most dramatically after introduction of the Unified State Examination (EGE) and changing the admissions process. This exam gave the prospective students a much wider choice of schools where they could
apply, while universities now had to compete for the best students and the educational market share. The government has also started the process of changing the legal status of educational institutions to give them more
financial autonomy and has mandated (санкционировало) the creation of quality management systems in the universities to use the available money more efficiently. Just like many other governments in the world, the
Russian policymakers have been trying to develop market».

Natalia Forrat, PhD student in Sociology

at Northwestern University. «Global Trends

or Regime Survival the Reforms in Russian Higher Education».

3. «The Unified State Examination may have played a role in setting up anticorruption barriers between schools and universities. But in terms of assessing (оценка) the quality of education, in particular in humanita-rian subjects, it is clear that the Unified State Exam does not give a clear and accurate assessment of the real capabilities of university applicants, their analytic abilities and creativity, in spite of all the efforts to improve the exercises in section C of the tests».

Alexei Vlasov, a deputy dean,

Moscow Lomonosov State University,

Faculty of History. «What is wrong with higher

education in Russia?»

4. «Russia is still not capable of raising the quality of its training of specialists. And even though we have apparently (очевидно) entered the «knowledge economy» phase, it is unclear as yet how competitive Russia really is in this field. The main problem we come up against is borrowing from the «progressive» Western experience, which is not always particularly suitable to the reality on the ground in Russia. As an example, take the transition to a two-stage model, as set out in the Bologna Process, when training graduates is carried out in the absence of any real demand for such people».

Alexei Vlasov, a deputy dean,

Moscow Lomonosov State University,

Faculty of History. «What is wrong with higher

education in Russia?»

5. «The programs of targeted funding for large schools serve to ensure the loyalty of the politically important group – the top administrators of the large universities. These people not only have administrative access to students, a potentially active political group, but they also provide the go-vernment with expert support in formulating social and economic policies. Although the possibilities for corruption embedded in these programs are high, loyalty will be achieved even if the money is not stolen. Finally, the quality assurance mechanisms, namely state licensing and accreditation, serve as a constant threat to the universities becoming an effective repression tool of the regime».

Natalia Forrat, PhD student in Sociology

at Northwestern University. «Global Trends or Regime

Survival the Reforms in Russian Higher Education».

4.2. Study the advantages and disadvantages of the higher education in the transitional period in Russia.Do you agree or disagree with them? Begin your answer with phrases: I agree/disagree with this statement, To my mind it is true, As for me I am for it, I'm not sure, in fact, I'm afraid I entirely disagree with, I don't think that's right, I'm exactly of the same opinion, That's one way of looking at it, but… I think it goes further than that.

You may continue the schedule of the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages of higher education system of the transitional period	Disadvantages of higher education system of the transitional period
Efficiency of using the state funded places	Bachelors are half-educated persons
Much wider choice of higher schools for the prospective students	Master’s program is not clear enough
Involving of employers in forecasting of requirements for education	The equipment which is used at universities is not modern enough
Expanding the participation of the employers in professional training financing	Lack of educational materials in the university library
Easier to get a good job after graduating from the higher school	Reducing of the state funded places at the higher schools
Opportunity for students to continue study without problems in any higher school of Europe	Not adequate teachers’ salaries at the higher school
Easier to get a job abroad.	Scholarship is low
Setting up anticorruption barriers between schools and universities	Tuition fees are rising
Training of the competitive professionals	Getting job on the specialty after graduating from the higher school
…	…

 

4.3. *Discuss these topics using all information you have got:

1. The transition to a two-stage model: pro and contra.

2. Is the higher education a way to success?