BELARUSIAN STATE UNIVERSITYThe Belarusian State University is a center of education, culture and science, the major higher educational establishment in Belarus. It is the oldest University in our republic. It was founded in 1921 and 1010 workers and peasants were admitted to its two faculties that year. The first President of the BSU was Professor V. I. Picheta. The republic’s first University rapidly grew and developed and in the pre-war period a number of independent higher schools for medicine, pedagogics, national economy appeared on its basis. During the Great Patriotic War the University was razed to the ground by the nazi invaders. In the post-war years the University was quickly restored and in a short period of time it turned into one of the largest institutions of higher education of the country. Nowadays the University has about 15,000 students, 125 Departments (chairs), 1441 teaching staff, including 211 full Professors, 935 Associate Professors and doctors. At present there are 13 departments at the University: Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography, Biology, Philology, Journalism, History, Economy, Law, International Relations which train specialists in 17 professions and 50 specializations. It has day and correspondence departments where thousands of students study. They attend lectures and seminars. All the students study foreign languages. Students’ practical work is given much attention to. One of the oldest departments of the University is Law Department which was founded in 1921. It trains now 3128 full- and part-time undergraduate and 18 post-graduate students in Law and Politology (Political Studies). At the Philology Department education is provided in 12 specialities, like Belarusian and Russian literatures and languages, Slavic languages and literatures, Romance and Germanic languages, classic languages and ancient literature, computational linguistics. The Department is the leader of Belarusian Linguistics and has the honor to represent it abroad. The Department of Journalism has existed since 1944. It has already trained about 5 thousand professional journalists. The Department of International Relations started working on October 1, 1995. Training is provided in three departments: International Relations, International Law, World Economy and International Economic Relations. The University has its own computer center, which was started in 1959. The major tasks of the center are the development and inculcation of hard and software systems of University information network, publication of papers on research and methods of teaching. The Fundamental Library in the BSU is one of the biggest libraries in Belarus. At present it possesses over 2 million volumes in Belarusian, Russian and other languages. It has 15 departments and 12 reading halls, a computer catalogue and central archives. The University course lasts five years. An academic year is divided into two terms each ending in an examination session. Those who pass the exams successfully get a scholarship. The students of the University can do any sport and any recreational activity they like. A lot of students carry out research work in various laboratories which are equipped with up-to-date devices. Every year hundreds of young specialists begin working in different branches of national economy, science, education, in mass media, prosecutor’s offices and courts. In 1967 the Belarusian State University was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for its contribution to the development of science and academic training. The Belarusian State University is a major world University center, a member of the International Universities’ Association. At present the BSU has links with over 100 higher educational establishments and research centers of the world. The University participates in a number of international projects like TEMPUS, INTAS, COPERNICUS, etc. The University organizes international conferences, seminars and exhibitions. The University does much to prepare young gifted people for entering its numorous faculties. The Liceum of BSU was founded in 1989. The main objectives of the Liceum are purposeful enrollment, support and development of students who have been especially successful in natural science and humanities. There are two departments: natural science and humanities. Its 80th anniversary the Belarusian State University celebrated as an internationally recognized classical university integrating essential features of the educational, scientific and cultural center. The staff are proud of the University traditions and achievements but at the same time they realize the necessity of serious reforms aimed at preserving the accumulated intellectual potential and promoting progressive development of the Belarusian University in the future. Task. Renderitin English.
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