The university is currently offering courses of studies in 12 programmes and 34 majors which include those which meet the demands of present day Russian society: Social Work, Sociology, Romance-Germanic Philology, Anticrisis Management, Bioecology, Geoecology, World Economics, Regional Studies, etc. Specialized Scientific Boards are fully accredited to award Candidate and Doctoral degrees in 30 specializations.
The gradual and complicated shift to a market economy requires an updating of the university curricula, education and training services. This has resulted in the introduction of new education technologies (problem education, modular education, discipline-oriented cycles, etc.) and a transfer to a multi-level system of delivering education and training.
There is also a “University-School” association within the framework of the university structure, operating since 1990. It is designed for both educational and training purposes and embraces university faculties, inter-faculty departments (delivering training and educational services to all the faculties), 2 secondary schools and 3 lycees affiliated with Rostov State Classical Lycee.
A total of over 100 thousand university graduates have completed their course of studies at Rostov State University. Many of them have become outstanding figures in their respective fields.
Rostov State University is traditionally known for its scholars’ contribution to research in various sciences. Their achievements are especially evident in the field of analysis and synthesis of certain organic compounds, electronic and spatial composition of molecular structures, development of new highly effective ferroelectric materials and their production technologies, non-distracting methods of control, theoretical and applied problems of mechanical engineering, fundamental and applied problems of brain cybernetics, problems of artificial intellect, automatized medical and biological systems.
International activities in Rostov State University are aimed at developing partnership relations with international institutions of higher education. The university offers courses of undergraduate studies for international students and programs for international trainees. Programs are also available for advanced postgraduate studies (for Candidate and Doctoral degrees). Rostov State University is also active in developing international research collaboration and academic exchange programs for students, researchers and academic staff.
The university has established close contacts with nearly 50 international institutions of higher education, as well as organizations representing more than 20 countries of the world, including the USA, Germany, Great Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Israel, China, Bulgaria, Poland and others.
The university has 6 buildings and 8 dormitories. There are currently about 10.000 students at Rostov State University.
The course of studies at the university is split into 4-6 academic years for full-time and part-time students.
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters. At the end of each semester students take preliminary tests, semester or final exams. The students have to submit their graduation thesis papers at the end of the course of studies. In addition to this some faculties require students to write term papers in the course of the academic year.
The established curriculum includes special subjects, social and natural sciences and foreign languages. During the academic year the students are given lectures on certain compulsory and optional courses in different subjects. The students attend classes scheduled in the time-table.
After graduating from the university, the graduates receive Bachelor’s degrees if they complete a four-year programme and Master’s Degrees if they successfully complete a six-year programme, those who take a five-year course receive Diplomas of higher education. Upon completion of the required three-year courses, based on research and the writing of a dissertation, Candidate degrees and Doctorate are conferred.
3.2 What new facts about Rostov State University have you learnt from the text?
4. Comprehension check
4.1 Answer the following questions:
1. When was Rostov State University founded?
2. How many faculties are there at the university?
3. What do you know about research institutes?
4. What specializations are the students trained in?
5. How many buildings does the university have?
6. How many students are there at the university?
7. There are 95 departments at the university, aren’t there?
8. How long does the course of studies at the university last?
9. Is the academic year divided into 3 semesters as it is in the British universities?
10. What degrees are conferred after graduating from the university?
4.2 Agree or disagree with the following statements:
1. Warsaw University was evacuated to Rostov in 1917.
2. At first there were only five faculties at Rostov State University.
3. At present Rostov State University consists of 10 faculties.
4. The teaching staff of the university has high scientific and academic potential.
5. The university students are trained in 20 specializations.
6. Rostov State University is known for its scholars’ contribution to research in various sciences.
7. International activities in Rostov State Universities do not include post-graduate training of international students.
8. A total of 50 thousand university graduates have completed their course of studies at RSU.
9. Attendance of classes is compulsory and in accordance with the faculty time-table.
5. Vocabulary
5.1 Give equivalents of the following Russian words and word combinations:
быть основанным; эвакуировать; обеспечивать; исследовательский институт; преподавательский состав; научный потенциал; Академия наук; специализация; общежитие; выдающаяся личность; соответствующая область (науки); кафедра; курс обучения; учебный год; зачет; итоговый экзамен; получать степень бакалавра; степень магистра; диплом о высшем образовании; выпускник.
5.2 Match the parts of the sentences:
| 1. Rostov State University is the largest center of | a) in establishing Rostov Innovation and Technology centre. |
| 2. Warsaw University was evacuated to Rostov in | b) outstanding figures in their respective fields. |
| 3. The university students are trained | c) preliminary tests and semester exams. |
| 4. The university also heads the program | d) Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. |
| 5. Many of the university graduates have become | e) 1915 ( during World War I ) |
| 6. There are currently about 10000 students | f) scheduled in the time-table. |
| 7. At the end of each semester the students take | g) education, science and culture in the south of Russia. |
| 8. The students attend classes | h) at Rostov State University. |
| 9. After graduating from the university the graduates receive | i) in 26 specializations. |
5.3 Fill in the gaps with the words and word combinations from the text:
1. The official opening of the Imperial University … … in Rostov in November 1915.
2. At present Rostov State University is an … and … unit.
3. There are currently 1225 … at the university.
4. Rostov State University is known for its scholars … to research in various sciences.
5. Their successes are especially … in various fields.
6. The university has 6 … and 8 … .
7. 46 university departments … … by a professor or a Doctor of Science.
8. The students have to … their graduation paper at the end of the course of studies.
5.4 Complete the sentences:
1. Rostov State University is the largest center of …
2. The Imperial University of Warsaw was evacuated to …
3. In 1915 the academic year began in …
4. The teaching staff of Rostov State University has …
5. The university students are trained in …
6. Many of the university graduates have become …
7. The course of studies at the university is split into …
8. The academic year is divided into …
9. After graduating from the university, the graduates …
10. The university curriculum includes …
6. Supplementary reading
6.1 Read the text to know more about the history of Rostov State University.
From Warsaw to Rostov
The foundation and the growth of the university (1915-1930)
The Imperial University of Warsaw was founded in October, 1869 on the basis of Warsaw Principal School. There were originally four faculties: the Faculty of History and Philology, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics with departments of natural sciences and mathematics.
In the 19th century Warsaw University was staffed with outstanding scientists in Mechanics and Mathematics of the time.
During World War I, the German Army approached Warsaw in 1915. Thus the university was urgently evacuated to Moscow and the problem of its further location was discussed. The best conditions for the university location were offered by the city of Rostov-on-Don, which had no higher education establishments at that time. The only institute in the whole Don Cossacks region was the Polytechnic Institute at Novocherkassk founded in 1907.
The authorities and community of Rostov were enthusiastic about the university relocation. Works had begun with the urgent reconstruction of about 10 buildings given to the university. The university was solemnly opened on November 27. Classes in all four faculties began on December 1, 1915.
The relocation of the university played a great cultural and educational role in the life of Rostov region. The professors and tutors took an active part in different programs specifically concerned with improving the role of education. They were lecturing in Rostov, Novocherkassk, Taganrog. As a result of this activity, the Woman’s High Courses were reopened, the National University was founded. Science Societies of the university were renewed and a lot of citizens of Rostov were involved into their work. The “University News” newspaper had been regularly published since 1916.
At the beginning of 1917, it became clear that it was impossible for the university to return to Warsaw. By that time almost all the university equipment was created anew in Rostov.
In May, 1917 the Provisional Government of Russia reorganized the Imperial University of Warsaw into the Don University, which in 1929 was renamed the North Caucasus University. The major strategy of the university since its foundation has always been an integration of research university into science and education. In 1926 the first three research institutions were set up under the auspices of the university: the Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Institute of Local Economy and the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine.
In 1931 three university faculties were reorganized into the Medical Institute, the Teacher-Training Institute and the Institute of Economics and Finance. The rest of the University received the name Rostov State University and started the academic year at the constituent faculties of physics and mathematics, chemistry, geology and botany. By the end of the 1930s the faculty of geology and botany was subdivided into the faculty of geology and soil, and the faculty of geography. The university structure at the same time included the Botanical Gardens and the Research Institute of Biology.
The continuing development of Rostov State University was interrupted by World War II, as 66 university staff members and over 600 students joined the front lines during the first months of the war. In the summer of 1942 the University was transferred to Kirgizia (the city of Osh) but moved back to a devastated Rostov in 1944. it only took the University team 5 years to reach the pre-war level of education, training and research (and even to surpass it in some aspects).
The late 1960s and early 1970s witnessed the formation of the present-day university structure. In 1965 a new faculty of economics and philosophy was founded, while the faculty of history and philology split into the faculty of history and that of philology. In 1970 the Research Institute of Physics was founded, followed by the Research Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry and the Research Institute of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics in 1971. The Research Institute of Neurocybernetics was started in 1972.
The last decade of the 20th century was a difficult period for the whole of the country politically, socially and economically. Rostov State University survived and went on gaining strength as a classical university.
6.2 Read the text to know more about the outstanding graduates of Rostov State University.
A total of over 110 thousand university graduates have completed their course of studies at Rostov State University. Many of them have become outstanding figures in their respective fields. Alumni include academician V.I. Minkin, the current director of the Research Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry; Academician G.G. Mateshov, director of the Research Institute of Marine Biology (Murmansk, Russia); Academician V.A. Babeshko, rector of Kuban State University (Krasnodar, Russia); writer A.S. Solzhenitsin; Chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court M.V. Baglay; member of the Russian Constitutional Court Prof. N.S. Bondar; the former Russian High Ambassador to Israel, A.E. Bovin; former chairman of the Central Editorial Committee of the Russian Federation and current Russian Ambassador to Yugoslavia, N.G. Ryabov; professor E.G. Fesenko, USSR State Prize Winner; politician S.M. Shakhray, an aid in the Russian President’s Administration; V.A. Starkov, editor-in-chief of the national weekly “Arguments and Facts”; D. Dibrov, popular NTV anchorman; writer Daniel Koretsky; first Deputy of the Home Affairs Minister, V.V. Kolesnikov; rector of Rostov State Teacher-Training University, A.A. Grekov, and others.
The division for postgraduate studies and training is very effective in training highly qualified staff. It offers advanced courses of postgraduate studies (leading to Candidates degrees and Doctoral degrees), delivers programs for trainees, for retraining and advanced studies, as well as for those writing a thesis to qualify for a Doctoral degree.
At Rostov State University there are 22 fully accredited Boards awarding advanced degrees (10 for Doctoral degrees, 12 for Candidates).
The Institute of Retraining and Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences for Academics was founded under Rostov State University by the decision of the Russian Government, and is the largest center of training, research and methods in South Russia, with 19 Doctors of Science and 10 Candidates working on the staff. The institute offers programs of professional studies in the following disciplines: history, philosophy, culture studies, economic theory, political science, sociology, psychology, social work and law. Integrated regional research projects are carried out at the Institute. It also offers programmes of postgraduate studies. The Department of Regional Studies trains analysts, consultants and aides specializing in the problems of the Caucasus area.
The academic research library is an important part of the University structure. It is the largest library in the south of Russia uniting the libraries of other universities in the North Caucasus. It is a member of the Russian Library Association and a member of the Regional Consortium of Libraries. The library has seven lending departments and six reading halls attended by over 800 thousand readers annually. The library facilities and its nearly 3-mln inventory provide an excellent opportunity for research and studies. It has a unique collection of rare volumes including west European editions dating from the 16th – 17th centuries, a collection of books of traditional Cyrillic type of the 17th century and Russian books of the 19th century.
6.3 Read the text to know more about research divisions of the university.