Text 2 The Modern System of Higher Education in Russia.

One of the important events in the development of the system of modern higher education occurred in 2003 when Russia signed the Bologna Declaration. The Bologna Process is a convergence and unification of the higher education systems of European countries with a view to creating a unified space for highereducation. The declaration was signed by 47 countries, including Russia. Similar levels of higher education give students from different countries the possibility of free movement between universities during the period of study (internships and international exchanges for both teachers and students, participation in international projects), as well as employment in any participating country of the Bologna Process without the need to confirm a diploma or obtain additional education.

By 2010, Russia reformed the national education system in accordance with the main provisions of the Bologna Declaration: along with specialization and postgraduate study, bachelor's and master's degrees were introduced, as is customary in European universities. Russian universities began to give to the graduates a single sample forbachelor's and master's degrees, as well as a European supplement to the diploma in English, which is necessary for continuing education or employment abroad.

Levels of education

According to the latest Russian legislation, there are three levels of higher educationin our country:

1. Higher education -bachelor's degree;

2. Higher education -specialty, master's degree;

3. Higher education -trainingof highly qualified personnel.

Bachelor's programBachelor is an academic degree, which a student of a higher educational institution receives after acquiring and confirming basic knowledge in the chosen area of training (specialty). Admission to the bachelor’s degree is madeon a competitive basis based on the results of the Unified State Exam (USE), but this applies only to applicants with a secondary general education. Graduates of professional educational organizations (colleges, technical schools) enter the undergraduate programs for internal entrance examinations on the basis of a diploma. Bachelor has the right after taking special exams to enter the next level of education and obtain a master's or specialist degree. Bachelor's degree providesample opportunities for employment due to the basic, basic, knowledge necessary to start a career. Duration of study in the bachelor's degree is 4 years for graduates of ordinary 11-year  schools and, as a rule, 3 years for graduates of professional educational institutions. Also, the bachelor's program expands opportunities for further training and employment abroad, since the bachelor's degree is accepted according to the international classification and is understandable to employers all over the world.

Master's Courses

Master is the second part of a two-tier system of higher education, which produces professionals with more in-depth specialization. Duration of training is2 years. For admission, you must pass a special qualification exam, which is determined by the university, and pass through the competition. Both bachelors, and expertscanenter to the Master's Courses. And it is absolutely not necessary that it is the same educational organization. The degree of the master grants the right to further education in graduate school.

Specialty

This is a traditional stage for Russian higher education which existed before the signing of the Bologna Declaration by Russia and still exists. The specialty includes both basic education and special training within the chosen direction. The receipt is made on the basis of the results of the USE. The term of study is 5 years on full-time education, 6 years –on part-time learning. The specialty gives the right to enter a master's or graduate school. Qualification "specialist" is considered the second stage of higher education, as well as a master's degree. Therefore, admission to the magistracy will be considered a second higher education. And also a specialist, unlike a bachelor, can enter a graduate school.

Postgraduate School

Postgraduate School is a separate level of higher education in Russia, the purpose ofwhich is to prepare for the degree of candidate of science. The academic degree is awarded to a graduate student after passing the candidate's minimum (examinations) and defending the dissertation. Training in postgraduate studies, as a rule, lasts for three years, and in the part-tine learning-four years.

Practical tasks