Decide whether the following statements describe Belarusian, British or American systems of higher education.

1. a) Universities have departments concerned with a major division of knowledge; b) Universities have different ‘schools’, or departments, which house a number of related majors; c) Many universities are made up of ‘colleges’, governed by the university, but each college has quite a lot of autonomy from each other and from the university itself.

2. a) There is no Ministry of Education, and academic curriculum is determined on a school-by-school basis; b) The Ministry of Education controls higher education and organizes the accreditation of HEI.

3. Enrolment is on a competitive basis and depends on the results of the centralized testing.

4. a) Courses require weekly assignments such as small writing projects, research papers, and oral presentations; b) Courses are much more lecture-based with occasional assignments or without them and the grade will be based on one final exam; c) The studies are organized in the form of lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory work, individual and group consultations.

5. a) Assessment is based on overall performance on all assignments; b) It is based mostly on the final exam; c) Academic success is assessed on a ‘pass’ or ’fail’ basis and exams at the end of each semester.

6. Types of degrees: a) Graduates are granted state diplomas of higher education; b) Associates, Bachelors, Masters, PhD; c) Higher National Diploma, Diploma of Higher Education.

7. a) The academic year runs from 1 September to the end of June and is divided into two semesters (17 weeks); b) In both countries most universities use the semester system, but some use a trimester system.

8. a) Full-time students with good grades receive a monthly scholarship;

b) if a student gets a scholarship to a school or university, the studies are paid for by the school or university or by some other organization.

Dormitories in the USA

Many colleges and universities in the United States offer on-campus housing that is not in the middle of a town, and they have dormitories in which undergraduate students live. These dormitories are convenient for both academic and social activities. They become small communities, where you can meet other students and enjoy different activities with them.

Most dormitories have a traditional design of long corridors with many rooms for sleeping and living, often with two or three people per room. Dormitory residents typically share large bathrooms, which include showers and toilets. Some universities also offer apartment-style accommodation with bedrooms that share a common lounge and a bathroom.

The room is equipped with basic furniture for each student: a bed, a desk and chair, and some storage space. Internet (wireless or Ethernet), telephone, and television connections are normally provided.

Residence halls usually have several community areas where students gather to play games, watch television and socialize. Usually there is a quiet study lounge. There may also be basic kitchen facilities for preparing snacks between meals.

 

Fill in the gaps using the words from the box.

shared, social, dormitory (dorm), community, on campus, academic, lounge

1. In the United States … is the most common term, but many universities no longer use it and say residence hall (analogous to the United Kingdom ‘hall of residence’).

2. Most universities require students to live … in residence halls, at least for the first two years of undergraduate study.

3. Many prefer to live in on-campus dormitories because they are convenient for both … and … activities.

4. Students usually live in a room … with one or two other students.

5. Each residence hall is just like a …, and living there is an excellent way for students to get to know one another.

6. … is a public room, in which one may sit and relax.

Prepare a group discussion in which you will compare the Belarusian system of higher education with the systems of Great Britain and the USA.

III. EDUCATION AND CAREER

Unit 1. My University

1. Discuss the following statements:

1.It is important to know what you want to do with your life before you choose a university.

2. It is important for every person to have an opportunity to proceed with their education after finishing school.

3. The Belarusian-Russian University is the best university in Mogilev region.