Our University

I. Words and word combinations to be remembered:

to found – основать

to enroll – зачислять

full-time – дневной

part-time – вечерний

extra-mural – заочный

distant form of training – дистантная форма подготовки

an academic year – учебный год

a shift – смена

to take an exam (in) – сдавать экзамен

a term – семестр

a senior student – старшекурсник

a state exam – государственный экзамен

student hostel – общежитие для студентов

a publishing house – издательство

a preventive clinic – профилакторий

a skiing lodge – лыжная база

to fall behind (in) – отстать (по какому-либо предмету)

to be good at smth – хорошо разбираться в чем-либо

ahead of time – досрочно

a credit test – зачет

a crib – шпаргалка

internship – практика, стажировка vacations

vacations – каникулы

to write a diploma – писать дипломную работу

II.Read, translate and retell the text:

Altai State Technical University named after I. I. Polzunov (AltSTU) was founded in February 1942 on the basis of the Zаporozhye Engineering Institute. It consisted of 2 faculties: the faculty of mechanical engineering and the faculty of agricultural engineering with a student-body of 360 people. In 1959 it became the Altai Polytechnic Institute. In May 1965 the Institute was named after I.I. Polzunov. In 1992 the Polytechnic Institute was transformed into the University. Nowadays it is the leading educational, research and cultural centre of the Altai territory. The university strives for being among largest internationally recognized centers of training of specialists in the field of science and education in the Siberian region of the Russian Federation. AltSTU does not only train specialists in many areas of national and regional industry, economy, humanities, but also retrains experts, improves professional skills for their adaptation in the modern world of info communication technologies and market relations.

It consists of head higher educational institution, Biisk Technological Institute, Rubtsovsk Industrial Institute, branches and representations in many cities and settlements of the territory and beyond its borders. 26 thousand trainees including more than 22 thousand students study at 33 faculties and 107 departments of the university complex on 65 programmes and specialties under the supervision of 1500 teachers including 200 professors, doctors of sciences and about 700 associate professors, candidates of science. In AltSTU there are 5 scientific and research institutes, Altai Technopark and Technopolis, 14 centers of science, 2 applied-research laboratories.

There are four forms of training in the University: full-time, part-time, extra-mural and distant. After passing entrance exams successfully, students are enrolled into the University on the competitive basis. The course of studies lasts for five years. Part-time and extra-mural students study for six years. Classes begin in September, they are over in June. Students study in 2 shifts. Student’s work is given a mark on a five point or one hundred-point scale. The academic year is divided in 2 terms. Every term students take exams. When their session is over students have vacations – two weeks in winter and 2 months in summer. Senior students have their practical training (internship) in different enterprises of Altai Region. Students who study well get grants or stipends.

Student research work is a natural part of training. Leading scientists of the University act as students’ scientific advisers. In the final year students write diploma papers and take state exams. On graduation students receive degrees of Bachelor and diplomas of specialist.

Research activity of AltSTU is based on 12 scientific schools in various fields of knowledge, science and technology. Over 500 post-graduate students including 30 doctoral students make research at the university. There are 58 postgraduate and 10 doctoral programmes at the University. More than 50 student's creative teams are involved in creative activity.

AltSTU is the unique university in Altai with Preparatory Faculty for foreign citizens, having the state license of the Ministry of Education and Science for teaching Russian as a foreign language. Graduates of the Preparatory Faculty of AltSTU can enter other universities of Barnaul, the Altai Krai (medical, agrarian, classical ones) and other cities of Russia.