Education and Science Minister Andrey Fursenko hopes the reform will bridge the gap between demand and supply in qualified college graduates.
Photo: ITAR-TASS
|
 |
Russian Higher Education to Meet EU Standards
Russia plans to adopt the European two-level higher education system this September, RIA Novosti reported Friday. Under the government-endorsed plan, most college and university graduates will be receiving Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees but several universities will retain 5- or 6-year special education programs.
All the levels will be independent with their own standards and final examinations, Education and Science Minister Andrey Fursenko said Friday. Colleges and universities will be receiving licenses and state accreditations in all programs separately.
Mr. Fursenko said he hopes the reform will be instrumental in bridging the gap between demand and supply in qualified graduates in Russia.
Viktor Sadovnichiy, rector of the Moscow State University, fears that the new system will affect the quality of education, the Rosbalt news agency reports. Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev responded to the remark saying that this factor depends on the quality of teaching rather than on the time of education.
The Education and Science Ministry has been drafting the reform since 2005. Under the plan, Russia will no longer be awarding credits after students have attended a certain number of class hours. Colleges and universities will have the credit transfer system which is used in the EU. To receive a certain qualification, students will have to score a certain number of credits in one or several universities.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
