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Moscow State University and Russian Education

Russian Education Overview

During the Soviet period, education was highly centralized, and indoctrination into Marxist-Leninist theory was a major element of schooling. The end of Communism led to extensive curriculum revision.

Many preschool children attend nursery schools. They are not compulsory, and parents must contribute financially to them. Free, compulsory education begins when a child reaches the age of 7 and lasts for a minimum of eight years. More than 60 percent of students, however, attend for eleven years. Minority children are taught in their own languages, but the study of Russian is required at the secondary level.

Entry to higher education is selective and highly competitive. Most undergraduate courses require five years. Higher education is almost entirely in Russian, though a few institutions mostly in minority areas use the local language as well.

Moscow is a major center of education with a large number of schools and other educational establishments. There are more than 70 institutions of higher education that specialize in such subjects as economics, medicine, construction, transport, sport, and education. The most prestigious is Moscow State University with more than 30,000 students. One of the largest in the world, the Lenin Library is a major educational asset. The Russian Academy of Sciences and a number of scientific institutes are also located in the city.

Moscow State University Overview and Information

Moscow State University is by right regarded the oldest Russian university. It was established in 1755. The foundation of a university in Moscow became possible only due to the efforts of Mikhail Vasil'evich Lomonosov (1711-1765), the outstanding Russian scholar and scientist, a person of encyclopaedic learning. In 1940 on the occasion of its185th Anniversary, Moscow University was named after M.V.Lomonosov.

Moscow State University was noted for its students and the teaching staff, democratic in their composition and views. To a large extent it is exactly that fact that accounts for the popularity among the undergraduates, the teachers and the tutors of progressive scientific and social ideas. Already in the preamble to the Decree for the foundation of the university in Moscow, it is stated that it is established "for a general education of members of the raznochinets (those who are not of gentle birth). The University enrolled students of varied backgrounds, the only exception being for those of serf extraction. M.Lomonosov set as an example the Western universities that had rid themselves of the estate prejudice.

In 1755 Moscow State University had three faculties: Philosophy, Law and Medicine. Currently there are 27 faculties - of Mechanics and Mathematics, Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Geography, Soil Science, Fundamental Medicine, History, Philology, Philosophy, Foreign Languages, Economics, Journalism, Law, Psychology, Sociology, Institute of Asian and African Studies, Public Administration and Social Studies, Materials Sciences, Pedagogy, Arts, International Relations, Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Continuing Education, Center for International Education.

The total number of students including post-graduates at Moscow State Universirty is currently 40,000. The staff of professors, teachers and researchers is 9,000. 7,000 of them hold Doctor of Science and PhD Degrees. The number of international students is growing constantly. Currently we host more then 4,000 from 80 countries.

Moscow State University closely cooperates with the leading international organisations including UNESCO and The World Bank. The University is a member of various international associations and has concluded more than 350 exchange, research and cooperation agreements with universities on all continents. Moscow State University is also the centre of cooperation between the universities of the former USSR. The Rector, Prof. V.A.Sadovnichii, is the President of the Eurasian Association of Universities.

Many outstanding scholars, public and state leaders of the world have been granted the degrees of Honoured member, Honoured Doctor and Honoured Professor of Moscow State University. Famous German poet J.Goethe, the first prime-minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, former President of the USA Bill Clinton, Norvegian Scientist Thor Heerdaal and many others.

Moscow State University provides a wide range educational services and educational programmes. It has established modern educational programmes in all basic areas of research and education. The educational system of the University is designed to give a student deep understanding of fundamental disciplines combined with specialisation in the applied and concrete scientific problems.