Heading to the East, or “how to make Asia become a part of your heart forever?
In the modern world, people are showing increasing interest in oriental languages, but not everywhere they are taught at a high level. That is why first-year student Victoria Levitskaya decided to tell TMstudent readers about her place of study - the Oriental Studies Department of the Higher School of Economics.
Brief information.
The Department of Oriental Studies is very young - in 2014 there will be only the first graduation of bachelors. However, it is impossible to compare the impressions of fourth- and first-year students - over the 4 years of the department’s existence, the teaching methodology has been improved and about two years ago it came into its modern form. And no matter how sad it may be to realize, the famous Russian proverb - “the first pancake is lumpy” - will come in handy here. The fourth-year students were not very lucky, because they were the “pioneers” of this direction.
Admission.
Last year, the passing score for our department was 285 for three exams: Russian language, foreign language and history. However, it was possible to enter not only according to the results of the Unified State Exam, but also according to the Olympiads - Highest Test, Lomonosov, and many others. As a result, it turned out that those enrolled in the budget based on the results of the Unified State Examination and the results of the Olympiads were approximately the same number - about 40 people. In my opinion, it was much easier for the Olympiad athletes; even a third-degree diploma allowed one to enter the department without exams. Speaking about training on a commercial basis, this pleasure is not cheap - 300 thousand rubles per year. The Higher School of Economics has a system of discounts, and applicants receive 70, 50 and 30% discounts on tuition, depending on how much they are short of the passing score on the budget. The discount is provided for the first year of study, and maintaining it is not so easy - you need to be at the top of the ranking in terms of academic performance. Many students forget about this and end up missing out on the discount after the first year.
Study of orientalists.
There are four language directions at the department: Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Studying at each of them has its own specifics related to the region being studied. It is important to note that in addition to the language, students study geography, history, economic development of their region - the department prepares comprehensively developed specialists in the East in various fields: history, culture, economics, philosophy.
But to become such a specialist, you need to go a long and hard way. Studying at the department cannot be called easy - in the first year, students have 12 pairs of oriental language per week (the largest number in the whole world): oral and written aspects. Sometimes it seems that you will soon know the Eastern language better than your native one.
The first six months of study are probably the hardest. You are just adapting to a new rhythm of life, after carelessness at school - this is especially difficult. However, later it becomes much easier, even the eastern language does not seem as difficult as at the very beginning.
I can say for myself that I like studying, it’s really interesting. While learning a language, students simultaneously become immersed in the culture of the region they are studying and become part of it.
A distinctive feature of the department is that a large number of subjects required for the specialty are taught from the 1st year. However, one should not think that the graduates of the department are highly specialized specialists. The curriculum also includes a variety of general humanities subjects, the study of which allows students to be comprehensively developed and literate people. Well, the most anticipated event for most students is a summer internship - an excellent opportunity to practice the language they are learning and simply visit a foreign country with its own culture.
Interesting Facts.
● The department belongs to the Faculty of Philosophy, but has absolutely nothing to do with it. There are rumors that it will soon be separated from the Faculty of Philosophy.
● Korean students participate in internships for free - they are only required to pay for the flight.
● Oriental studies students do not have their own building as such, so almost every day they study in different HSE buildings. Today you are on Shabolovskaya, the next day you are already in the main building on Lubyanka.
● The chapter has instagram and twitter accounts maintained by the student council. There you can find out the latest news about the life of students and the educational process of the department.
Levitskaya Victoria
The course in Oriental studies to prepare for the Olympiad is aimed at acquiring knowledge and competencies in the field of history, philosophy, religion and culture of the countries of the East, necessary for the successful completion of Olympiad tasks and for further study at the university.
Teacher, course leader: Adilbaev Timur SharibaevichTeacher of the author's course "Oriental Studies" at the Lyceum of the National Research University Higher School of Economics (2014-2016) |
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| Teacher, course leader: Adilbaeva Milena Sergeevna Graduate of the Lyceum of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, majoring in Oriental Studies Winner of the “Highest Standard” Olympiad in Oriental Studies (2017, 2nd result among all) Bachelor's student at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, EP "Oriental Studies" (Japanese Studies) |
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Course Description
This course is aimed at preparing students to write the “Highest Standard” Olympiad in Oriental Studies. As part of the classes, we will cover various aspects of culture, history, religion, politics, economics and society in the countries of the East, mainly in four regions: the Middle East, China, Japan and a little Korea. In addition to knowledge aimed at broadening the general horizons and understanding cause-and-effect relationships, special emphasis is placed on visual material - illustrations of events and photographs of historical figures, as they may be asked in Olympiad tasks. To be more specific, then...
Olympics
A 1st or 2nd degree diploma of the Olympiad in Oriental Studies provides admission WITHOUT ENTRANCE TESTS, subject to CONFIRMATION OF 75+ USE POINTS IN HISTORY. This is a way to enroll on a budget without spending wild nerves while taking the Unified State Exam, since the main emphasis is on one subject. However, it depends only on your desires =))
If a student receives a 3rd degree diploma, then when submitting documents to the Higher School of Economics, the maximum score for the Unified State Exam in history is given. But, unfortunately, it is no longer possible to enter the budget based on such a result alone.
If a student does not receive a prize at the Olympiad, then he remains with the acquired knowledge =))
General outlook and more
We do not concentrate exclusively on the Olympiad and also provide knowledge that expands general erudition. They can also help in further studies at the university in oriental studies.
We are also trying to develop some other skills that may be useful when writing other competitions, for example, the ability to find basic information in the text and draw conclusions from the presented visual materials.
The course will last 36 weeks which will include:
- 16 lessons, including educational materials and self-tests
- 10 test papers, including Olympiad-type tasks, with the possibility of receiving an individual review from the teacher
- 2 intermediate And 1 final control mastering materials that include Olympiad-type tasks, with the possibility of receiving an individual review from the teacher
- forum with a teacher
Course program
Topic 1. Ethnogenesis. Mythology.
The concept of ethnogenesis. The importance of geographical factors for the formation of ethnic groups. Chinese and Japanese mythology. Xia Dynasty in China. Neolithic revolution. Yangshao and Longshan cultures. Japanese antiquity: from shell middens to burial mound culture. Shintoism.Topic 2. Ruler. Power. Ritual.
Shang-Yin and Zhou dynasties in China. The sacred nature of supreme power. Ancestor cult. Fortune telling and rituals. The personality of Confucius. Confucius' teachings on ruler and ritual.Topic 3. State. Economy. Right.
Power-property in the East. Agrarian relations in the East. State monopolies. Confrontation between Legalism and Confucianism. Qin Shi Huang and his reforms. Taoist alternative.Topic 4. Buddhism: emergence, development, spread.
Prince Shakyamuni. Basic principles of Buddhism. Buddhism in India and Southeast Asia. Movements of Buddhism: Hinayana (Theravada), Mahayana, Vajrayana. Tripitaka. Lamaism. Mythology and philosophy of Buddhism. Greco-Buddhism.Topic 5. Korea in antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Gojoseon and the early three states of Korea. Unified Silla (668-935). State of Koryo (918-1392). The Joseon Dynasty in the early (1394-1519) and middle (1519-1623) periods of history. The struggle between Confucianism and Buddhism. Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1569). Culture of ancient and medieval Korea.Topic 6. Civilizations of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Ancient Iran.
Wittfogel and “hydraulic civilizations”. Ancient Egyptian civilization. "Book of the Dead". Sumerian-Akkadian and Babylonian civilizations. "The Epic of Gilgamesh." Ancient Indian civilization of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Ancient Iran. Zoroastrianism. Conquests of Alexander the Great.Topic 7. Islam: emergence, development, spread.
The emergence of Islam. Relationships with Judaism and Christianity. Muhammad, Muhajirs, Ansars. Koran. The struggle for power after Muhammad: Sunnism and Shiism. Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. Economics of Arab conquests. Islamic law.Topic 8. China and Japan in the Middle Ages.
Han Dynasty. The Three Kingdoms Period in Chinese History. Sui, Tang and Song dynasties. Mongol conquest of China and the Yuan dynasty. Reign of the Ming Dynasty. Medieval Japan: from a centralized state, through a period of feudal fragmentation to the Tokugawa shogunate. Refined aristocrats and warlike samurai.Topic 9. East and West.
The first contacts of Europeans with the countries of the East. Marco Polo and Mateo Ricci. European thinkers about the East. Manchu Qing Dynasty. Autarky. Self-isolation of the countries of the East. Lord McCartney's mission to Qing China. Russian-Chinese relations. Russian spiritual mission in Beijing. History of Russian Oriental Studies.Topic 10. The beginning of colonialism. Colonial policy.
"East India" companies and the conquest of India. Opium Wars in China. "Gunboat Politics". The Sepoy Rebellion in India and the Taiping Rebellion in China. British colonial policy in India.Topic 11. Paths of modernization in the East. "The Awakening of Asia".
Meiji Restoration in Japan. Modernization and Westernization. Japanese militarism. The policy of self-strengthening in Qing China. Kang Youwei and Sun Yat-sen. “One Hundred Days of Reform” and the Xinhai Revolution in China. Mahatma Gandhi. Nationalism in the East. The Young Turks. Lawrence of Arabia.Topic 12. Secular power in Muslim countries of the East.
Military in power: Ataturk, Nasser, Gaddafi, Assad, Hussein, Mubarak. Secular power or military dictatorship? Secularization. Officers as the intellectual elite of post-colonial Arab countries. Features of modernization of the countries of the Arab-Muslim region in the post-colonial period.Topic 13. Islam and conflicts.
Arab-Israeli wars. Palestine and Lebanon. Islamic revolution in Iran. Afghanistan and the Taliban. Terrorism and Al-Qaeda. "Arab Spring" and its consequences. Islamic State. Islamic fundamentalism.Topic 14. Communism in the East.
Civil war in China: militarists, Kuomintang, CCP. Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong. Kim Il Sung and the Korean War. Industrialization and collectivization according to the Soviet model in the PRC. The cult of personality of Mao Zedong. “Distortions” of Maoism: from the Great Leap Forward to the Cultural Revolution. North Korea is a “sanctuary of communism.”Topic 15. “Japanese miracle” and “Asian tigers”.
Post-war economic development of Japan: from import substitution to export orientation, from technological borrowing to innovation. Akio Morita and Sony. The role of the state in the economic development of Eastern countries. "Asian Tigers".Topic 16. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Deng Xiaoping and his policy of "reform and opening up". Family contracting and township enterprises. Reforms before and after the events in Tiananmen Square. Chinese state corporations and “national champions”.The full name of the educational institution is National Research University Higher School of Economics, abbreviated as HSE. The unofficial name is the result of student folk art - “Higher”.
This university is among the top 5 best universities in the country and is rightly considered the most progressive and prestigious among the capital’s institutions.
General information about the National Research University "Higher School of Economics"
The university operates on a budgetary-commercial basis: the institution receives government subsidies, income from its own scientific projects, contract students and from third-party sponsors and organizations. Such multi-channel injections into the university budget enable the institution’s management to constantly improve the material and technical base of HSE and the very quality of education.
The National Research University Higher School of Economics operates 128 research centers, 36 scientific and design laboratories, 32 international laboratories led by foreign researchers. HSE conducts the most intensive international activities among capital universities, cooperates with 298 foreign partners, and has 41 double degree programs with foreign universities.
It is noteworthy that from the very day of its foundation the institution has been headed by a permanent rector - Ya. I. Kuzminov.
“We study not for school, but for life” is the motto of the Higher School of Economics.
History of University
The Higher School of Economics cannot boast of a turbulent history. The first brick of this European-oriented university was not laid by Peter I himself, and its corridors were not trampled by Lomonosov or Nietzsche.
This is a relatively young, but very intensively developing, progressive university. If educational institutions were identified with cities, then HSE would be Singapore or Hong Kong.
So, the school was opened for students from November 17, 1992. Already in 2009, this university received the title of National Research University on a competitive basis.
Faculty of Law. We can safely say that this faculty prepares the best lawyers of Russian modern times. This is not unreasonable, because the university itself was created not without the participation of the administrative and ruling elite. It is important to note that students are taught material with a huge emphasis on practice. Specialists from government agencies, practicing lawyers, etc. are invited.
Faculty of Humanities. This faculty cannot be called specialized for HSE; reviews from experts also note that humanities students are trained here with the understanding that their specialization is a priori inferior to that of computer scientists or economists. But the faculty has the strongest school of foreign languages. Also, most lectures are public and optional for students of other specialties. Every student who wants to broaden their horizons can come to cultural studies, philosophy and additional courses in foreign languages.
Faculty of Communications, Media and Design. This faculty is the domain of female students; there are even fewer males here than in the pedagogical institute. Apparently, the laurels of Anna Wintour or Carrie Bradshaw no longer give rest to the fair sex. But seriously, the faculty trains not only journalists, but rather full-fledged specialists for media communications with an emphasis on working in the Internet environment, PR companies, and design institutions.
Faculty of Economic Sciences- the most specialized and largest faculty. Student reviews of economics and statistics at HSE as a field of study sound rather ambiguous. Allegedly, the academic workload among students is borderline unbearable. But cooperation with global transnational corporations and universities, which is available at this faculty, gives students access to unique knowledge and the opportunity for unlimited development and successful employment anywhere in the world. Future Henry Fords and Adam Smiths are produced here. Let us lower our eyes to the fact that the well-known S. Mavrodi successfully studied here.
International Institute of Economics and Finance (ICEF)
This faculty should definitely be discussed separately. This is a diamond among pearls. A unique educational institution in the CIS. To create it back in 1997, the National Research University Higher School of Economics and the London School of Economics (one of the three leaders in economic education in the world) joined forces. And it turned out to be such a grandiose creation. Graduates of the institute receive both candy and ice cream - a diploma from the Higher School of Economics and a diploma from the London School of Economics.
The competition is merciless, and the workload at the faculty is impressive. From the very first day of school, all training is conducted in English. Budget places are only for winners of the All-Russian Olympiad. Enthusiastic reviews of international relations at HSE only fuel public interest in this university. Students spend a third of their course in London, absorbing all the practical knowledge that the experience of such an education can give. The excitement around admission to this faculty is enormous; even the tuition fee of 600 thousand rubles per year does not stop applicants.
If you don’t have the courage and finances to study at ICEF, you can get a bachelor’s degree at another faculty and enroll in a master’s program through a double degree program. HSE has 40 such programs.
Features of studying at HSE
There are a large number of educational features at the Higher School of Economics. Reviews from students note that studying at this university is completely different from standard education in our country. But this is easy to explain - the university greedily absorbs the experience of successful global educational institutions. And if we pay attention to the success of HSE graduates, it would also do well for other national universities to broaden their views on teaching and not turn away from successful world experience.
The Higher School of Economics became one of the first national universities to switch to a 4+2 curriculum (bachelor's, master's). The academic year is divided not into semesters, but into modules, there are four of them, and at the end of each, students receive certification. The sum of the module grades determines the annual grade.
The grading system is ten-point, in the European style.
In the tactics of constructing the educational process, an orientation towards success is visible. Students are immediately trained to be confident, competitive and highly motivated. The university has a rating system. Reviews from HSE students about these same ratings are full of devilish smiley faces, but even dissatisfied, tired students admit that nothing motivates as much as this very rating risk.
So what's the big deal? It's simple. Contractors with high ratings receive discounts or are transferred to the budget. State employees with a high rating retain their stipend, those with an average rating lose their stipend, and those with a low rating are transferred to a contract. This encourages students to be active, study non-stop, and get used to the conditions of a highly competitive environment.
There is no such subject as “Physical Education” at the university. There is a gym, various sections, courses, etc. Please develop yourself, take care of your health and physical condition. But this is a matter of choice.
Positive feedback from students about HSE
The only thing more subjective than the opinions of students is the opinion of children. Often reviews from HSE students are based on personal success or failure in their studies. But quite a few young people dare to express their opinion about HSE objectively and rationally.
A huge plus for the university - for this circumstance alone, it needs to erect a monument in the form of a happy student - there is practically no corruption at HSE. This is noted by most students. Either the reason is the intensive funding of the university’s activities by sponsors, or loyalty to the principles of “European transparency,” but students agree that it is very possible to obtain a diploma with knowledge alone.
The quality of knowledge, lectures and training of teachers varies among different faculties. If we analyze reviews of HSE in Moscow, students agree that the quality of teaching in the humanities and political science fields is slightly behind.
Not a single review can describe the quality of education as eloquently as the statistics on employment by profile after graduating from this university: 94% of graduates found a suitable job. This is despite the fact that 48% found a warm corporate job even before receiving their diploma. Leading companies send their recruits to prestigious universities to scout for valuable talent while they are still in college.
What negative aspects of studying at HSE do students most often mention in their reviews?
Most of all, students complain about the workload and the need to gain knowledge in conditions of constant competition. We can endlessly discuss whether it is possible to pit students who were children just yesterday against each other. But the HSE management has made a choice, and the rating system is not going to be abolished.
Students are also indignant about the Anti-Plagiarism system. There is a university program where every work is checked. In the text, only 20% citations are allowed with an exact indication of the source. Everything else is the author’s personal judgments, conclusions, etc. Naturally, this greatly increases the time for preparing essays and coursework for students.
Dormitories of the Higher School of Economics
HSE buildings are scattered throughout the city, as are the dormitories. Today the Higher School of Economics operates 9 dormitories. Reviews about HSE dormitories are mostly positive, but extremely ironic. The whole humor is that they are located in the Moscow region, and the road from their place of residence to the academic building is inexhaustible ground for student jokes. If we put this inconvenience aside, the rest of the HSE dormitories are made “for the people.” They are apartment type, they have all the amenities. There is one in Moscow. It is cheaper and closer, but is suitable only for residents who are unpretentious in terms of comfort.
All dormitories have free wireless Internet with access at any time of the day.
The atmosphere in the hostel is upbeat, productive and motivating. HSE did an elementally brilliant thing, they paid tribute to the desire of every person for everyday comfort. They made modern classrooms and dormitories for students, and they don’t worry about storing water in basins, washing their hair at the sink, etc. They care about acquiring knowledge and self-development.
Master's programs at HSE: student reviews, master's programs
Documents are accepted in electronic form. After approval of the electronic application, the originals can be brought to the admissions office or sent by mail.
All applicants undergo a competition in the form of entrance exams (most often economics + English + mathematics, but disciplines vary depending on the faculty).
The enrollment order is issued somewhere in mid-August, two weeks before the start of lectures.
Master's programs at HSE look very attractive. Almost all of them are bilateral and provide students with the opportunity to obtain double diplomas and gain a unique learning experience at Today, HSE cooperates with the universities of Humboldt in Berlin, Pantheon-Sorbonne in Paris, Mason in New York, with 10 universities in Britain, including the London School of Political Science, and also higher institutions in Canada, USA, Luxembourg, Finland, etc.
Dear students!
The educational office and the main classroom fund of our educational program, now, after the move, is located at:
Staraya Basmannaya street, 21/4, building 5, building B. Educational office - room 204.
How to get there?
FROM “KRASNYE VOROTA” METRO STATION
On foot (about 15 minutes): after leaving the metro, follow the direction of Krasnovorotsky Ave., continue along the street. Novaya Basmannaya, turn right onto the street. Alexandra Lukyanova, turn right again, then left 2 times. The HSE building will be on the right.
By public transport: take trolleybus No. 24 (in the direction: Aviamotornaya St.) you need to go 2 stops to the “1st Basmanny Lane” stop. Then you need to walk to the HSE building (about 500 m).
FROM KURSKAYA METRO STATION (RING)
On foot (20-25 minutes): after leaving the metro, follow towards pl. Kursky railway station. Turn right onto pl. Kursky Station, then turn right onto the street. Zemlyanoy Val, then turn right onto the street. Old Basmannaya. Turn left onto the street. Alexandra Lukyanova. Then turn left, left again and left again. The HSE building will be on the right.
By public transport: from the Kurskaya metro station (circular) go along the street. Zemlyanoy Val to the bus stop T25 (in the direction: Budyonny Ave.). You need to go 2 stops to the stop. "Service center "Moscow Transport" - Alexandra Lukyanova Street." Then walk about 5 minutes (450 m) to the HSE building.
FROM KITAY-GOROD METRO STATION
By public transport: from the stop. Ilyinsky Gate (Maroseyka St., 4) can be reached by buses M3 (7 stops), T25 (6 stops), N3 (6 stops) to the stop “Moscow Transport Service Center - Alexandra Lukyanova Street”. Then walk to the HSE building (450 m).
R Group schedule for module 4
Start schedule for minors and university-wide extracurricular activities
The first letter in the group schedule corresponds to the building on Staraya Basmannaya
For example:
- auditorium L112 means: building L, first floor, then the auditorium number;
- B317: building B, 3rd floor, then auditorium number.
- Some classes are held on Shabolovka, Malaya and Bolshaya Ordynka. Please be careful!
