Three Moscow universities top a list of Russia’s best higher education institutions compiled by the Higher School of Economics and RIA Novosti that ranked the prestigious Moscow State University down in sixth place.
The ratings, drawn up based on the results of the Unified State Examination (USE), identified Moscow State University of Physics and Technology, Moscow Architectural Institute and Moscow Institute of International Relations as the country’s three best institutions of higher education.
A total of 360 educational establishments that accepted at least 200 state-funded students on the basis of the USE exam this year are included in the list.The evaluation was based on such factors as average minimal passing score at the university and the number of students who entered the university having won students competitions.
The rankings will not be a cause for radical change in higher education, the education minister said. "There will be no revolutions. We will go forward toward stronger universities step by step," Andrei Fursenko said.
The USE was introduced in secondary schools and most universities across Russia in 2009. Since then, each student has to pass several exams, including the compulsory Russian language and mathematics papers, in order to receive a secondary education certificate. Universities are obliged to accept students on the basis of USE results, although some have retained their right to carry out additional examinations.
Rankings and ratings of all types have become increasingly popular in the media and with the public in recent years and RIA Novosti editor-in-chief Svetlana Mironyuk said the agency’s rating of the Russian universities would soon be expanded.
MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti)
