Former Soviet Union: The East looks West

[Harold Schiffman]

 THE EAST LOOKS WEST

All across the former Soviet Union, thousands of students are making the
choice to turn away from the Russian language and embrace English, as well
as the education standards of Western Europe and America, says Owen Matthews
of Newsweek.

For example:

   - In one of Ukraine's leading universities, Kiev's Mohyla Academy,
   courses are taught in Ukrainian and English only.
   - Azerbaijan's leading private university, the Khazar University in Baku,
   teaches primarily in English and offers U.S.-style M.B.A. courses.
   - The Georgian American University in Tbilisi, the Black Sea University
   in Tbilisi, and the American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan also
   teach primarily in English.
   - Georgia is funding scholarships for 1,000 local students to attend top
   Western universities, and has recruited 300 U.S. and European professors to
   teach part time at major Georgian universities.

Despite the upsurge in English, Moscow has sought to re-establish the
importance of the Russian language:

   - Last year the Kremlin founded Russki Mir, a grant-dispensing body that
   gives away $22 million a year to champion the Russian language.
   - By the end of this year, the group plans to open as many as 15
   Russian-language centers in ex-Soviet and Western countries.

Source: Owen Matthews, "The East Looks West," Newsweek, June 9, 2008.

For text:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139397

For more on International Issues:

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_Category=26



http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?page=article&Article_ID=16652

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