In the walls of Moscow State University, they began to study the cultures and languages of the countries of the East from the second half of the eighteenth century. ISAA MSU, created already in the twentieth, when the world map was actively changing, and a huge number of African and Asian countries liberated from colonization appeared on it, was thus able to rely on the two-hundred-year-old tradition of studying Eastern civilizations.
Meaning
Today, ISAA MSU has become a leading center in the training of orientalists, from where highly professional specialists come from absolutely all regions and countries of the Afro-Asian world. The distinctive style of education received at Moscow State University has not changed. Still deep penetration into the culture and language of the region or country that is being studied. Still a thorough knowledge of Afro-Asian realities and emerging trends in the development of the cultural, socio-political and economic life of the societies of the countries studied.
And, of course, the same fundamental nature of education at the best university in the country. For ISAA MSU Vostok studentsceases to be a mystery and some kind of exotic world, as it was before entering the university. All non-specialists see it this way. Here the East becomes professional knowledge for students. The major Asian powers and countries of the Middle East are developing dynamically, and the demand for ISAA MSU graduates, whose education helps to strengthen Russia's international ties with its eastern neighbors, is growing accordingly.
Specialization
Students at the ISA MSU specialize in one of three departments - historical, philological or socio-economic. Four years later, they become bachelors and receive an appropriate diploma, which indicates the direction of specialization - oriental studies, African studies. Then they have the opportunity to continue their education in a two-year master's program.
Alumni of ISAA MSU among those who show interest in postgraduate education can continue it here on a number of additional programs. Receiving any specialization, all students without exception study one, and often two oriental languages and one Western European language in the same volume. Today, the choice is great: more than forty languages of the peoples of Africa and Asia are studied at the institute, and a number of languages of the Caucasus and Central Asia have recently been introduced into teaching.
Structure
The institute has eighteen departments. Historical: the countries of the Middle and Near East, Southeast Asia and the Far East, South Asia, China, the history and culture of Japan. history, language,literature and culture are jointly studied by the Department of African Studies and the Department of Judaic Studies of the ISAA Moscow State University.
Purely philological departments - Arabic, Iranian, Turkic, Indian, Chinese, Japanese philology, as well as the Department of Philology of Southeast Asia, Mongolia and Korea. There is also a department of Western European languages. In addition, students receive absolutely necessary knowledge at the departments of international relations, economic geography and economics of African and Asian countries, at the department of political science of the East.
Courses
To deepen and consolidate knowledge, there are laboratories for technical means of education, ecology and culture of the East, experimental phonetics. In order to successfully enter this institute, it is best to be puzzled by this in advance. Moreover, there are ISAA MSU preparatory courses at the USE Preparation Center to make the dream of any student come true.
Not far from the Kremlin, on Mokhovaya Street in house number 11, classes are held in all necessary humanitarian disciplines. This is the ISAA MSU building. An open day is also held there. Among the 205 teachers of the institute there are 40 professors and 75 associate professors, as well as some courses taught by invited best specialists from the most eminent universities and organizations.
International Activities
Ties and cooperation with the best foreign scientific centers and universities at the institute are developing very intensively, research projects are being implemented, highly qualified personnel are being trained. For these purposes, numerous scientific andresearch centers:
- Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies.
- Centre for Buddhist and Indological Studies.
- International Center for Korean Studies.
- Religious Center.
- Center for Comparative Socio-Economic Research.
- Vietnamese Center.
- Oriental language teaching center at school.
- Society of Good Hope (African Studies).
- Intercollegiate Department of Chinese.
- Scientific Center "Central Asia and the Caucasus".
- Society for the Study of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines "Nusantara".
Types of cooperation
In international activities, the Institute uses all kinds of work: these are scientific and methodological developments jointly with foreign colleagues, and international conferences, seminars that are of interest to Orientalists from different countries, educational and scientific cooperation through exchange programs that are beneficial to both parties. Any capable student, after testing at the main departments, can train for five to ten months at any partner foreign university.
The benefits of such internships are enormous, because together with the language practice, the student solves the tasks of the scientific plan formulated in his own department. From the country of the language being studied, the student who has completed the practice will return as a ready-made professional. ISAA MSU also annually accepts foreign students for free education, supporting such a mutually beneficial cooperation.
Historians and philologists
A student, a specialist historian in the future, must study not only the history of African and Asian countries, but also the general history, as well as the history of the Fatherland, ethnology, archeology and the history of religions. And in the specific country being studied, he will listen to the most fundamental lectures in the process of learning. In addition, extensive courses on economics, culture, political system, historiography and source studies are provided.
Future philologists study the basics of literary criticism and linguistics, general linguistics and the history of literature. Special disciplines consist of theoretical phonetics and grammar, lexicology, dialectology, the history of the corresponding language of the East, history, literature, the foundations of the political system and geography of the region or country being studied. Not a single university in Russia provides knowledge in such a volume as ISAA MSU, reviews of graduates of this institute say that education here is beyond praise.
Economists and sociologists
The Socio-Economic Department trains students in the following subjects: economic statistics, higher mathematics, financial and credit system, general economic theory, economic geography and economics of African and Asian countries (the economy is studied both in Russia and in the developed countries of the West), international economic relations, history of economic thought. The greatest attention is paid, of course, to the economy of the country that is being studied.
In addition to the compulsory subjects, there are numerous elective courses for students. This also appliesother branches of ISAA MSU. The schedule is extremely tight. Optional subjects: history of arts and social thought, informatics in theory and practice, demography, sociology and conflictology, mathematical methods of history research, national oriental studies, economics of Central Asian countries, world economy and much more.
Pre-university and additional education
In general, MSU pays great attention to the pre-university training of schoolchildren who are interested in oriental studies. The School of Young Orientalist, which teaches high school students, has been operating at ISAA for many years. Close ties are maintained with the Oriental Lyceum and many other schools specializing in teaching Oriental languages.
On the basis of ISAA MSU there are advanced training and additional education programs. Employees of higher education are also trained here. There are programs for those wishing to undergo professional retraining. In addition, the ISAA MSU training center also has courses for absolutely any category of students, as well as advanced training for school teachers.
Employment
Alumni of ISAA MSU apply their knowledge in foreign policy and foreign trade structures, in Russian government and state bodies, in the media, in analytical and research centers, in publishing houses, as well as in the university education system.
Many highly qualified specialists with ISAA MSU diplomas are employed both in Russian andforeign private and public companies. Knowledge of oriental languages will always find application in today's dynamically developing society.
