Credential Templates, The Former USSR and the Russian Federation

Diplomas awarded in the former Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)
were in Russian. Diplomas awarded in another former Soviet Socialist Republic were bilingual –
in Russian and the local language of that Republic.
Holders of the Diploma of Higher Vocational Education completed upper secondary
education, either prior or during their study at a SSUZ. If upper secondary education was
obtained at a SSUZ the Diploma may not have always attested to that. But the Supplement to the
Diploma included upper secondary courses and the duration of the program was appropriately
longer. SSUZ graduates could continue their education at a higher educational institution, but the
majority entered the workforce.
In addition to the type of the Diploma issued by the tehnikum and uchilishche, the college
may have also awarded the Diploma with the title of "Junior Engineer" (Младший инженер,
Mladshij inzhener). The Diploma of "Junior Engineer" required an additional 1.5 years. College
graduates with this credential may have been granted advanced standing at the third year of
appropriate higher education programs.
Higher Vocational Education in the Russian Federation:
In the Russian Federation, there have appeared new types of institutions of vocational
education - the professional lyceum (an institution of lower vocational education) and the
college (an institution of higher vocational education).
Admission to higher vocational education is competitive. Applicants take entrance exams
set by educational institutions for specific specialisations. Admission to some programs and
institutions is more competitive than others but the average admission ratio in 1995 was about
180 applicants per 100 vacant places. Even though it is possible to enter higher vocational
education after lower secondary education, the number of applicants with incomplete secondary
education has been declining. They currently account for about one-third of the total number of
applicants. Some programs are offered exclusively to students who have completed upper
secondary education.
The duration of programs vary according to the mode of entry, field of study, and level of
program. Generally, basic programs in humanities and the arts are shorter than those in technical
fields. In addition, there are two levels of program – basic (standard) and advanced. It is possible
to upgrade from a basic level diploma to an advanced level diploma by an additional year of fulltime
study.
The curricula stipulate forty-five weeks of study per year. Academic time is equally
divided between theoretical education and a practical component. The total workload of a full-
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