Writing centers in Russian universities: goals, objectives and impediments

publishing conventions which are distinctly different from those accepted in Russia. Academic writing is viewed as the key instrument in solving the problem; however, the discipline is only starting to emerge in the country, and the problems faced by educators are the lack of qualified cadre, as well as methodological and institutional bases. Writing centers at the leading Russian universities provide an efficient and flexible model for developing and disseminating knowledge in and about academic writing. The comparative study of the problems encountered by Russian scholars and multilingual scholars in other countries, and the analysis of the functions of writing centers demonstrates the necessity of creating an effective network under the umbrella of the National Writing Centers Consortium. The paper justifies the focus on teaching researchers rather than students, and promotes the bilingual model of teaching.