There are many institutions and colleges, apart from those mentioned above, that offer quality education. Not all of them make it to the list of top 10 universities in the world. Here are the details of few such universities.

Cornell University. The Cornell University, which is located in Ithaca, New York, was founded by Ezra Cornell in 1865. Every year, 20,633 students are admitted for different courses in the Cornell university. A variety of courses that range from agriculture, liberal arts, engineering to hotel administration are offered by the university. There are 7 graduate divisions and an equal number of undergraduate colleges in the Cornell University.

Yale University. Yale is the 3rd oldest university in USA. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the university is set in a sprawling 339 hectare campus. Many prominent personalities including 5 presidents of USA have studied in Yale. The university was established in 1701.

Shanghai Jiao Tong. University One of the oldest universities in China, Shanghai Jiao Tong is a member of the C9 League. This league is formed of top universities from China. Shanghai Jiao Tong University is
a public university founded in 1896, followed by issuing of an edict by Guangxu Emperor. The university offers a variety of courses ranging from medicine, engineering, agriculture, law to humanities.

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoBased in Mexico City, the «Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico» or «National Autonomous University of Mexico» is the largest university in America in terms of student enrollment. For the academic year 2011-12, 324 413 students were admitted for different courses in the university. Justo Sierra founded this university on 22nd September, 1910. The campus of Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México is declared as a World Heritage Site
by UNESCO.

To be read after Units 7 – 8

Text 1. Joseph Monier (1823 – 1906)

Joseph Monier, born 1823 was a French gardener and one of the principal inventors of reinforced concrete. Joseph was one of ten children born to a family of horticulturists. All hands being needed in the fields, Joseph was not sent to school. By the age of 17 he had proved his worth as a gardener, and the duke offered him a post at his mansion in Paris. Joseph took the opportunity to attend evening classes and learned to read and write.

As a gardener, Monier was not satisfied with the materials available for making flowerpots. He began making cement pots and tubs, but these were not stable enough. In order to strengthen the cement containers, he experimented with embedded iron mesh. He was not the first to experiment with reinforced concrete, but he saw some of the possibilities in the technique, and promoted it extensively.

Monier exhibited his invention at the Paris Exposition of 1867. He
obtained his first patent on July 16, 1867, on iron-reinforced troughs for horticulture. He continued to find new uses for the material, and obtained more patents – iron-reinforced cement pipes and basins, iron-reinforced cement panels for building façades, bridges made of iron-reinforced cement, reinforced concrete beams. In 1875 the first iron-reinforced cement bridge ever built was constructed at the Castle of Chazelet. Monier was the designer.

Another application in 1878 covered reinforced concrete railway sleepers. When granted, this became the basis for a series of further additions. It contained a clear statement that the cement protected the iron against rusting.

As municipalities expanded their water supply and sewerage networks, there was a growing need for pipes, but a diminishing need for reservoir tanks. Monier was obliged to go further from urban areas in search of clients. In 1886 he was granted Patent for a system applicable to housing. Monier described the house as proof against earthquakes, ice, humidity, heat, and fire and received a commission to build such a house in Nice, possibly as a result of a recent earthquake. Monier’s second son Paul asked to work on this project.

On 24 November 1887, Paul was killed when he fell from the scaffol-ding. As Monier’s eldest son, Pierre, had severed his relationship with his father over a family argument, Joseph found himself with no sons of
working age to help him in the business.

In June 1888, the firm of J Monier constructeur was declared bankrupt, and in April 1889 went into liquidation. However, in 1890 he formed
a new firm.

Monier took out patents in many countries, throughout Europe and overseas. Some of these were registered in the name of the patent agent, in accordance with local law, the British patent of 1883 being in the name of John Imray. Typically, patents were valid for 15 years, but it was necessary to pay a significant yearly fee to maintain them. Monier opted to sell his rights outside France to local businessmen and engineers.

Reinforced concrete is one the most important inventions of the
mankind.