In Russia you can face a basic system of education.It's not unusual to teach students abstract science.
The obvious agvantage is that it's really great for graduates to know all divisions of science and to learn any field easily if they want.
But drawback is that students, who have bachelor's, aren't prepared for real job and they must use their possibilities to relearn.
I'm all for it, because you will not have any problems to change your position whenever you want.
Another trend is for people to take online courses.
For example, it is common for them to use different sites of learning English.
They can study even on their mobile phone.
I'm in favor of it, because you have more time studying on the Internet whenever and wherever you want.