Commission wants more universities to offer courses for translators

Published: 12 October 2010 y., Tuesday

Rašymas
The European Commission has launched a new drive to encourage more European universities to offer high-quality courses for students who want to work as translators. As part of this, the Commission is expanding its 'European Master's in Translation' (EMT) university network, which was set up last year in response to a growing shortage of properly qualified translators in the job market. As well as being a network, the EMT is a recognised quality label. To date, 34 European universities have successfully applied to join the network (see link below for list). Universities wishing to use the EMT label have their courses assessed by translation experts, who are mostly members of the existing network. The EMT network meets for its annual conference in Brussels from 11 -13 October.

'In many countries, anyone can claim to be a translator without any guarantee of professional competence. The long-term aim of the EMT project is to raise the standard of translator training; a course carrying the EMT label is recognised as being one of the best in the field,' explained Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

The EMT project was conceived by the Commission in response to two main concerns: a rapidly growing demand for high-level language services worldwide and a doubling in the number of official EU languages from 11 to 23 between 2004 and 2007.

Demand for translation services across the world is soaring. According to a 2009 study on the European Union language industry1, its current turnover is set to increase by at least 10% annually over the next few years and it is estimated that the industry will be worth up to € 20 billion by 2015.

The language industry covers translation, interpretation, subtitling, dubbing and 'localisation' (adapting translation to specific local needs). The skills that a translator needs in the modern job market increasingly go beyond pure linguistic abilities. The EMT project recognises that they are also required to have skills in entrepreneurship, project management and negotiation. Many universities, for instance, are now teaching translator students how to run a business as well as how to translate.

Nearly 250 universities and other higher education institutions in the European Union currently offer courses for would-be translators.

The Commission's Directorate General for Translation provides administrative support to the EMT network and acts as a hub for the exchange of information and best practices. The Commission has allocated around € 300 000 to cover the cost of its administrative support and the network's annual conference in 2010. It does not provide direct financial support to the training courses or students.

 

Šaltinis: europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

Synthetic trees capture carbon

Scientists at New York's Columbia University are developing a synthetic tree that removes CO2 from the atmosphere. The researchers say the tree, if mass produced, could make a significant difference to the quality of the air we breathe. more »

ZenRobotics Recycler saves the Planet from Waste

ZenRobotics Recycler is a robotic waste sorting system. Built with off the shelf industrial robotics components, the system utilizes machine learning to separate raw materials from waste. more »

Politics on the brain - scientists say grey matter differs between left and right

Scientists in the UK have revealed that people with opposing political views have different brain structures. The London University College researchers say the part of the brain that processes emotional reactions is larger in conservatives than in liberals. more »

German scientists develop thought controlled car

German scientists are developing technology which allows a person to steer and drive a car using brain power alone. Using a cap fitted with sensors and an onboard computer, the researchers are able to control their experimental Volkswagen, just by thinking about it. more »

Azores Island a test-bed for German energy experiment

A German company is testing a giant battery which it hopes will be able to store enough solar and wind energy to supply an entire community. The trial is taking place on Portugal's Azores island of Graciosa. more »

US West Coast expecting major quake following Japan disaster

Japan's devastating earthquake of March 11 has raised concerns among geoscientists that the West Coast of the United States is likely to be next. more »

Meet Duolingo: Learn a Language, help The Web

„Duolingo“ is the latest project of Luis von Ahn, who is working for “Google”. It has been blowing up on Hacker News for the past day, though not too much is known about it. more »

Iran unveils solar-powered car

University students in Iran have developed their own version of a solar-powered car. The environmentally-friendly 'Havin' can travel up to 130 kilometers an hour. more »

Dialing with Your Thoughts

Researchers in California have created a way to place a call on a cell phone using just your thoughts. more »

The tiny robot that can operate inside your eye

Researchers in Switzerland are perfecting a robot small enough to be injected into your eye without anaesthetic. The team say their device could carry drugs to the exact position they are needed or even carry out minor operations. more »