Swansea’s MA in Translation with Language Technology is one of just 34 successful programmes chosen to comprise the EMT Network from a total of 90 applications from higher education institutions across Europe.
The EMT project was launched in 2005 at the initiative of the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission, and has been developed in close co-operation with recognised translation experts from the academic world.
The call to join the EMT network was published in March this year and was open to all EU higher education institutions offering translation programmes at Master's level.
The Network has been formed in response to concern by the EU Commission over a shortage of expert linguists in its Brussels-based translation headquarters, the Délégation Générale à la Traduction (DGT), due to new demands through EU enlargement, and to the retirement of existing employees.
In response to this, the EU Commission began a process of consultation to find ways of encouraging universities around Europe to train translators to the highest standards of linguistic and technical competence. The outcome was a proposal to set up an elite grouping of Masters programmes, the EMT Network, whose training meets the professional requirements of the DGT itself when appointing translators, with membership by invitation at the end of a rigorous selection process.
Swansea, whose MA in Translation with Language Technology was launched in 2000-2001, is one of only five UK universities (out of around thirty which teach Translation at this level) to have been awarded the EMT label, and the only one in Wales.
Professor Andrew Rothwell, Professor of French and Translation Studies at Swansea University said: “EMT membership brings welcome recognition for the professional and hands-on focus of the MA in Translation with Language Technology.
“To gain EMT membership, MA programmes must have strong links with the translation professions at both local and national level, and a demonstrable record of graduate employment. We are fortunate in enjoying a close collaboration with Swansea-based Wolfestone Translations Ltd. and Veritas Language Solutions Ltd., who participate in our Translation Work Experience modules, offer vacation work placements to students, and employ a number of our graduates.
“It is a huge tribute to our staff, students and external collaborators that Swansea University’s translator training is considered good enough to meet the high standards of the European Commission. This will also add significant new employability value to the Master’s degree with which our graduates seek to enter the language services professions.”
Initial membership of the Network is limited to four years during which time the successful programmes will be entitled to use the label ‘member of the EMT Network’. Their directors will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Commission’s translator training strategy at the annual meetings of the Network, and EMT graduates will be given privileged access to internships in Brussels at the DGT.
For further information about the EMT Network, visit: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1315&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
For further information about Translation Studies and within the School of Arts and Humanities at Swansea University, visit: http://www.swan.ac.uk/translation/