ATC News, October 2002 - Association of Translation Companies

ATC Council NewsEducation Sub-CommitteeGetting QualifiedLOOKING TO THE FUTURE – MAKING WORKPLACEMENTS COUNT- ATC Education Committee to develop a national framework for work placementsThe Association of TranslationCompanies’ Education Committee underthe chairmanship of Helen Eckersley, JointManaging Director of, ATC memberInternational Translation ResourcesLimited, has been developing links withuniversities and academic institutionswith a view to establishing a jointworking party of academic institutionsand translation company owners.The working party will be workingtogether to establish a common workplacement framework for studentsundertaking translation degree courses.Two pieces of research undertaken bythe Committee prompted the setting upof the working group. The first sought toassess the content of courses intranslation offered by universities andother academic institutions. 86% of theuniversities quizzed responded to thesurvey and results showed wide variationin the structure and components ofcourses with a similar variation in entryrequirements.Few of the universities that respondedincorporated internship or workplacement as part of the course design.However, of those that did not, themajority indicated they would like toinclude such an element and wouldwelcome the in-put of commercialtranslation companies.The second piece of research examinedcurrent practice among ATC memberson work placements and was alsodesigned to determine whethermembers would welcome theestablishment of a joint committee oftranslation companies and universities todevelop a framework for workplacement that would be acceptable toall parties.The company research showed up asimilar variation in current practice. Ofthe companies taking on students, thelength of time that they are taken on forrange from as short as a period as oneweek, with the average ranging fromaround four weeks to six weeks – thelongest was for a year and was theresult of a special arrangement betweenthe translation company and a universityin Beijing.The company survey also showed upwide differences in the criteria used bycompanies to select students, along withthe type of work experience given andwhether feedback is given to theinternees or their work placementofficers at the universities.“With such disparity in practice on bothsides, it was painfully apparent thatthere was an urgent need for translationcompanies to sit down with arepresentative group of academics totry and agree a framework for workplacements,” commented HelenEckersley.“I am most encouraged by the responsewe have had from translationdepartments in universities,” continuedHelen. “To date representatives fromthe universities of Westminster, ImperialCollege, Birmingham, Surrey andMiddlesex have either agreed or haveexpressed an interest in joining theworking group with others expected tocome on board shortly.“Part of the work of the EducationCommittee is designed to improve thecontact translation companies have withacademic institutions. This first piece ofcollaboration will, I am sure, be the startof far greater cooperation betweentranslation companies and universities.”Professional ExpertiseTranslating needs a high level ofexpertise both linguistically and in termsof the subject matter. Your potentialcustomers whether they are agencies ordirect clients will naturally expect proofof this. Both degree level qualificationsand practical working experience inrelevant fields are important. In the UK,whilst there is no legal obligation fortranslators to join a professional body,potential customers will normally preferto work with translators who aremembers of recognised professionalorganisations.The Languages National TrainingOrganisation is a United Kingdombody that sets standards for languages atwork through National VocationalQualifications. It provides a range ofsupport and information services for allits client groups - businesses, languageservice providers, trainees and careerseekers.For further information, please visit thetheir website at:http://www.languagesnto.org.ukFor more information on Ungergraduate,Postgraduate and Professional Coursesthen please visithttp://www.atc.org.ukand click on courses.Members of the ATCs Education Sub-CommitteeChair: Helen Eckersley, International Translation Resources, info@itr.co.ukElizabeth Robertson, Robertson Languages International, liz@robertsonlanguages.co.ukAnthony Withers, Anglia Translations, info@anglia-translations.co.ukA T Cthe mark of a quality translation7