Ghent (Belgium), Giorgio Vassallo - What can be done to ensure that immigrants have access to human rights as well as participate in their new societies? As immigration increases, the use of public service interpreting is also expected to increase, as it is one of the tools used to communicate with immigrants who have not yet learned the local language. How can public service interpreters be properly trained?
The University of Alcalá will hold a conference on the 1st and 2nd of October, 2015 in Madrid on Training, Testing and Accreditation in Public Service Interpreting and Translation (PSIT).
The conference will hold various discussions in which the following topics will be discussed:
- How to integrate or harmonise standards for Public Service Interpreting and Translation.
- How to develop a profile of competencies for public service interpreters and translators in the various fields where PSIT is required, such as local authorities, healthcare, education, police, etc
- How to design a model curriculum for people belonging to immigrant communities who may lack appropriate qualifications to enrol in ordinary degree programmes, while having the necessary language skills and the cultural competence to serve as translators and interpreters in public service settings.
The conference will also include further discussions on PSIT assessment, qualifications, accreditations, and certifications.
Proposals for presentations on the above mentioned topics (in both English and Spanish) are currently being accepted. The deadline for the proposals is 15 August, 2015. More information below.
The conference is being organised by the University of Alcalá’s research group on public service interpreting and translation FITISPOS (Formación e Investigación en Traducción e Interpretación en los Servicios Públicos) and the Spanish association of trainers, researchers and professionals in translation and public service interpreting AFIPTISP (Asociación de Formadores, Investigadores y Profesionales de la Traducción e Interpretación en los Servicios Públicos), with the support of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Translation (DGT).
According to the organisers, representatives of various EU institutions like DGT and European associations such as ENPSIT, EULITA and the EMT network have confirmed their attendance.