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EMT Blog
News article28 March 2021

An Enduring Shared Vision

Guest post by Dr Callum Walker, Lecturer in Translation Technology, and Dr Sara Ramos Pinto, Associate Professor in Translation Studies, at the Centre for Translation Studies, University of Leeds

Word cloud containing keywords about the shared vision

The time has come when UK universities can no longer be part of the European Masters in Translation network. This comes as a great disappointment to a group of institutions, programmes and people that have worked (and laughed) together for so many years; however, this is a reality of Brexit which we now have to accept.

The University of Leeds – and no doubt, all former EMT members in the UK – is proud to have played a role in shaping the direction of the EMT network and the EMT competence framework over the course of its membership. We, like all members of the EMT network, can be extremely proud of the network’s achievements. Universities and programmes from across Europe have come together to contribute to and collaborate in the development of far-reaching standards, objectives and resources with a view to promoting a shared gold standard in postgraduate translator training.

While our EMT membership has sadly come to an end, our shared goals remain the same: to improve the quality of translator training, to enhance the quality of the translator labour market, and to support young professionals in making a success of their future careers. We remain steadfastly committed to collaboration with the EMT network, with the DGT and the EU more widely, as well as universities, institutions, and organisations across the EU.  We will continue to teach to the EMT competence framework on our MA programmes and to encourage our students to aim high and to be ambitious and open-minded in their outlook. We will encourage them to support the wider EU project, and to work, more generally, in professional and voluntary capacities across the continent, all for the greater European good.

We have already received many kind words of support from colleagues across the network, and we are very grateful to those who have already expressed a commitment to on-going collaboration in some capacity. We hope that we can still continue to develop collaborative projects with industry partners and universities within the EMT network and on the continent more generally. We are eager to welcome colleagues and students on study visits and work placements, and we are keen to maintain strong research, pedagogical, and industry links with our colleagues on the continent through invited lectures, seminars and workshops, and industry-focused events where speakers from EU institutions deliver talks to our students and staff. We are grateful to the DGT for allowing former UK members of the EMT network to continue to be invited to the EMT Working Groups as external experts, and we endeavour to share our resources and our ideas as widely as possible with institutions across the EU through this forum.

The EU has always been a front runner in developing new software and language resources, which have benefitted our students enormously over the years. We remain committed to working with the EU and EMT partners to further develop such resources in future, and we hope to be able to play an important role in supporting such initiatives despite our status.

In short, while this is a sad time for former EMT members in the UK, let it be known that our shared values and vision remain unchanged and undeterred. We will take the situation in our stride, make the most of the new status in the best way that we can, and ensure that our partners across the EU know that our doors will always be open.

Details

Publication date
28 March 2021
Language
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EMT Category
Activities of the EMT network