UNIVERSITY MEETS THE INDUSTRY: TRAINEE TRANSLATORS' HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THROUGH WORK PLACEMENT

Nataša Hirci

Department of Translation Studies, University of Ljubljana

Work placement: Department of TS, Ljubljana

EMT member: compulsory work placement

Creating a partnership between academia and prospective employers from the translation industry – raising students‘ awareness of labour market

Offering an excellent opportunity – first contact with professional work environment, hands-on experience in real-life translation situations

Developing translation competence/skills and gaining translation confidence

Compulsory: MA in Translation/Interpreting (Year 1) = 3 weeks (120 hours, 6 CP)

Extension: as an elective (6 CP)

Final Report (trainees) and Certificate (employers)

Unpaid work placement (covered travelling/meal expenses, reward)

Working in a team of professional translators, supervised by an experienced TSP staff member

Working with state-of-the-art translation technologies

Advisers and supervisers (at the faculty / at TSP): assign tasks, supervise, give advice, encourage

Employers:

• EU institutions

• Public and private sector – government offices, national TV, Slovene Press Agency, translation companies and agencies, sworn court translators/interpreters, international companies with translation departments

Networking: academia and industry

Careers Day – annual networking event, organised by the Department of Translation Studies; part of the Translating Europe event in 2017

Organised first at the Faculty of Arts, later in cooperation with the Association of Translation Companies at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

In cooperation with the DGT field office in Ljubljana: in 2014 and 2017

Careers Day 3

EU careers ambassador

Participants and employers

Careers Day 5: part of Translating Europe

Careers Day 2017 Organisers

Nataša Hirci Faculty of Arts, UL

Peter Jakša DGT field officer, EC

Careers Day Participants

Opening address by Dean/ Head of department

Teaching staff, trainee translators and employers

2017 Language Industry Survey – Expectations and Concerns of the European Language Industry

Anita Hostnik, President of the Association of Translation Companies

Positive Trends for the Future

Expected growth for Slovenia:

Employment optimism

Key debate issues: competences and employability

Meeting (future) employers

Informal socializing

Added Value of Work Placement

Growing awareness of the benefits for both parties involved – highly positive response

Facing one’s own acquired/necessary competences – great starting point for future career

Providing a platform for business networking and a chance to meet and evaluate employers/trainees – excellent for employability

Gaining translation confidence - invaluable